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Interdependent perspectives
“Interdependent perspectives” is a captivating modern abstract watercolor artwork that masterfully blends geometric and organic shapes to evoke a sense of surrealism. The composition features a harmonious interplay of muted earth tones, such as browns and greys, contrasted with vibrant zones of pink, red, green and blue. These colors are used to highlight stylized and exaggerated facial features, including eyes with prominent green irises and mouths with bright red lips and white teeth. The fragmented arrangement of these features creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience, inviting viewers to explore the emotional depth and complexity of the piece. The use of both curved and straight thick black lines adds definition and structure, guiding the viewer’s eye throughout the intricate composition. The overall effect is one of movement and fluidity, as the abstract elements come together to form a cohesive yet enigmatic whole. This artwork challenges traditional notions of portraiture and personality, presenting a unique and thought-provoking interpretation of human nature and facial features.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Interdependent perspectives
Size:
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$
Interwoven Identities 4
This panoramic watercolour artwork is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes facial features because it is essentially a portrait. This artwork features four real vermillion (cinnabar) rouge spots. I chose this special pigment because I believe that many synthetic orange pigments are too intense, over-saturated.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Interwoven Identities 4
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$445
Interwoven Identities 3
This artwork is an abstract expression of van den hooven’s exploration of the human condition in the modern world. Using a mixed media style in watercolour and wax pencil, van den hooven has created a vibrant and dynamic composition that captures the complexity and diversity of human experiences. The overlapping faces and eyes represent the multiple perspectives and identities that shape our reality, as well as the challenges of finding our own voice and place in society. Through this piece, van den hooven invites you, the viewer, to reflect on your own sense of self and belonging in a chaotic and ever-changing world. Here the artist has chosen a warm and rich color palette to contrast with the light gray background, suggesting a sense of passion, energy, and resilience in the face of adversity. This artwork features several real vermillion (cinnabar) rouge spots. This is a special historical pigment which exhibits a much nicer hue without being too intense or overpowering. This horizontal panoramic watercolour abstract portrait is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only facial features and a limited number of organs, because it is essentially a portrait.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Interwoven Identities 3
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$840
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Dysfunctional Coexistence
This artwork is part of a series into embodied energy, including natural and manmade objects into the one artwork. This piece does not have many synthetic objects in it, only the security camera is visible. The mouth takes centre stage rather than the heart. This artwork also features a cadmium red heart, a brain (with walnut brown interior), a pair of kidneys, a pair of lungs, two blue eyes, a large intestine, a nose and a cell.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Dysfunctional Coexistence
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$460
Chaos Theory
A captivating and vibrant investigation into the dichotomy of modern life. As a species, we’re both inhabitants and consumers of the natural world. We live in a culture of coexistence and consumerism. This piece invites you to examine our human experience within the contemporary culture of consumerism, and the effect it has on the environment. Where will this pandemonium of personal objects end up? What impact does it have on us and our health? What meaning do you draw from the choice and placement of the personal objects I illustrate? How is technology connected to nature? What relationship do we have with our products? This contemporary pop art painting is perfect for: — Uplifting your home décor with colourful, charismatic focus piece — Prompting deep conversations with friends about important topics — Adding illustrative, street art appeal to any space The limited edition watercolour painting is done on ecological Saint-Armand paper 230gsm rag cotton paper for long lasting enjoyment. Ships within 2-4 days.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Chaos Theory
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$2350
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Disproportionate Response
This artwork is part of a series into embodied energy, including natural and manmade objects into the one artwork. This artwork features two cadmium red hearts joined together, a brain (with very early style 'walnut' interior), a pair of kidneys, a pair of lungs, two blue eyes, eyelashes, a large intestine, a vermillion tongue, two ear lobes, a few mouths, a cell, a weird looking flamingo-type bird (in bright cobalt pink) and the front half of a garpike (not it's not a dog, even though I love dogs). This piece does not have that many synthetic objects in it, only a security camera, a spatula, spectacles and some pills/capsules are visible.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Disproportionate Response
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$680
Brainstorm
“Brainstorm” is a one-of-a-kind artwork that features a variety of objects scattered across the page. It is inspired by the mathematical and scientific concept of chaos, which is related to complex systems and unpredictable outcomes that are influenced by "sensitive dependence on initial conditions". The artist wanted to explore the idea of order and disorder, and how they can coexist in a beautiful and meaningful way. Intentionally cluttered, contradictory and complex—my compositions capture the chaos of the modern world, through deconstruction and rearrangement of the internal and external and the animate and inanimate. In one way, I’m forcing nature and technology close together again, to prompt viewers to think about the disconnection we have from the things we consume. Yet my art features familiar items that have permeated our lives, asking viewers to consider the role of each. My earlier work focused on deconstructing human forms to explore my internal conflict, but has since evolved beyond my personal story to include the exterior realm. Now it is intentionally symbolic, encouraging viewers to explore their own interpretation within each piece. I believe illustration is a unique visual language that can help us articulate and explore complex issues. It gives me a way to connect to and inspire others with vibrancy and creativity. There are shapes and lines in various colors. The colors are mostly warm, with some cool tones in the background. The lines are mostly black and are used to create the shapes and forms. The overall mood of the artwork is playful and dynamic. The artwork is done in a modernist style. This artwork features an integrated circuit computer chip, a cadmium red heart, a pair of lungs, a pair of kidneys, a mouth, a brain, a tap, a few muscles, a large intestine, gum trees (snow gums), tentacles that morph into flames, eyes, a neuron, a nose or two, two ears, a security camera, a crab and a garpike.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Brainstorm
Size:
65.5cm x 27.5cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1100
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Psychotic Break
This piece does not have any synthetic objects in it at all, only organic objects. The mouth takes centre stage here rather than the heart. And it's an open mouth, screaming. This artwork also features a cadmium red heart, a pair of lungs, a pair of kidneys, two blue eyes, a large intestine, a stomach, a muscle, a finger, a sort of a tongue and a small nose.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Psychotic Break
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$680
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Organic Detachment
My earlier work focused on deconstructing human forms to explore my internal conflict, but has since evolved beyond my personal story to include the exterior realm. Now it is intentionally symbolic, encouraging viewers to explore their own interpretation within each piece. I believe illustration is a unique visual language that can help us articulate and explore complex issues. It gives me a way to connect to and inspire others with vibrancy and creativity. There is also solace in the mindful process of creating. It uplifts me and allows me to quell my restless mind; pressing me to persevere when things become bleak Could the organs highlight the internal struggles we face in navigating the chaos of the modern world?
