Hans Versfelt was born in 1968 and started his painting career at the Minerva Academy in Groningen. After a year he stopped his education, but a few years later he decided to continue his studies. He continued his education at the Academy of Art and Design St. Joost in Breda and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Hans Versfelt is one of the few painters who captures his subjects on location in the flesh. Not from a photo or sketch, but ‘real live’ in the open air, braving the elements. Whether he is painting on the beach, in the polders or on a city square, Hans can be found everywhere with paint, canvas and brushes in hand.
He enjoys the variety that the weather offers and the dynamics of the environment. The changing light, the movement of people and the unpredictability of the weather are a challenge for him that he takes on with enthusiasm. Rain, strong wind or suddenly changing circumstances can sometimes make painting outdoors difficult, but for Hans this remains the most satisfying way of working.
His real studio is therefore outside, in the fields with cows, on market places, in harbours with ships, under the clouds or by the pollard willows along the road. Sometimes he also paints on the beach of Normandy, often with his easel and, when it rains, from his car. With oil paint on panel he captures the passing images, always fast and purposeful. Driven by the constant battle against the changing light, the mobility of people and the animals that first have to get used to the painter in their midst, he knows how to capture the moment he is looking for.
