The expressive textures of Dutch artist Monica De Wit’s plein air paintings hold the attention of the viewer while calling into focus dynamic spaces of the natural world. Rough strokes and broad highlights capture the essence of her landscapes and still lifes which aim to present more of a feeling than the likeness of her subjects. Viewers note the tangibility of the crispness in the air, the light fall breezes and the sounds of woodland creatures in her paintings; features perhaps made more real through her rough renditions than a realistic approach could offer.
Following the likes of Van Gogh and Rembrandt, De Wit’s textures dance and fade, curl and cower across the canvas. Her interpretive manner of replicating scenery allows the viewer to insert their own experience into the image, perhaps shivering lakeside in an Italian countryside winter, or in France enjoying a pond in an overcast summer moment. De Wit’s plein air process allows her pieces to capture a specific moment in time, showcasing the aliveness of her landscapes, seascapes and still lifes alike.
De Wit lives and works in the Netherlands where she formerly taught art, and is now retired. She regularly travels to France and Italy, finding inspiration for many of her paintings in the environments she encounters there.