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Organic Detachment
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$270
Dreamscape
“Dreamscape” is one of van den hooven’s latest art creations; a vibrant and engaging montage of eclectic elements positioned in complete disarray. This artwork is part of a series inspired by van den hooven’s own imagination, dreams, emotions, events and experiences. “Dreamscape” is a representation of the subconscious and an exploration of the unknown. This artwork invites the viewer to enter a world of fantasy and mystery, where anything is possible. The colors used are mainly red, pink and flesh tones as well as various neutral tones in the background to create harmonious balance of colours. This piece features a cadmium red heart, a pair of kidneys, a pair of lungs, a pair of ear lobes, an open (screaming) mouth, a walnut-style brain, both a large and a small intestines, a security camera, bunny ears, crustacean claws, part of a gar pike, an upside down nose, and a blue eye. This artwork is a captivating and imaginative piece that merges elements of abstract cubist expressionism with a surreal, almost cartoon-like narrative. Presented in a panoramic format, the composition is a complex tapestry of bold, interlocking shapes outlined in thick black lines, filled with a vivid array of colors including reds, pinks, yellows, and neutral tones. The use of watercolor as gouache technique is evident in the smooth, opaque application of pigment, which creates a textured yet cohesive visual experience. The central focus of the piece is a fragmented, multi-faceted depiction of a human or animal-like figures, characterised by a striking red circular mouth with prominent white teeth, suggesting a sense of exclamation or emotion. Surrounding this focal point are abstracted facial features: a large turquoise eye on the right, an inverted gray nose on the left, and an array of appendages such as a brain, pair of kidneys and lungs in pink and purple. These elements are interwoven with organic and geometric forms, such as a chain-like intestinal diagonal structure on the left and claw-like shapes on the right, adding layers of intrigue and suggesting a dreamlike or fantastical scene. The color palette is both bold and harmonious, with warm tones like red and orange dominating the center, while cooler grays and yellows frame the edges, creating a balanced yet dynamic flow. The inclusion of subtle details, such as the small blue object in the upper left corner resembling a security camera lens, alluding to increasingly levels of observation and monitoring in society. Signed "van den hooven" in the lower right corner, this work showcases the artist’s ability to blend structured composition with spontaneous creativity. It invites viewers to interpret its abstract forms and vibrant hues, making it a thought-provoking addition to a collection of contemporary abstract, cubist or surrealist art. The piece’s energetic rhythm and imaginative design render it a standout example of modern artistic expression.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Dreamscape
Size:
64.5cm x 27.5cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1100
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Kindred Spirits 3
This artwork entitled "Kindred Spirits 3" is a recent watercolour painting by van den hoooven, an emerging Australian artist who experiments with lines, shapes, colors and compositions. Kindred Spirits 3 depicts two feminine faces belonging to identical twins standing beside each other; the two individuals depicted are similar in form and color but have slightly different facial expressions and features. Twins represent both sameness and difference, unity and individuality, harmony and conflict. The artist challenges the viewer to look closely and notice the nuances that distinguish the twins from each other. The faces have yellowish-orange hair, green eyes and bright red lips, which create a contrast with the neutral gray background. Kindred Spirits 3 evokes a sense of playfulness and surrealism, as the faces have exaggerated features and expressions that defy realism. Kindred Spirits 3 invites the viewer to explore and interpret the meaning, emotions and personalities behind the two faces. It uses the following pigments: turner's yellow, cadmium red, cobalt green, naples yellow reddish, neutral tint, potter's pink and lunar black.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Kindred Spirits 3
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$330
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Modern Icon
This artwork invites you to consider mobile phone usage on our mental health. What role do smartphones play in our daily lives? How important have they become? Do we overly worship them? Do they make us happier or more depressed?
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Modern Icon
Size:
45cm x 25cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$735
Disconnected Reality
This piece does not have any synthetic objects in it at all, only organic objects. This artwork features a cadmium blue heart (not a red one). The mouth is an open mouth, screaming. There's also a walnut style brain, a pair of lungs, a pair of kidneys, two blue eyes, some ear lobes, a weird looking lizard head, an upside down nose, a sort of a tongue and the head of a garpike (it's a fish, not a dog).
