b. 1941
Hennie always had an intense interest in art and books and would spend hours as a child looking at artworks in the books of the school’s library.
He qualified as a teacher in 1964 and after 19 years of teaching decided to move to Onrus to pursue a full-time career as an artist.
Early in his career, Hennie studied Pieter Wenning and Gregoire Boonzaier, and was inspired by the French Impressionists, like Monet, Vuillard, as well as the Flemish expressionists Constant Permeke and Gustaaf de Smet.
Hennie had the opportunity to work together with artist Gregoire Boonzaier, who acted as a mentor, and side by side they would paint trees, scenery and still life paintings together. Gregoire’s influence is noticeable in many of Hennie’s works.
His paintings often reflect a combination of Flemish and German Expressionism. But Hennie’s magic comes from his ability to paint in so many different styles and genres. He is well known for his paintings featuring the fynbos, and the fynbos pickers. He also paints abstracts, ballet, clowns, fishermen, seascapes and still lives.
He has established a vast following of local collectors, and his work is part of some very substantial private local and international collections.
