Elliott Louis Gallery Canadian Fine Art

Peter John Voormeij  Artist Notes  ·    Bio  ·  
  Exhibitions:   "Through Dutch Eyes 2
click to view video"  ·  "Through Dutch Eyes"


Dutch born painter and printmaker, Peter John Voormeij, first came to Canada in 1965.  Trained in the realist schools of painting, he was quickly influenced by the new forms of art in the Montreal and New York galleries.

"I was totally taken in by what people like (Willem) de Kooning and (Mark) Rothco were doing. It really changed me.  I began to believe  that I could do more abstractly than through realism." But Voormeij doesn't regret having a strong foundation in realism.
"It's better to know what you are abstracting from before jumping into it".

The exuberant use of colour and vigorous organic lines is influenced by Voormeij's passion for literature and music. "A poem or a political event can trigger a need to respond. I allow the painting to direct me and I trust my instincts to judge colour and composition."  The characteristically bold coloured canvasses usually have strong themes as noted by their titles. "Titles are important because they often lead the way into the painting."

Voormeij acquired his Master of Arts degree in Painting and Printmaking from Concordia University where one of his instructors was the late Roy Kiyooka.  Currently painting full time, Voormeij has taught art classes at University of British Columbia and Langara College. 

The Elliott Louis Gallery represents Peter in Canada.  In the Netherlands Voormeij is shown in eight galleries.


For information on Peter's latest body of work, please see "Through Dutch Eyes 2"




Click on the thumbnails below to view a larger image.

Peter John Voormeij - Midnight Road - click for larger image

Midnight Road
30 x 24 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - With Windmills - click for larger image

With Windmills
30 x 24 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Miracle - click for larger image

Miracle
72 x 41 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$8,100
Peter John Voormeij - Lift Up Your Head - click for larger image

Lift Up Your Head
30 x 24 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - She Walks in Beauty - click for larger image

She Walks in Beauty
8 x 10 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$1,100
Peter John Voormeij - To Listen and Adore - click for larger image

To Listen and Adore
8 x 10 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$1,100
Peter John Voormeij - Of What I Feel Now - click for larger image

Of What I Feel Now
8 x 10 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$1,100
Peter John Voormeij - New Values - click for larger image

New Values
36 x 48 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$5,600
Peter John Voormeij - The Beginning - click for larger image

The Beginning
59 x 119 Inches 
oil on Belgian linen
$19,300
Peter John Voormeij - Start Again - click for larger image

Start Again
48 x 72 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$9,500
Peter John Voormeij - Pagannini - click for larger image

Pagannini
59 x 119 Inches 
oil on Belgian linen
$19,300
Peter John Voormeij - Two Nights in San Antonio - click for larger image

Two Nights in San Antonio
79 x 119 Inches 
oil on Belgian linen
$25,850
Peter John Voormeij - Origin - click for larger image

Origin
72 x 119 Inches 
oil on Belgian linen
$23,550
Peter John Voormeij - The Northwest Passage - click for larger image

The Northwest Passage
72 x 119 Inches 
oil on canvas
$23,550
Peter John Voormeij - Never Give Up - click for larger image

Never Give Up
80 x 120 Inches 
oil on Belgian linen
$26,400
Peter John Voormeij - Windmill - click for larger image

Windmill
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Mondrian's Utopia - click for larger image

Mondrian's Utopia
39.5 x 71 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$7,700
Peter John Voormeij - We Walked Into the Trees - click for larger image

We Walked Into the Trees
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Abstract Domain - click for larger image

Abstract Domain
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - A Man's Voice - click for larger image

A Man's Voice
30 x 36 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$3,500
Peter John Voormeij - You Have Chosen - click for larger image

You Have Chosen
30 x 36 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$3,500
Peter John Voormeij - Walking into the Light - click for larger image

Walking into the Light
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Who Then Is She - click for larger image

Who Then Is She
48 x 36 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$5,600
Peter John Voormeij - Victory of Painting - click for larger image

Victory of Painting
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Broadway Boogie - click for larger image

Broadway Boogie
36 x 48 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$5,900
Peter John Voormeij - Apple Tree in Blossom - click for larger image

Apple Tree in Blossom
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Analytic Cubism - click for larger image

Analytic Cubism
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Homage to Mondrian - click for larger image

Homage to Mondrian
30 x 36 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$3,500
Peter John Voormeij - Those Who Rise Up - click for larger image

Those Who Rise Up
20 x 24 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,500
Peter John Voormeij - Our Ancestors - click for larger image

Our Ancestors
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Now We Are Here - click for larger image

Now We Are Here
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Night Harbour - click for larger image

Night Harbour
40 x 55 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$7,150
Peter John Voormeij - For Honour - click for larger image