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Disconnected Reality
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$720
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Kindred Spirits 2
The artwork depicts a pair of identical twins, one facing the viewer and the other looking away. The twins have a striking resemblance, but also subtle differences in their expressions and postures. Twins represent both sameness and difference, unity and individuality, harmony and conflict. The artist challenges the viewer to look closely and notice the nuances that distinguish the twins from each other. It uses the following pigments: turner's yellow, cadmium red, cobalt turquoise, naples yellow reddish, buff titanium, titanium grey, potter's pink and lunar black.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Kindred Spirits 2
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$330
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Garden of Eden
"Garden of Eden" is quite unique because it shows the evolution of my artistic style. The colours are not super-accurately applied and they overlap the black outlines in many places. There's also a dark grey texture applied over the whole artwork. You see flying geta footwear, a school of fish, a couple of prawns, a teapot and a pair of spectacles. There are also tentacles, pills/capsules, the top half of a crustacean, a piston, a spatula, a jellyfish. A pair of lungs, kidneys and a brain (the brain being an early style of one). For the first time, the heart is depicted having four valves at the top, and there is a ventricle/atrium compartment present. The heart is supporting the security camera. There's also a weird alien type of being with a single eye. This was one of my first attempts to group all of these objects together into a single drawing. The objects presented here are not as "connected" as later drawings. But this truly is the beginning of something new for me. There is only one like it. The composition unfolds as a vibrant tapestry of organic and mechanical imagery, each element delineated in bold strokes of black ink and washed with intense hues of red, green, yellow, and grey. The tangled interplay of forms creates a sense of frenetic energy, inviting the eye to roam across the surface in search of meaning. In the upper left quadrant, a stylized brain—rendered in a pale cream yellow —hovers above a pair of angular red glasses. Beneath this, a set of sanguine lungs sits above a school of fish. The fish, in turn, swim above a cluster of red & blue pill capsules. An assortment of implements and other inanimate objects are scattered across the artwork: a spatula, a piston, a teapot. Together, these carefully selected unmistakable single objects suggest the connection between nature and technology. At the center, a large green-and-yellow biomorphic shape dominated by a vivid blue eye commands attention. Tentacle-like arms, dotted in orange vermilion curl outward, while a nearby gray garpike form leaps through space. These elements evoke the fluid boundary between natural instinct and imaginative projection. How do natural organisms react and adapt to an increasingly synthetic world? The upper right section introduces a couple of mechanical motifs: a camera-like device painted in an olive grey, the spatula. Flying geta footwear sandals appear immediately beneath this. These hard-edged objects contrast with the softer, curved lines found elsewhere, underscoring a dialogue between inanimate technological products and organic life. Throughout the background, swaths of muted gray and taupe provide a neutral stage, allowing the saturated foreground forms to pulse with intensity and to coalesce into an ever-shifting mental landscape. This artwork maps an internal world where thought processes, invention, ingenuity and creative impulses collide. The brain, lungs, and eye symbolize the faculties of mind, breath, and vision, while the mechanical objects speak to the act of both doing and making. The juxtaposition of biological shapes with industrial imagery reflects on how humans harness both intellect and machinery to forge new realities. Ultimately, the piece invites viewers to consider the beauty—and chaos—of invention as it unfolds within the mind’s eye.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Garden of Eden
Size:
40cm x 29.7cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$350
Discrete Probability
This panoramic artwork is a continuation of a series on internal organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes organs. The organs are intentionally connected the wrong way around and this more or less represents the internal conflict we might feel living amongst the chaos of the modern world. Most people do not look "inside" other people. We are very superficial creatures. We only see outward appearances. But in reality our skin is only one of a handful of human organs. Here I try to represent the features of a person based on a unique arrangement of their internal organs. I have chosen watercolour as a medium because it allows me to select pure pigments which then display as vibrant colours. This piece may suit an art collector who might also have been a patient; or someone working in a medical field such as a nurse, doctor or surgeon.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Discrete Probability
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$345
Indigo Geometric Portraits
This artwork is titled "Indigo Geometric Portraits" by van den hooven. It is an abstract representation of three faces using geometric shapes and lines. The artist uses vibrant colors such as orange, pink, green, and dark indigo blue to create contrast and harmony among the faces. The faces are arranged in a horizontal row, with the left two faces tilted slightly compared to the one on the right, suggesting a slanted perspective. The artwork expresses the diversity and complexity of human emotions, personalities and interactions, as each face has a different expression and mood. The artwork also explores the relationship between shapes and colors and how they can be used to create different forms and effects. The background is a light beige color that complements the colors of the faces. This panoramic watercolour artwork is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes facial features because it is essentially a portrait. It uses the following pigments: turner's yellow, cadmium red light,cobalt turqoise, cobalt green, paynes grey bluish*, naples yellow reddish, titanium grey, burnt umber, neutral tint, haematite grey, potter's pink and Minnesota pink pipestone (catlinite). The artwork is signed by the artist in the bottom right corner. *van den hooven has subsequently decided to remove paynes grey bluish from his palette, preferring to use natural indigo instead.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Indigo Geometric Portraits
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$445
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Interdependent Perspectives 3
