Adrie van de Ven

Adrie (A3) van de Ven, born 1956 in Cuijk The Netherlands. Pedagogical Academy in Nijmegen, with drawing and history as specializations. Did art-classes screen printing, portrait making, photography, etching and produced several musicals.
After teaching in the Netherlands, he moved to Bonaire in 1992, to teach children in primary school. Married on Bonaire 1999 with his Bonairean wife Mila and went back to the Netherlands for seven years. 2006 They came back to their beloved Bonaire. Both started teaching primary school again. In 2012 Adrie made the move to secondary school and teached ART till 2022 and retired.
In their new build house he has his own atelier, where he is making all kind of art-work, like acryl-and oil painting, etching, mono printing, lino cut, watercolor, portraits and a lot of experimenting with techniques and material. 


"My first night/morning on Bonaire I stayed at Divi Flamingo resort. When I opened the curtains that first morning, I was flabbergasted and overwhelmed by the bright, clear, blue sky (it had rained) and the different blue colors of the sea. Then discovering islands nature, which colors are also splashing. The contrast on the outside, where the pink salt ponds turn into the turquoise blue sea, sometimes surprisingly interrupted by bright orange flamingos flying over. The inspiring fauna in the form of young, almost fluorescent green iguanas, the parakeets and parrots. The blossoming flamboyant, kibrahacha and bougainvilles. Not to mention the colorful underwater world and fascinating sunsets.
Living and working on Bonaire is a privilege and an enjoyment. During my first years on Bonaire, the tourism-office used the slogan "unhurried, unspoiled and unforgettable". It's a pity that we lost that in the last years. Saying that..........it remembers me a quote of one of my inspiring artist Pablo Picasso.

"Want the wings of the butterfly retain their luster, then you shouldn't touch them".

"So all these colors inspired me in my work. Starting with colorful paintings of iguanas and flamingos, finally resulted in abstract oil-and acryl paintings. I like to paint in full harmonious colors. The painting is ready when it's in balance. That can take several weeks of fighting, starting all over, till I'm satisfied. 

Watch my interview with Bonaire TV "Makambas op Bonaire".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkBfkJjVE_s