About
Henriette van der Does has taken up art, whilst living in Brasil and the United Kingdom. This was a complete turn around from her degree in French language and literature.
She started out as a sculptress during the first years, but also expresses herself in 2D media from 2005 onwards.
Her fascination with human figure and/or nature can be discovered in all of her work. Her current portfolio of abstract paintings, ‘Behind the Light’, is inspired by the phenomenon of global warming and all that it brings up for her. Her series of strong women on heals is a reaction to the ‘Me too’ movement.
Henriette’s 3D art is about emotion, expressed through an attitude, a posture, a movement. Her 2D art is about emotion expressed through an atmosphere, using line, texture, colour and layers.
Both the human figure and nature itself hold an everlasting fascination for the artist: ‘Humans (or nature) are never the same: we are always in motion, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Containing the unconscious and the collective unconscious both will always be able to surprise us’.
Her artwork often is without a title, inviting the viewer to enjoy the piece in their own unique manner.
Henriette accepts commission work and has also taught art to both children and adults for around 20 years.
Henriette has been Chair of the Surrey Sculpture Society, a successful non-profit organisation for and by sculptors for nearly 5 years. She handed over the reins in May 2021 just before she moved back to the Netherlands.
In 2023 she will open her own gallery and teaching space Atelier Douçoise in Confolens, France.
In 2013 she qualified as an Art psychotherapist (MA) and has held her own private practice, working with both children and adults in the UK ever since.
Both lines of work are continuously diverging from and complimenting each other through an endless stream of human and thus emotional interaction and inspiration.
Henriette was born in Holland and has lived in France, Colombia, Brazil and the United Kingdom. She is now settled in the Netherlands with a view to expand her creative adventures to France in 2023.