“Interdependent perspectives” is a captivating modern abstract watercolor artwork that masterfully blends geometric and organic shapes to evoke a sense of surrealism. The composition features a harmonious interplay of muted earth tones, such as browns and greys, contrasted with vibrant zones of pink, red, green and blue. These colors are used to highlight stylized and exaggerated facial features, including eyes with prominent green irises and mouths with bright red lips and white teeth. The fragmented arrangement of these features creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience, inviting viewers to explore the emotional depth and complexity of the piece. The use of both curved and straight thick black lines adds definition and structure, guiding the viewer’s eye throughout the intricate composition. The overall effect is one of movement and fluidity, as the abstract elements come together to form a cohesive yet enigmatic whole. This artwork challenges traditional notions of portraiture and personality, presenting a unique and thought-provoking interpretation of human nature and facial features.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Interdependent Perspectives
Size:
38cm x 26cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$375
Disentanglement Hypothesis
This artwork is part of a series into embodied energy, including natural and manmade objects into the one artwork. This piece does not have many synthetic objects in it, only the security camera is visible. The mouth takes centre stage rather than the heart. In fact there is no heart in this artwork, only a brain, lungs, kidneys, ears, stomach and large intestine.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Disentanglement Hypothesis
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$440
Organic Disarray 2
"Organic Disarray 2" by van den hooven is a vibrant and densely layered abstract composition that pulses with energy and symbolic tension. The artwork features an experiment arrangement of organic and geometric forms, rendered in a palette dominated by fiery reds, earthy browns, neutral greys and subtle oranges. Each element is outlined in bold black, lending the work a graphic clarity that enhances its visual rhythm. At the center of the composition is a large, red, heart form with multiple white appendages—an arresting focal point that suggests themes of soul, spirit and primal instinct. Surrounding it, multiple organs are attached, introducing a sense of interconnectedness, while a cobalt turquoise blue eye-like form to the bottom left adds a sense of watchfulness and introspection. The surrounding space is filled with a dynamic interplay of shapes: curves, loops, and angular fragments that seem to float or collide within the picture plane. These forms evoke a sense of movement and internal dialogue, as if the artpiece itself is engaged in a process of thought or transformation. The juxtaposition of organic curves and rigid angles creates a visual tension that is both animated and unsettling. The artist’s signature, located in the bottom right corner, anchors the piece with a personal mark, while the overall composition reflects a deep engagement with the emotional and psychological dimensions of abstraction. This work invites viewers into a visceral and cerebral space where emotion, perception, and subconscious imagery converge. The bold use of color and form suggests a narrative of internal conflict or catharsis, while the ambiguity of the shapes encourages open-ended interpretation. "Organic Disarray 2" by van den hooven is not merely a visual experience—it is a psychological landscape, a storm of symbols waiting to be decoded.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Organic Disarray 2
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$800
Kindred Spirits 1
This panoramic watercolour artwork is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes facial features because it is essentially a portrait. I have been inspired by other artists for a long time. First the impressionists, then the expressionists and later also the cubists. I have chosen watercolour as a medium because it allows me to select pure pigments which then display as vibrant colours. It uses the following pigments: turner’s yellow, cadmium red, cobalt turquoise, naples yellow reddish, buff titanium, neutral tint, potter’s pink and lunar black.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Kindred Spirits 1
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$330
Tribal echoes
This artwork by van den hooven, titled "Tribal echoes" is a striking example of abstract expressionism with a cubist influence, characterised by its bold use of color and fragmented forms. The piece features two stylized faces, their features deconstructed into geometric shapes and reassembled in a way that evokes both harmony and tension. The faces are rendered in a vivid palette of reds, blues, yellows, and purples, with each section of color sharply delineated by thick, black wax pencil outlines that create a stained-glass 'granular' type effect. The expressions on the faces are intense, with wide, toothy mouths and large, circular eyes that convey a sense of raw emotion — perhaps anger, fear, or a primal scream. The asymmetry of the features, such as the mismatched eye colors (one green, one blue) and the angular, jagged lines of the mouths, adds to the unsettling yet captivating nature of the work. The surrounding background is a patchwork of darker, muted tones along the bottom of the artwork and more vibrant lighter tones along the top edge. These two zones blend seamlessly into the central focal point –the faces– which creates a sense of depth while maintaining the flat, two-dimensional quality typical of cubist art. The artist employs a flat application of pure watercolor pigment segments with subtle changes in hue amongst adjacent regions; these isolated areas harmonise well with the overall colour palette and alleviate the harshness of the geometric divisions. The lines delineating these different colour space regions often continue and progress into other sections of the artwork, creating a more compelling composition. This technique, combined with the stark and relatively thick black outlines, creates a dynamic interplay between colour and line, structure and fluidity. "Tribal echoes" invites viewers to explore the emotional undercurrents beneath its fragmented surface, offering a visceral experience that is both chaotic and deeply human. Tribal echoes is partly inspired by the mandrill monkey with it's striking and distinctive crimson & pale blue facial features. This artwork features two areas of genuine Manganese blue PB33 watercolour on the right tribal face distinctive a pigment that has been discontinued for some time, increasing this artworks rarity and thus inherent value.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Tribal echoes
Size:
38cm x 26cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$525
Unintentional Discrepancy
