Virtual Art Gallery

Realistic paintings by Amsterdam based figurative Dutch painter Frans Koppelaar.

city views of Amsterdam

In his realistic oil paintings of Amsterdam Koppelaar manages to grasp the atmosphere of the city. Poetic beauty of snow covered canals in winter, an old shipyard in spring, houseboats almost hidden by overhanging trees. Koppelaar loves to paint en-plein-air on small panels and canvasses that are painted in one session. In these urban landscapes Koppelaar captures the moment in lively brush strokes using a wet-on-wet technique. Larger city views are painted in his studio, often with the photography as an aid.

Dutch Landscapes

From time to time Koppelaar drives his van along the country roads until he finds a perfect spot to put his easel. His favorite subjects are the big rivers of Holland, the dunes, the beach, those typical Dutch polder landscapes and above all the Dutch skies with magnificent clouds.

Foreign Landscapes

Koppelaar loves to travel abroad through France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and even Ecuador. He never leaves without his painting gear. In the landscape gallery you will find many small landscape studies done by the side of the road, in the middle of a corn field, on the beach, in the mountains, etc..

Portraits

Koppelaar is a gifted portraitist, fascinated by the challenge to capture the essence of a human being. In all his portraits, Child's portraits, corporate portraits, head and shoulders, full length portraits etc., his treatment of light and color are remarkable. Besides portraits on request, examples of the prolific studies he produces are shown.

Female nudes

Most painters are fascinated by the curves of the female body. So is Koppelaar. He prefers to paint women in non-academic, natural poses.

Works on paper

Watercolor, gouache, drawings with pen and ink or crayon beside a selection of skillful sketches from Koppelaar's sketch-books.