Biography

Dutch painter Barbera Ploeg, creates portraits and still lifes using oil paints.

Her work centers on provoking emotions.

She has always been deeply creative, although life’s practicalities led to a professional career in Fine Mechanics, being a Hydraulic Engineer, which never seemed to scratch her creative itch.

She started her creative and entrepreneurial journey as an Art Jewellery Designer and Goldsmith.

As a self thought artist her years of experience in different fields inspired her direction and combining her skills in oil painting.

She has exhibited widely in her home town Pijnacker with additional shows within The Netherlands.

Her work found homes on almost all continents of the world and continues to find it’s way into peoples homes.

Artist Statement

My art dives into the unknown, to forget the daily worries and obligations.

My portraits are inspired by the hidden emotions of the subject. In my still lifes I paint memories.

More than an outward resemblance, as a photo does, I give my paintings soul.
The way they look out of their eyes and their appearance gives a glimpse into their soul.

The choice of colors I use in my portraits depends on what I see and want to portray in my subject. That does not alter the fact that I have a strong preference for natural colors.

I see art as a gift that someone gives themselves. Art is then an opportunity to start a conversation with each other. Finally, art contains a connecting factor and can bring about beautiful encounters.

One can stare at a painting for a long time to discover they know very little about it.
That’s ok. I don’t paint to be understood. I paint so that one can explore, discover and feel.

When looking at my artwork there is no good or false. No judgement.
Just energy from soul to soul. That’s what art is about.

That’s what my art is about.