This panoramic artwork is a continuation of a series on internal organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes organs. The organs are intentionally connected the wrong way around and this more or less represents the internal conflict we might feel living amongst the chaos of the modern world. Most people do not look "inside" other people. We are very superficial creatures. We only see outward appearances. But in reality our skin is only one of a handful of human organs. Here I try to represent the features of a person based on a unique arrangement of their internal organs. I have chosen watercolour as a medium because it allows me to select pure pigments which then display as vibrant colours. This piece may suit an art collector who might also have been a patient; or someone working in a medical field such as a nurse, doctor or surgeon.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Unintentional Discrepancy
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$365
Subconscious Dimensions
This piece was essentially inspired by the Guns N' Roses song "coma". In that song you can clearly hear the breathing, the heartbeat, and the brain is disconnected. Everything is jumbled up, the organs. This is an ongoing exploration and it shows the progression of my illustrative style. I was originally going to include other things such as a telephone and my intention was to do a digital illustration. But I decided to start by doing an artwork (or a series of artworks) on paper that just featured bodily organs instead. This is one of my earliest works in this series. You can tell because I don't draw/paint the hearts with the veins in them anymore. These days I still draw the valves coming out of the heart so that they join 'continuously' with the other objects (if you get my drift). I think this is possibly the first work to depict that. The only difference is, these days I tend to always draw the valve tubes in a beige/off-white colour. Also, my brains have evolved somewhat and if you look at any of my more recent works, they kind of resemble walnuts now. This brain has a more traditional, random, less stylised approach to it. And lastly, you may notice that I don't draw tracheas with concentric circles on them anymore (and again, this work is one of the first to show that way of doing it). This is one of the first of two works in which I really started to control the colours of pigments in my watercolour palette (after I got rid of a load of pigments that I didn't like). I incorporated more neutral pigments in the overall colour palette, giving it a more harmonious feel.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Subconscious Dimensions
Size:
40cm x 29.7cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
sold
van den hooven study 2
This artwork is a part of a preliminary trial into a new style containing internal human organs. These are the first works performed in colour (several thumbnails were initially sketched out with pencil before this stage). Several of these A5 'studies' were completed on 300gsm Arches watercolour paper and they are now available for sale. This piece contains a prominent pair of lungs, part of a large intestine, a brain connected directly to a stomach, an eye and also a preliminary heart at the bottom center-right of the page. There is some black texture on the page.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Study #2
Size:
21cm x 15cm
Medium:
Ink and wax pencil
Price:
SOLD
Identity Crisis
This artwork is an abstract expression of the artist’s inner world –his inner mind– utilising surrealistic elements and rich contrasting colors. The artwork consists of various shapes and forms, lines and curves, to create a dynamic and harmonious composition. The colors used in the artwork are mainly red, brown and gray neutral tones, with a touch of green and blue for the irises. The main feature of this piece is that organs connect together outside of the traditional head space. The position of the heart is transposed with that of the brain. Thus, the artwork is a reflection of the artist’s inner imagination, creativity and passion, as well as their deepest thoughts and feelings being externalised. The artwork invites the viewer to explore the meaning and symbolism behind these colours, shapes and organs, and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of this abstract art. This artwork is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes facial features and organs, because it is a portrait. It's the first intentional portrait, based on another work (which was somewhat accidental in nature). Visit the page where you can buy this artwork: https://www.vandenhooven.com.au/shop/identity-crisis
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Identity Crisis
Size:
38cm x 27cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$445
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Kindred Spirits 5
This is a piece of artwork by the artist van den hooven. It is a mixed media piece that features two abstract faces side by side. The faces are composed of bold lines and bright colors, with the background being a grayish tone. The overall mood of the piece is playful and whimsical. The artwork depicts a pair of identical twins; the twins have a striking resemblance, but also subtle differences in their expressions and postures. Twins represent both sameness and difference, unity and individuality, harmony and conflict. The artist challenges the viewer to look closely and notice the nuances that distinguish the twins from each other, while also appreciating their shared bond and identity. The piece invites the viewer to imagine the stories and personalities of the two faces and how they relate to each other. It uses the following pigments: turner's yellow, cadmium red, cobalt turquoise, naples yellow reddish, burnt umber, neutral tint, haematite grey, potter's pink and lunar black.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Kindred Spirits 5
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$235
van den hooven study 1
This artwork is a part of a preliminary trial into a new style containing internal human organs. These are the first works performed in colour (several thumbnails were initially sketched out with pencil before this stage). Several of these A5 'studies' were completed on 300gsm Arches watercolour paper and they are now available for sale. This piece contains a pair of lungs, part of a large intestine, part of a mouth, an eye (or two), an ear lobe, a pair of kidneys and a poorly-drawn stomach. There is some black texture on the page.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Study #1
Size:
21cm x 15cm
Medium:
Ink and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$120
Accumulated Possibilities
This artwork is part of a series into embodied energy, including natural and manmade objects into the one artwork. This artwork features a cadmium red heart, brain (with walnut brown interior), a pair of kidneys, a pair of lungs, eyes, a stomach, a large intestine, a tongue, a cell, part of a crab, a daffodil flower and a kind of a weird bird (in white). This piece does not have many synthetic objects in it, only the security camera is visible. There are also some tentacles and flames present.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Accumulated Possibilities
