​Roy van der Aa

 Trying to Catch the Wind

Main Gallery
SEP 10, 2022 – OCT 23, 2022

A Sigh at Sunset 2021 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Artist’s Statement: These painted collages are a way of re-imagining landscape painting. Traditional landscape is a static snapshot which freezes a scene. Even as a kid drawing in the backseat of the family car, I noticed that clouds moved, light moved and ebbed and flowed. When I began to sketch and paint outdoors wind blew my canvas board and bugs flew into the paint. Not only that - I moved and my mood changed as well. Images flowed into eachother and I wanted to find a way to express that. 
At an exercise in late 2017 with the Insighters, an art discussion group, we each did a fast torn paper collage and used it to interpret a quote we were given. I received the William Plover quote, “Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” This resonated with me and I overpainted copies of my collage in unique variations finding connections between different elements in different ways. 
The variations are almost musical in nature - I state a theme and then expand on it thoughtfully and immediately. These works are quirky, moody and self contradictory - I enjoy them greatly.

Fire for the god 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Growing form the Soot 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Roy van der Aa: Born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1956, Roy van der Aa grew up in Montreal, Canada.  His formal education includes 2 years of Fine Art specialty at John Abbott College, and 3 years at Concordia University studying studio art and archaeology. He moved to the US in 1989.  He is a founding member of ArtForms, the sponsoring organization for Las Cruces’ annual Love of Art celebration.
He has had over 118 solo, 2 person, and group shows. He has exhibited throughout the southwest United States and Quebec in Canada. His work can be seen at RioBravoFineArt in Truth or Consequences and Unsettled Gallery in Las Cruces. He has also shown at Gallery 408 in Carrizozo, Collectibles 4U in Tularosa and Art Obscura and Glenn Cutter in Las Cruces. His hand pulled prints were featured at Iris and Shriek in Amsterdam in 2018 accompanying those by Miró, Chagall and Picasso. He also participated in the premiere exhibit of the Hiatus collective in London in September 2019.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES FOR ENLARGED VIEWING

Interupted Travel 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Peaches and Screams 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Hawaiian Dream 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Hidden Temple 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Hey, Ant? 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Under the Falls 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

It's Not a Purple Haze 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Lemon-Lime Mist in The Sierras 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Old Town Blues 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

The Windy Season 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Memories Redux 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Dim Delights 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Traditional landscape is a static snapshot which freezes a scene. As a kid drawing in the backseat van der Aa noticed that clouds moved, light moved and ebbed and flowed. When he sketched and painted outdoors wind blew and bugs flew into the paint. Not only that – the artist moved and his mood changed as well. Images flowed into each other and he wanted to find a way to express that.
At an exercise in late 2017 with an art discussion group, each participant did a fast torn paper collage and used it to interpret an assigned quote. Van der Aa received the William Plover quote, “Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” This resonated with him and he overpainted copies of his collage in unique variations finding connections between different elements in various ways. This meant choosing a different dominant color in each piece and enlarging or reducing elements. The variations are almost musical in nature.

Quest to Come 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

That Neon Glow 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Return of the Toxic Avenger 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Onward to Mars 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000 Private Collection

Missing Sign Post 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Glitter Silence 2021 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Salmon Overachiever 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Snake Bite 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Midnight Snack 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Big Island Bush 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Dead Centre Spectre 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Feathers and Cotton 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Flying Panda Sloth 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

New Mexico Snow 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Up at Paradise Falls 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Scratches Under Ground 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Some Are More Equal Than Others 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Take Warning 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

The Oracle Says Hello 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Trash Panda Trapped 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Triangulate Paradise 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

But, it's all New Wood 2018 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Dawn is Coming 2019 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Dual Memories 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Evening on the Beach 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Fiery Maple 2019 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Gotta Break Some Eggs 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Muddy Reflections 2018 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Oppenheimer Green 2018 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Park Less Travelled 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Patchwork Affluence 2018 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Peachy Tiki 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Silent Night Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Torn Sunshine 2017 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Triangulate 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Tsunami 2018 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Warm Noise 2018 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

White space 2017 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Hidden in Smoke 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Incoming! 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Journey Unfinished 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Countdown 2020 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Spring (Out) Break 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000 Private Collection

The Center is Missing 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Upside Down and Inside Out 2021 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Travel Interupted 2022 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Maple Sakura 2019 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $225

Impossible to Refold this Map 2022 Mixed Media 22” x 17” $1000

Another Day in Armageddon 2021 Mixed Media 11” x 8.5” $1000

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