werner bronkhorst

The word ‘klein’ means ‘small’ in Afrikaans, my home language. It also refers to the signature colour that artist Yves Klein worked with, called the Klein International Blue. Compared to the scale of the big blue background, the tiny boat sails majestically and yet almost insignificantly. It was my first time placing only one figure on a canvas this large but it’s safe to say I love this piece for its minimal nature. There are few pieces I love from the get-go and even while I made this artwork, I knew I was on the right track with the composition and thickness of the lines. I love it and I can’t wait to see where in the world it ends up hanging. ‘Klein Blue’ Acrylic Gel on canvas 184 x 143 Artworks and printed editions will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates. #wernerbronkhorst #wet #kleinblue

I started this piece three months ago not really sure about what its title would be. After talking to @bobby_hendry though, she suggested I name it after an early 2000’s Australian teen drama series. I was a baby in South Africa when the series was released so I obviously knew nothing about this show. Having watched a couple episodes now though, I think this artwork totally fits this title. ‘Blue Water High’ 144 x 144cm Acrylic gel on canvas Artworks and printed editions from this collection will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates 💙 #wernerbronkhorst #wet #bluewaterhigh

Always edging him 🤷🏼‍♂️ Despite making highly family friendly paintings, I like being slightly cheeky with my art. Being left on the edge is a sexual practice of engaging to the point of climax before stopping but in this case, the guy in the painting is quite literally on the edge of the pool float. My favourite part about this artwork is the variety in gradients of blues which makes the pool water look surprisingly realistic. I actually wanted one seamless blue but I didn’t mix the bucket of paint well enough. This artwork is part of my ‘WET’ collection which will be made available to purchase after my solo exhibition in Brisbane early next year. To find out more, please visit my website and join my mailing list. ‘On the edge’ Acrylic polymer on canvas 102 x 102cm #wernerbronkhorst #wet #ontheedge

You may not see it but on the back of this boat there is a couple cuddling and soaking up the sun while simply cruising. I wanted to see what it would look like if I added a stark white line following the curves of the blue background to look like a wake. It kind of worked! ‘Cruising’ Acrylic gel on canvas 51 x 82cm Artworks and limited printed editions for this collection ‘WET’ will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates 💙 #wet #cruising #wernerbronkhorst

Commissioned by the Lusail International Circuit, this artwork celebrates the three main motorsports that take place here. Drivers of Formula 1, MotoGP and the World Endurance Championship can be seen racing around the iconic track, painted in a bright blue with the circuit’s unique pattern in the background. ‘Speed of Lights’ Acrylic polymer on canvas 183 x 122cm #wernerbronkhorst #lusailcircuit #qatargp

‘Deep and Meaningful’ otherwise known as ‘D&M’ is referred to a conversation or relationship with heaps of substance usually between close friends or couples. Deep sea divers can’t really communicate via speech but rather hand gestures. Knowing and trusting your diving partner is key because the deeper below the surface you go, the more dangerous things get. Communication plays a crucial role in any relationship, especially when you enter the deep waters of a committed relationship. I personally prefer relationships, conversations and even artworks with deep thought and meaning and this artwork pretty much sums up the challenges and beauty of deep and meaningful conversations (and relationships). ‘D&M’ Acrylic polymer in canvas 42 x 72cm 📸 @bobby_hendry @idlewildcreative.co This artwork is part of my current collection ‘WET’ which will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list via my website to find out when artworks and printed editions will be released. #wernerbronkhorst #d&m #wet

Straight lines aren’t really what I think about first when I think of water. That was enough of a reason to make artworks with purely straight lines in this collection. This artwork has a deep dark blue that feels rather ominous but also peaceful. Zen in the middle of a storm. It’s something I’ve been feeling lately so perhaps that’s why I like this artwork in particular. ‘Sail Away’ Acrylic gel in canvas 82 x 51cm Artworks and printed editions will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates 💙 #wernerbronkhorst #wet #sailaway