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$680
Tribal Mask — feminine
This is a quick portrait carrying on from other work with a similar cubist style. It's meant the depict a feminine face. It uses the following pigments: naples yellow, naples yellow reddish, Minnesota pink pipestone (catlinite), potters pink, cadmium red, cobalt green and viridian green, hematite grey and hematite violet and I believe venetian red.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Tribal Mask — feminine
Size:
30cm x 20.5cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$235
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Irreconcilable Differences
“Irreconcilable Differences” is a mesmerizing modern watercolor that captivates with its intricate interplay of geometric arcs, straight lines and shapes. The bold, confident lines—both curved and straight—guide the viewer’s eye, creating a dynamic sense of movement and depth. The composition is a symphony of muted earth tones—browns, greys, and ochres—punctuated by vibrant accents of bright cadmium red, green, and erbium pink (unique to van den hooven's palette). These colors breathe life into the abstract forms, which seem to float and overlap in an ambiguous, dreamlike space. At the heart of the piece are stylized elements that strongly hint at human facial features. Eyes with striking blue and green irises and black pupils peer outwards, their gaze both inviting and enigmatic at the same time. Mouths, rendered in shades intense red and white, add a sense of expression and emotion, Multiple organs such as a pair of lungs, heart and brain are planted throughout the composition and reconnected in strange new ways. Does what we say and think not affect our hearts? The artwork balances precision with spontaneity. Quadrilateral and trapezium shapes interact playfully with the more fluid, organic forms. This juxtaposition creates a visual tension that is both harmonious and yet strangely intriguing. The piece invites viewers to delve into its layers, to interpret the symbols and forms and figures in their own meaningful way. “Irreconcilable Differences” delves deep beneath a human surface anatomy, and instead looks towards the interior, almost physiology, at what lingers beneath the surface. Not in an an accurate medical or scientific sense, but a novel creative way. At what we find inside people's minds and bodies, how the two may be inter-related, interconnected, interdependent. Looking at the internal and the external –not individually, but simultaneously– challenges traditional and conventional notions of portraiture and representation, offering a unique and thought-provoking exploration of identity, character and emotion. It is a testament to van den hooven’s ability to blend technical skill with creative vision, resulting in a piece that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually captivating.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Irreconcilable Differences
Size:
38cm x 27cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$735
Distorted Perspective
This panoramic artwork is a continuation of a series on internal organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes organs. The organs are intentionally connected the wrong way around and this more or less represents the internal conflict we might feel living amongst the chaos of the modern world. Most people do not look "inside" other people. We are very superficial creatures. We only see outward appearances. But in reality our skin is only one of a handful of human organs. Here I try to represent the features of a person based on a unique arrangement of their internal organs. I have chosen watercolour as a medium because it allows me to select pure pigments which then display as vibrant colours. This piece may suit an art collector who might also have been a patient; or someone working in a medical field such as a nurse, doctor or surgeon. This particular piece may be orientated either horizontally or vertically.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Distorted Perspective
Size:
20cm x 50cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$365
Mental Anguish 2
My earlier work focused on deconstructing human forms to explore my internal conflict, but has since evolved beyond my personal story to include the exterior realm. Now it is intentionally symbolic, encouraging viewers to explore their own interpretation within each piece. I believe illustration is a unique visual language that can help us articulate and explore complex issues. It gives me a way to connect to and inspire others with vibrancy and creativity. There is also solace in the mindful process of creating. It uplifts me and allows me to quell my restless mind; pressing me to persevere when things become bleak Could the organs highlight the internal struggles we face in navigating the chaos of the modern world?
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Mental Anguish 2
Size:
55cm x 33cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1100
Melancholy Underworld
"Melancholy Underworld" is a special edition piece with a limited moody blue/purple colour palette. The composition unfolds as a labyrinth of interlocking organic and geometric forms, each defined by emphatic black outlines. At the upper center, a single stylized eye—its iris a cool cerulean ringed in inky black—anchors the viewer’s gaze. Radiating from this focal point are sinuous tendrils, angular forms, and looping curves that weave together like a visual symphony. It features a cadmium blue heart, kidneys, an open (screaming) mouth, a brain, both a large and a small intestine, a stomach, a pair of lungs, bunny ears, two ear lobes, an eye with eyelashes, a neuron, part of a crustacean and a security camera. This piece evokes the tension between perception and imagination. The central eye symbolizes focused awareness, while the surrounding forms suggest thoughts, memories, and impulses swirling outwards in every direction. The bold outlines speak to an attempt to impose structure, yet the fluid interplay of color and shape reminds us how the subconscious resists containment. Viewed as a whole, the work becomes a map of mental activity—a “storm” of ideas and emotions emerge where clarity and chaos can co-exist. It prompts reflection on how we see ourselves versus how our inner life unfurls beyond our control.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Melancholy Underworld
Size:
64cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1380
Dissociate Mentality
