About Me

My artistic path began in Amsterdam when my father gave me a museum card for my 14th birthday. It allowed me free access to all major museums in that cultural city. Inspired by the Old Masters and the modern painters, I took lessons in pencil drawing and water colour painting outside high school hours.

At the age of 21, I immigrated to Canada working 3 years as a lumberjack in British Columbia, thereafter, moving on by Greyhound busses to Mexico and onward to New York where I took courses in oil painting. To make a living, I found a job in the United Nations. For the next 35 years I travelled around the world. It was exciting to sketch the various surroundings and people but often frustrating when no art supplies were available in several countries. Also the heat and humidity in many places were so intense that sweat dripped from my forehead on the drawing paper.

As my UN career progressed, I assumed more senior positions with the advantage that my assignments became permanent. I bought an apartment in Jerusalem, turned the large living room into a studio and have painted there ever since. The Old City of Jerusalem was initially my favourite subject. Through the years I changed my subjects and style as can be seen from the pictures on this website.

Robertus Kool