Artist Biography

Harry Hermansz Abbink was born in small town Ontario in a land of cornfields, blackbirds, water and terrific storms. Motown music from nearby Detroit blared from the radio. 

Early on he loved to draw Great Lakes freighters, red wing blackbirds and the impressive mixed forests near his home. Raised in an immigrant family, hard work, diligence and proper behavior were emphasized. Strong motions were to be repressed, flamboyance avoided and excessive displays of the flesh was considered shameful. These then were some of the early influences on his art. Realism, accuracy and also, beauty.

After many years as an engineer, he returned to his passion for art. Not surprisingly, his artwork is often well planned, carefully composed, and slightly illustrative in nature. Rebellion also shines through in a focus on the figure, the emotional use of strong colour and dramatic lighting effects, and the slight deviations from realism. He has a love for the strong lighting of Edward Hopper, the beautiful figurative work of John Singer Sargent and lovely watercolour art of Winslow Homer. 

Now an Edmonton based artist and illustrator, he works primarily in dry media and watercolour paint.  While figure and portrait art remain a personal favorite, landscape art also finds a place in his studio.