This piece was essentially inspired by the Guns N' Roses song "coma". In that song you can clearly hear the breathing, the heartbeat, and the brain is disconnected. Everything is jumbled up, the organs. This is an ongoing exploration and it shows the progression of my illustrative style. I was originally going to include other things such as a telephone and my intention was to do a digital illustration. But I decided to start by doing an artwork on paper that just featured bodily organs instead. This is one of my earliest works in this series. You can tell because I don't draw/paint the hearts with the veins in them anymore. Plus, the heart looks like it is a separate object and then the other tubes "attached" later (because they were). These days I draw the valves coming out of the heart so that they join 'continuously' with the other objects (if you get my drift). Also, my brains have evolved somewhat and if you look at any of my more recent works, they kind of resemble walnuts now. This brain has a more traditional, random, less stylised approach to it. And lastly, I don't draw tracheas with concentric circles on them anymore. This is also where I started to really control the colours of pigments in my watercolour palette after I got rid of a load of pigments that I didn't like. There is only one colour present in this artwork which I don't use anymore and that is the synthetic orange pigment just underneath the green iris. Nowadays I use real vermillion pigment instead.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Dissociate Mentality
Size:
40cm x 29.7cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1111
Organic Disarray 1
"Organic Disarray 1" by van den hooven is a striking example of abstract cubist expressionism, presented in a panoramic format that bursts with vibrant energy and imaginative form. The composition is a complex interplay of bold, interlocking shapes outlined in thick black lines, filled with a rich palette of reds, pinks, yellows, and earthy grays. Executed with a flat "watercolor as gouache" technique, the piece features smooth, opaque color fields that create a textured yet harmonious visual experience, inviting viewers into a world of surreal creativity. The central focus revolves around a fragmented depiction of a human-like face, with a prominent red circular mouth displaying white, grid-like teeth, exuding a sense of intensity or surprise. To the right, a large turquoise eye peers out, its vivid hue contrasting with the surrounding warm tones, suggesting observation or awareness. The facial features are interwoven with organic forms, including a tilted brain in the center-left, adorned with brown and gray shading, and a pair of purplish-pink lungs that breathe life into the artwork. Additional elements, such as the chain-like intestinal tract and kidney-shaped forms in deep maroon, contribute to the layered complexity, evoking a sense of organic growth or interconnectedness. The color scheme is both bold and balanced, with fiery reds dominating the composition, while softer and peach yellows and pink hues provide a counterpoint, framed by muted grays that ground the work. The texture is generally consistent across the piece, featuring flat saturated individual blocks of colour, enhancing the dynamic flow and depth. The artist’s signature, "van den hooven," appears in the lower left corner, affirming the piece’s authenticity and craftsmanship. This artwork showcases van den hooven’s skill in blending structured composition with spontaneous abstraction, creating a visually stimulating experience that defies conventional representation. Its imaginative design and vibrant rhythm make it a compelling addition to a collection of contemporary abstract art, encouraging viewers to interpret its forms and colors through a personal lens.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Organic Disarray 1
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1000
Interwoven Identities 2
This artwork entitled "Interwoven Identities 2" is a delightful example of van den hooven's ecclectic and recognisable abstract style, which combines elements of expressionism, cubism and surrealism to form a novel type of "geometric deconstructivism" art style. Here van den hooven uses color and line to create three faces that are at the same time both whimsical and mysterious. The faces have large eyes and exaggerated features that suggest a sense of curiosity and wonder. The artist also plays with perspective and proportion, making the faces appear distorted and surreal. The artwork challenges the viewer to question their perception of reality and to explore the artist’s imaginative world. This artwork features two real vermillion (cinnabar) rouge spots. I chose this special pigment because I believe that many synthetic orange pigments are too intense, over-saturated.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Interwoven Identities 2
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$640
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Disparate Entities
Disparate Entities is a strikingly imaginative abstract composition that fuses anatomical motifs with surrealist abstraction. The piece is a vibrant tapestry of color and form, where human biology is reinterpreted through a kaleidoscopic lens. Dominated by bold hues—crimson, cerulean, yellow, and fuchsia—each element is outlined in assertive black, lending the work a stained-glass-like clarity and intensity. On the left, a large, vividly rendered eye with red lashes and a blue iris gazes outward, encased in a braided structure suggestive of hair or neural pathways. Above it, a pink and red brain-like form unfurls in intricate folds, evoking cognition and consciousness. The central area is a dense interplay of biomorphic shapes: a red heart-like figure, brain, lungs and other ambiguous anatomical references that pulse with symbolic energy. To the right, a screaming mouth, menacing yet mesmerizing. Beneath it, two brown, kidney-shaped forms are linked by sinuous lines, reinforcing the theme of internal systems and connectivity. The background is a subdued patchwork of trapezoidal forms in grays, browns, and beiges, providing a neutral stage that allows the saturated foreground elements to vibrate with intensity. The composition is both chaotic and controlled, inviting viewers to explore the tension between the organic and the abstract, the known and the imagined. This artwork challenges the viewer to consider the body not as a clinical diagram but as a site of emotion, memory, and surreal transformation. It blurs the boundaries between science and symbolism, anatomy and art, creating a visual language that is at once cerebral and visceral. The result is a compelling meditation on the inner workings of both the human form and the human psyche. This piece features a cadmium red heart, a pair of kidneys, an open (screaming) mouth, a brain, both a large and a small intestine, a tap, a pair of lungs, some tentacles, bunny ears, two ear lobes, a moustache, and an eye with eyelashes.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Disparate Entities
Size:
64.5cm x 27.5cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1100
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Tribal mask — masculine
This is a quick portrait carrying on from other work with a similar cubist style. It's meant the depict a masculine face. It uses the following pigments: naples yellow, naples yellow reddish, Minnesota pink pipestone (catlinite), potters pink, cadmium red, cobalt turquoise, and cobalt cerulean + hematite grey...
