Drentsche Aa (river in the north of the Netherlands) Painting

Sophia Heeres was born in 1981 in Zuidlaren. Raised in Schipborg, in the middle of the River Valley the Drentsche Aa. She lived and worked in Groningen from 2002 to 2014, where she graduated in 2006 towards autonomous painting at the Academie Minerva. Nowadays Sophia lives and works in Kraggenburg. After a process of experimenting with various styles and techniques Sophia has developed a unique style. Her paintings are characterized by powerful compositions, in which each part has its own color, which are lined in at the last minute. Through the use of lines the work is being abstracted. In some works the lines are lighter in color to give the piece more depth. Light and dark are omitted in order to keep the simplicity of the theme. The themes in her works are nowadays almost realistic. In her current work, colors are more and more mixed. During the painting process, Sophia is looking for a balance in her compositions, background and the use of color. Colors are brought together by emotion. By her color palette she creates her own reality in which recognition persists. "Painting is the freedom to create what I want and how I want it. Painting for me is a process of discovering, experimenting and developing. " She finds inspiration in life. It begins with watching. To watch is different than to see. Inspiration can be a snapshot, a brainwave, seeing much simplified forms of a city or in nature, a glint of water or for example a beautiful color. Inspiration you can find around you. The difference between watching and seeing gives the process movement and leads to the formation of ideas and images in its own colorful language. A new living environment also leads to new impressions and inspiration. Nevertheless, the natural environment where Sophia grew up remains a recurring theme in her works. Inspiration also comes from the use of other materials and surfaces. This results in new processes that are included in her next work. There is much to discover in her paintings, through which they invite to keep looking. "I see and think color, with inspiration from the inside and the outside. Inspiration is like making a picture. It is a snapshot which triggers you to do something with it. Finding new ways is as challenging as the processes, which have led to my current work. Staying close to yourself brings out the most beautiful things. The spectator can experience the positive energy that I've processed.