Always striving for a careful balance between reality and abstraction, Ton Dubbeldam draws inspiration from the diversity of Dutch, French, Italian and American landscapes. “A sunny terrace in France, a beach near home, or aspens in Yellowstone National Park,” says the artist. “I would like to take you by the hand on a tour; however, my real journey here is not a geographical one.” 
Lazy Little River, oil on panel, 32 x 32"Dubbeldam’s pointillist paintings invite us into a world of light and color, a whimsical celebration of the natural beauty of the world, manifested through countless, tiny multi-colored dots. Born in the small town of Schoonhoven, Holland, Dubbeldam has spent his more than 30-year career experimenting with style and technique, ultimately creating a luminous aesthetic all his own. While Dubbeldam began his artistic journey as an outdoor impressionist, today he sees himself as a conceptual painter, “philosophizing about universal themes and looking for common ground.” The greats like Monet, Klimt and Seurat, as well as Pollock, Rothko and Francis, have all played a part in Dubbeldam’s growth as an artist. 
The Last Resort, oil on panel, 32 x 32"
The Forest, oil on panel, 32 x 32"
“I don’t conform myself to a particular style or school,” he continues. “I need freedom to experiment with form, color and light. In my work I often combine realism, impressionism, pointillism, luminism and sometimes even a pinch of futurism. I invite you to view the Old World in a new way.”
This concept of color and light is paramount to his process. “I love the dramatic in painting. The light just before sunset or just after sunrise [doesn’t only] influence color and form-—many of us celebrate these moments as a definition of the temporality of everyday life,” he says. “Time is a real factor about how we experience our own living. Painting is timeless and temporary at the same time. In one brushstroke the artist can define form and the decade he’s living in.”
Aspen Valley, oil on panel, 39 x 43"
A forthcoming exhibition at Lily Pad West in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shines a spotlight on Dubbeldam’s recent works. Nature and Imagination: The Thin Line Between Figuration and Abstraction will be on view June 3 to July 3, with an opening reception from 5 to 9 p.m. —
Lily Pad West 215 N. Broadway • Milwaukee, WI 53202 • (414) 509-5756 • www.lilypadgallery.com
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