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Tribal Mask — masculine
Size:
30cm x 20.5cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$235
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Mental Anguish
“Mental Anguish” is a mesmerizing modern watercolor that captivates with its intricate interplay of geometric arcs, straight lines and shapes. The bold, confident lines—both curved and straight—guide the viewer’s eye, creating a dynamic sense of movement and depth. This new artpiece by van den hooven is a vibrant and dynamic piece that exemplifies the principles of abstract expressionism, successfully combining elements of both cubism and surrealism in the one artwork. The intentionally complex composition draws the viewer’s eye continuously and repeatedly across the artwork. “Mental Anguish” delves deep beneath a human surface anatomy, and instead looks towards the interior, almost physiology, at what lingers beneath the surface. Not in an accurate medical or scientific sense, but a novel creative way. At what we find inside people’s minds and bodies, how the two may be inter-related, interconnected, interdependent. Looking at the internal and the external –not individually, but simultaneously– challenges traditional and conventional notions of portraiture and representation, offering a unique and thought-provoking exploration of identity, character and emotion. It is a testament to van den hooven’s ability to blend technical skill with creative vision, resulting in a piece that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually captivating.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Mental Anguish
Size:
46cm x 25.5cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1,250,000
Interwoven Identities 1
This panoramic watercolour artwork is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes facial features because it is essentially a portrait. This artwork features four real vermillion (cinnabar) rouge spots. I chose this special pigment because I believe that many synthetic orange pigments are too intense, over-saturated. It's also the first van den hooven to explicitly feature coloured "eyeshadow" regions (in this case, cobalt green).
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Interwoven Identities 1
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$850
Holy Grail
This artwork invites you to consider mobile phone usage on our mental health. What role do smartphones play in our daily lives? How important have they become? Do we overly worship them? Do they make us happier or more depressed?
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Holy Grail
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$
Kindred Spirits 4
This panoramic watercolour artwork is a continuation of a series on internal human organs. Other artworks in this series include inanimate objects, but this artwork only includes facial features because it is essentially a portrait. I have been inspired by other artists for a long time. First the impressionists, then the expressionists and later also the cubists. I have chosen watercolour as a medium because it allows me to select pure pigments which then display as vibrant colours. It uses the following pigments: turner's yellow, cadmium red, cobalt turquoise, naples yellow reddish, buff titanium, graphite grey, potter's pink, lunar black and real vermillion (cinnabar).
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Kindred Spirits 4
Size:
50cm x 20cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$330
van den hooven study 3
This artwork is a part of a preliminary trial into a new style containing internal human organs. These are the first works performed in colour (several thumbnails were initially sketched out with pencil before this stage). Several of these A5 'studies' were completed on 300gsm Arches watercolour paper and they are now available for sale. This piece contains a pair of lungs, a brain connected directly to a stomach, part of a large intestine, several eyes, and also a preliminary heart at the bottom left of the page (van den hooven no longer draws hearts this complicated). There is some black texture on the page.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Study #3
Size:
21cm x 15cm
Medium:
Ink and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$170
Adverse Complexity
"Adverse Complexity" is a vibrant abstraction that balances organic forms and geometric precision within a dynamic, multilayered composition. Bold line work and an arresting color palette of primary and secondary hues imbue the work with kinetic energy, while recurring motifs—eyes, teeth, a chain like intestinal tract—suggest an underlying narrative of perception, expression, and interconnectedness. The visual field is anchored by three sculptural eyes with azure irises, placed in a horizontal band across the upper third. Their serene gaze introduces a focal axis that guides the viewer’s eye from left to right. Directly beneath this ocular triad, two rows of stylized teeth—rendered in stark white against crimson gums—evoke both a grin and a grimace, hinting at dualities of emotion. A stylised large intestine weaves through the midsection, serving as both connector and barrier between the upper iconography and the lower, more organic forms. The right quadrant introduces an android-like robot: yellow-framed spectacles perched on an abstracted trapezoidal/cubist planes, with an oversized ear motif echoing the left shapes and reinforcing bilateral symmetry. Warm tones (scarlet reds, tangerine oranges) pulse against cool blues and purples, generating visual vibration and depth. The triptych of eyes atop the piece implies heightened awareness or surveillance. Abstracted animal-like shapes in cerulean and deep russet below hint at instinctual, perhaps subconscious, drives. Taken together, the work navigates a terrain between conscious perception and underlying primal forces, inviting viewers to contemplate how we see, speak, hear, and connect.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Adverse Complexity
Size:
97cm x 55cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$1275
Fragmented Expression
This artwork is a striking example of abstract expressionism, characterized by its bold use of color, fragmented forms, and a chaotic composition that evokes strong emotion. The piece appears to depict a distorted, contorted pair of interconnected faces with exaggerated and disjointed features: large, asymmetrical eyes; multiple sets of white grid-like teeth; while human organs are re-connected in strange new ways. The fragmented face could symbolize inner turmoil, fear, or a fractured sense of identity, common themes in abstract expressionist works. The use of thick black outlines to separate the shapes gives it a stained-glass-like quality, while the vibrant colors (reds, blues, yellows, and greens) create a sense of intensity and unease.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Fragmented Expression
Size:
38cm x 27cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$230
Discordant Methodology
This artwork is part of a series into embodied energy, including natural and manmade objects into the one artwork. This artwork features a cadmium red heart, a brain (with walnut brown interior), a pair of lungs, a pair of kidneys, a big blue eye, part of a mouth, a muscle, a cell, part of a crab, the head of a garpike, the head of a flamingo. This piece does not have that many synthetic objects in it, only a transistor, a security camera and a pair of spectacles are present.
Artist:
van den hooven
Title:
Discordant Methodology
Size:
48cm x 28cm
Medium:
Watercolour and wax pencil
Price:
AUD$820