It’s obviously super subjective but I honestly think that some of my pieces are just better than others. Whether it’s the subject matter, colour or composition that plays the biggest role; I would never know. What I do know however is that this piece goes against my normal principles. I don’t often create artworks with strongly opposing lines, nor do I centre figures off balance. This time I did exactly that and I must admit, I love the tension all these opposing elements create. ‘Get Dripped’ 32 x 42cm Acrylic polymer on canvas 📸 @bobby_hendry @idlewildcreative.co This artwork is part of my current collection ‘WET’ which will be exhibited early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list via my website to find out when artworks and printed editions will be released. #wernerbronkhorst #getdripped #wet

Been working profusely on the second part of my current collection ‘WET’ to ensure I am ready for my first exhibition of 2025. The studio has been packed with boxes from my ‘12 Days’ release which hasn’t made it easy to work but the team has smashed all the work leaving me with more time and space next week to work on a couple of pieces. In these photographs taken by @eugenedavidgrey you can see me working on a big boy titled ‘Klein Blue’ and ‘Walk On Water’. Can’t wait to show you what else I’ve made.

He got 99 problems but cash flow aint one of ‘em. I think that’s what his mantra in life is. He has worked hard all his life battling the mainstream and now that his business ventures have paid off, he can finally settle into retirement and take it easy. Kayaking must be one of the most peaceful activities. You are surrounded by water but detached from it. You can go as fast or slow as you desire and do it alone or in tandem. My most cherished memories were made on a kayak. My family and I went on a rowing trip in Namibia on the Orange River and ever since I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend a week together. ‘Cash Flow’ Acrylic polymer on aluminium. 18 x 30cm 📸 @bobby_hendry @idlewildcreative.co This artwork is part of my current collection ‘WET’ which will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list via my website to find out when artworks and printed editions will be released. #wernerbronkhorst #cashflow #wet

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Abbey Road sequel for this WET collection! ‘Walk On Water’ Acrylic Gel on canvas 42 x 31cm Artworks and printed editions will be released early this year. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates 💙 #walkonwater #wernerbronkhorst #wet

Although painting is pretty much just muscle memory for me now, I still get anxious every time I start a new artwork. This feeling is exacerbated when I go for weeks without making a single painting and that happens more often than I’d like to admit. After a month spent in London and then another two weeks in Germany earlier this year, I was afraid of getting back to my studio to start ‘WET’. The dry winter heat in Sydney meant my paint was drying quicker than I could apply it and that made the entire process very challenging. Ironically I had to end up using water to thin the paint down slightly just so I can make these swimmers look realistic. Additionally it was my first time painting people in water. This meant I had to learn how to warp figures’ bodies without making them look bad or like they’re simply floating in air. Splashes of white and deeper blue shadows help but it’s not the easiest thing to pull off. Either way, I was happy to know I didn’t lose my ability to paint once this piece was finished. I love the colours, the composition and most importantly; the result.

I think what I love most about these artworks is that the process plays just as big of a role as the result itself. To artists like Magritte, the painting process was tedious and repetitive but to me it’s about finding ways to make it new and exciting. I always seek out to try working with new colours and compositions. This means I often end up making artworks that I have no clue how to complete. This artwork is a peak example of how my initial Rothko- inspired composition ended up failing to look like anything I wanted it to. I started this piece in September and only last week did I finally complete it by painting tiny boats docked along this centrally floating wharf. The result is cool but the process of spending countless moments deciphering what the artwork could and should be intrigues me more. ‘Sea You Soon’ Acrylic Gel on canvas 42 x 31cm Artworks and printed editions will be released early next year. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates 📩 #wernerbronkhorst #wet #seayousoon

Artist ASMR!! This is what good paint sounds like 🎨

This collection features mostly water but I wanted to have at least one artwork with the beach in it. It wasn’t meant to be this one though! Originally this artwork was made to look like a pool but for many reasons that idea ended up not working out. For months I left the canvas unfinished until I finally realised what I could do instead. Without trying to overcomplicate the process, I stuck to a simple, central composition with a single figure of a little boy bravely taking his surfboard into the water. ‘Coast Is Clear’ 31 x 41cm Acrylic gel on canvas Artworks and printed editions will be released early next month. Feel free to join my mailing list for official updates 🌊 #wet #wernerbronkhorst #coastisclear