Heleen Cornet

Heleen Cornet was born in Holland. She obtained a degree in education and a master's degree in fine arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Amersfoort (Holland).

After having lived for a couple of years in Norway she moved in 1975 to Bonaire (Neth. Antilles). There she taught fine arts at the high school for five years.

After living for one year in Curacao and St. Maarten she moved in 1986 to Saba were she was an art teacher at the Saba Comprehensive School for 3 years. Together with her husband Tom van't Hof and two children she has made Saba her residence ever since.

Heleen published several books together with her husband marine biologist Tom van't Hof for the marine parks of Bonaire, Curacao and Saba for which she did the illustrations. The books Saban Cottages and Echoes of the Past are illustrated with watercolors of the picturesque historical houses on the Caribbean islands Saba and Sint Eustatius

Initially only working in watercolor Heleen decided the paper was getting too small which made her switch to oil after studying this medium in Amsterdam with well-known artist Rik Lina. Lately, after discovering the advantages of watercolor canvas she renovated her style, less realistic, more colorful, using the unpredictable creativity of this medium.

Heleen can be found regularly on the top of Mount Scenery were she makes drawings of the dramatic rain forest. She camped on the mountain for more than four weeks. These drawings have resulted in big oil and watercolor on canvas paintings.

Heleen also did a mural in the Sacred Heart Church, a Roman Catholic Church in the Bottom on Saba. Here she combines rainforest scenes with religious symbols.

Another source of inspiration for Heleen is the underwater world of Saba. Diving together with her husband in the pristine crystal clear Caribbean Sea she made drawings underwater. The series of dolphin paintings and other underwater creatures is the result.

Cornet was asked for prestigious exhibits where she participated with installations of rainforests and the underwaterworld as there is the: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Biennial, Santo. Domingo, Republica Dominicana and, the 23rd Bienal International, San Paulo, Brazil.

More info about Heleen you can find on her website www.heleencornet.com

email. heleencornet@dhotmail.com

Phone: 599 416 2708

skype: TOM VAN T HOF

Click on any thumbail below to see a bigger image.


Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

• 1989-1996 Saba, Heleen's Art Gallery, permanent show
• 1995 - 2001 selection of the month, Breadfruit Gallery, Saba, Neth.
• 1998, Rainforest Room, Turtle Room, Dolphin Room, Hotel Captain's Quarters, Windwardside, Saba, Neth. Antilles.
• 2001, Rainforest and Dolphins, St. Maarten
• 2002. Bonaire Underwater World. Bonaire.
• 2004. Tropics, Saba.
• 2007. Peanut Gallery Saba
• 2008. Landhuis Bloemhof. Curacao

• 1992, 1st Biennial, Sto. Domingo, Republica Dominicana
• 1993, 100 years Caribbean Art, Museo de las Americas,
Washington, USA
• 1994, Carib Art, Unesco traveling exhibition
• 1994, 2nd Biennial, Sto. Domingo, Republica Dominicana
• 1995, 2nd International Female Artists' Art Bienal, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1996, Saban Art Show, Gallery 86, Curacao, Neth. Antilles.
• 1996, Netherlands Antillean Art, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela.
• 1996, 3rd Biennial, Sto Domingo, Republica Dominicana
• 1996, 23rd Bienal International, San Paulo, Brazail.
• 1997, Classic Caribbean Art Gallery, Cuaracao, Neth. Antilles
• 1997, Artist of the Month, Breadfruit Gallery, Saba, Neth. Antilles
• 1997, Woman and Identity, Bonaire, Neth. Antilles
• 1998, Masks in Venice, Art Addiction Annual, Italy
• 1999, Arte 99, Curacao
• 1999, Grands et Jeunes d'aurjourd'hui, salon 1999, Paris
• 2000, Selection of the month, Breadfruit Gallery, Saba, Neth. Antilles
• 2000, Cariforo, traveling exhibition Caribbean art, Santo Domingo
• 2001. Workshop Yubi and Tirzo, Curacao Museum, Curacao
• 2001. Between Lines. Travelling exhibition Unesco.
• 2002. Festival del Caribe. Fiesta del Fuege. Cuba
• 2003. Peanut Gallery, Saba
• 2004. Peanut Gallery, Saba.
• 2005. Arte Américos, Rio de Janeiro.
• 2006. Polyrhythmik, Bonaire
• 2007. Peanut Gallery, Saba
• 2007. Tropics, Saba.
• 2008. Peanut Gallery. Saba
• 2009. Landhuis Bloemhof. Cutacao.