Born on April 22, 1966 in the Netherlands, with parents who constantly travelled, Johanna's perception of life was truly influenced by seeing new things around her all the time. As a young child the urge to draw was something that excited her always, and growing up at school she already got fans that loved her scribbles…
This resulted in the natural choice to go on many art classes and eventually study graphic design. By then Johanna took on portrait and other commissions, and this continued to evolve until later she decided to make a full career out of art. She first worked a lot in black and white with ink and graphite and in colour with acrylic paints. After deciding to create some more detailed work her eyes fell on her first box of colour pencils given to her by her parents as a young girl. That box was by Staedtler and the quality was not really that satisfactory. The experiments went on, and resulted in buying artist pencils by Conte à Paris and Derwent, which gave Johanna the feeling that for the first time here was a medium which enabled her to create the fantasy work she desired in her own style. Her first solo exhibition in Antwerp Belgium, was in 1990, where her colour pencils fantasy drawings were received with great enthusiasm.
This convinced her to continue with colour pencils, and she then bought the artist quality pencils from Bruynzeel, a Dutch brand. Years later Bruynzeel contacted Johanna and now sponsors her efforts with lots of free material, which she also uses during the many drawing classes, and colour pencil workshops, which Johanna now gives in both Belgium and the Netherlands at an art institute.
Johanna's own work mainly focuses on the relationship between man and animal, inspired by myth and spirituality. However, recently the bulk of her work consists of portrait commissions, all executed with colour pencils, teaching art and promoting the colour pencil through workshops and creating websites for fellow artists. When she has time to create her own work, Johanna chooses the human/animal subject, as she feels very strongly about animals and conservation. Both she and her husband are currently preparing for a move to Northern Scotland, where they hope to live closer to nature, and if time permits Johanna's future projects will include a series of works depicting endangered species from which part of the proceeds will be donated to organizations who strive to save some species from totally disappearing.
Colour pencils have given Johanna a life, a career and a future, so she feels very strongly about them…. Early on she was asked: "The colour pencil drawings are nice, but when are you going to do the REAL work?" Her response was typical Taurus, a very stubborn: "Never!" And she has never regretted that answer