For Honour
50 x 70 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$9,600
Peter John Voormeij - Why Silk Is Soft - click for larger image

Why Silk Is Soft
48 x 36 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$5,600
Peter John Voormeij - Most Fit For Lovers - click for larger image

Most Fit For Lovers
30 x 24 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - 72 Seaforth Highlanders - click for larger image

72 Seaforth Highlanders
24 x 30 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$2,950
Peter John Voormeij - Avro Arrow Series - Jim Chamberlain - click for larger image

Avro Arrow Series - Jim Chamberlain
36 x 40 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$4,700
Peter John Voormeij - His Words - click for larger image

His Words
37 x 49 Inches 
acrylic on canvas
$5,900
Peter John Voormeij - A Kingly Voice - click for larger image

A Kingly Voice
54 x 72 Inches 
oil & acrylic on canvas
$10,700
Please email the gallery to view more works by Peter John Voormeij.


Education
1970  
Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, M.A. Fine Arts, Painting and Printmaking; studies with Yves Gaucher and Roy Kiyooka

1968  
Loyola College, Montreal, Canada

1962
University of Adelaide, South Australia, B.F.A. Summa Cum Laude in painting; 4 year Commonwealth and Educational Scholarship; 1st prize for painting, George Rowney Award


Biography
2002
Life size portrait of Canadian architect Arthur Erickson; oil on canvas (work in progress);
100 x 180 cm

1999
Collaboration on animation film about my painting with film-animator Stephen Arthur;
Canadian Film Board Award,1999.



SELECTED BIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 1980 - 2002

2100 Square Meters Kunst, Royal Palace, Den Haag, The Netherlands

Art in Brabant, Paul De Pont, De Volkskrant, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Art in Vlijmen, city project, Marienkroon, Nieuwkuijk, The Netherlands

Art of the Valley, Okanagan Life, Ann-Charlotte Berglund, Kelowna, Canada

Art Today in the Netherlands, NBKS, Cultural Centre, Tilburg, The Netherlands

Basis Collectie Kunst, Ferd Op De Coul, Brabants Museum, The Netherlands

Beeldenstroom, Recent Purchases in The Netherlands, province of North Brabant, The Netherlands

Belief in Pure Painting, Bas Roodnat, N.R.C. Handelblad, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Brandscherm als Beeldscherm, editor of Kunstbeeld magazine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Canada Council, Filmboard of Canada, Ottawa

Collection of Modern Drawings and Prints, University Press, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Contemporary Dutch Art, Oss, Museum Oss, The Netherlands

De Gebarentaal van Voormeij, Ferd Op De Coul, Brabants Dagblad, The Netherlands

Dutch Art, by editor of Kunstbeeld magazine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Grafiek 1985, Museum Bommel van Dam, Venlo, The Netherlands

Grafiek Nu, Bas Roodnat, N.R.C. Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Grafiek uit de Benelux, City Council of Antwerp, Belgium

Het Handwerk van Zuivere Rede, Maarten Beks, Ravenberg Press, The Netherlands

Intergrafica 86, Katovice City Museum Publication, Poland

Kunstcollectie in Aanbouw, Maarten Beks, Brabantia Press, The Netherlands

Lejnieks Newsletter, San Francisco, USA

Peter John Voormeij, Painter, Highway 97, S. Raitt, Penticton, Canada

Peter John Voormeij, Recent Works, Piet Hagenaars, The Netherlands

Poetry and Painting, De Hovenier, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Schouwburg Roosendaal, Roosendaal, The Netherlands

Stoffwechsel K18, Kassel, Germany

Tennant’s Gift of a Painting, Roger Hale, Minneapolis, USA

Twaalf Bijzondere Schalen, PNEM Den Bosch, The Netherlands

Uitbreiding Raadhuis, Wim Visser, B&D Architects, The Netherlands

Waalwijk Zoekt Kunstwerk, Felix Janssens, Brabants Dagblad, The Netherlands

Zwart en Wit, Urias Nootenboom, Ravenberg Press, The Netherlands


Solo Exhibitions
2005 Through Dutch Eyes - Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2007 Through Dutch Eyes 2 - Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver, BC


Group Exhibitions
2006 Transition - Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver BC
2006 Textures - Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver BC
2005 Autumnity - Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver BC
2005 Eye Spy - Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver BC
2003 Gallery Artists Summer Exhibition - Ballard Lederer Gallery, Vancouver BC


Teaching
1996-97 Lecturer, Langara College, Vancouver BC, Canada

1993-96 Instructor, Painting, University of British Columbia, Canada. Arts and Humanities

1991 Instructor, Painting, Arctic College, N.W.T. Canada

1975-88 Lecturer, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands

1974-88 Senior Lecturer, Painting, Royal College of Art and Design, the Netherlands

1970 Professor, Lehmann College, City University of New York, USA


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