Jan Teunissen

Jan Teunissen assumes the role of an explorer of a world full of textures, of a tactile universe, juxtaposing objects and materials that awaken our senses. The compositions unveil Teunissen’s care, who, with the disposition of his motifs, manages to conduct our gaze. This is how we end up going through the whole width of the scene, with just a single and fluid movement. It’s not uncommon to see him opting for cyclical compositions or ones that are subdivided into "arabesques".

The wide array of materials that are placed together on a single canvas turns out to be interesting. They’re a pure cognitive feast: we have the glass of a lamp, the metal of an ancient jar, a bottle made of clay, Chinese ceramics, the cloth of a towel, a wooden lid placed among flowers, fruits and some other organic elements. I imagine that Teunissen gets as much pleasure in conveying the texture’s accuracy as we have when analysing it.

The light’s quality is another unique detail: it’s not intense nore soft; it’s not cold nor hot. Instead, it’s a laboured, lowered or even reflected light that gives rise to semi-diffused shadows, which slowly illuminate objects. There is no hurry, only the softness and delicacy of those who leave no trace behind them, nor speculative reflections or deeply dense shadows.

Above all, it’s a light that does not want the limelight. It naturally points out to the composition’s volume, with a slow and graceful transition, whilst eliciting a calm and quiet atmosphere. In order to increase the overall contrast, the backgrounds are essentially black and dense. This is how Teunissen provides a focusing point to his motifs. Our attention is not dispersed by details stuck in the background, this has other obvious advantages: light is more effectively portrayed and consequently the volumetry and integrates the values in a uniformal manner. Therefore, the composition has in itself the whole purpose of the scene. Our glance falls over it and there it remains.

By Pedro Boaventura • Excerpt from Masters of Painting - Volume 1

Contact Artist

Jan Teunissen, Born (1949) in Veldhoven, The Netherlands, lives and works in Best also situated in the southern part of The Netherlands. Initially he followed a technical training and graduated as an industrial engineer. Since 1983 he started his experience in making realistic paintings. Until 2002 he worked as a painter but also in industry, after that he focused fully on his carrier as a painter.

Paintings of Jan Teunissen are made in a traditional style; paintings in oil on panel. They are characterized by a high degree of realism and atmosphere: "Classic realistic work", while a modern look is not shunned. The themes you find in his work, are the wide variety of topics: still-lifes, flowers, portraits, animals and others.

Contact Artist

So lifelike, and basically no bigger than in real life, these paintings are such that they evoke comments and have ratings such as: "So real you would take a bite out of it.", "You can smell what fruit it's all about." or "Any moment a worm can crawl out of those pears."

Contact Artist

• A.R.T. Art Revolution Taipei (WTCT) (Taiwan)

• Galerie Pierre Beynac (France)

• Gallery Montulet Gouda/Den Haag (Netherlands)

• Kunstbeurs, Naarden Vesting (Netherlands)

• Museum De Fundatie Zwolle (Netherlands)

• Antwerp Artfair, Antwerpen (Belgium)

• Luxemburg Artfair (Luxemburg)

• Kunst Antiek & Design Beurs's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)

• Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam (Netherlands)

• Bastings & van Tuyl Antiquairs Oss (Netherlands)

• Gallery Gold (Aviskar)

• Calcutta (India)

• PAN (ArtFair) Amsterdam (Netherlands)

• Galerie Den Andel Groningen (Netherlands)

• Galerie Thyade Rotterdam (Netherlands)

• Museum The Black Tulip Lisse (Netherlands)

• Castle Ravenhof Stabroek (België)

• Uganda National Museum Uganda (Africa)

• Culture Centre De Hofnar Valkenswaard (Netherlands)

• Gallery Staphorsius WestzaanFransastic (Netherlands)

• Art Gallery UtrechtOpen Art Fair Utrecht (Netherlands)

Contact Artist

• 2018 Finalist in contest for participation in Art Revolution Taipei (A.R.T. 2018)

• 2016 Nomination AVROTROS Art Competition 2016

• 2016 (Gold) Aviskar-Van Gogh Award 2016 Calcutta

• 2015 Certificate participation Aviskar-Calcutta Art Biennale 2015

• 2013 Winner International Visical Artist Challenge (IVAC) 2013

• 2013 Certificate of participation and achievement fifth election "Painting of the year 2013"

Contact Artist

• “Treasures from All About Art and Artist”

• Art Revolution Taipei (A.R.T), catalogue of exhibition I.A.C (International Art Contest) in Word Trade Centre Taipei, May 2018

• Catalogue “Zonier Haast 2018”

• “Groeiend Best”, A.R.T in Taipei World Trade Centre in May 2018

• Website Passie Pensioneert Nooit, Interview with Jan Teunissen

• Boek Jan Teunissen, Hardcover, 22 x 22cm, 48 page, 40 photos

• Masters of Painting - volume 1. Good presentation of my work in this art book by Art Galaxie

• EenVandaag TV, Bijdrage Jan Teunissen TV-item in “EenVandaag” over discussion on Sunflowers by Van Gogh, October 2013

• Vacaza editie5, Interview with Jan Teunissen for Creatief Culinair tijdschrift VACAZA editie November 2013

• Groiend Best June 2016, Interview

• Catalogue Zonder Haast 3 , 2016

• Eindhovens Dagblad, 2015

• Catalogu: “100 Days of Dutch art Exhibition”

• De Uitstraling, 2015

• Brochure Expositie “Zonder Haast 2015”

• Expositie Zonder Haast 2014

• Eindhovens Dagblad, 2013

• Comestibles, 2014

• Brochure New Place Artgallery, 2014

• Expositie “Aviskar 2012”, Calcutta India

• Lokale Omroep Best/ Local Broadcast Best (LOB), 2011

• International Contemporary Artist Vol.VI

• Realisme Magazine, 2009/2010

• Featured Interview on website Cadeauwerkplaats, 2010

• Eigen Uitgave, 2014

• Bestbekeken.nl - Interview

• Expositie Jan Teunissen Weert

• Brochure expositive ”Zonder Haast”

• Kunstbeleving aan de Westeinderplassen

Contact Artist

Jan Teunissen

Jan Teunissen - Video