Biography

Violet Onderwater paints with acrylic on canvas, drawing from themes inspired by the natural world. Symbolic and representative, her paintings are imbued with themes of rebirthing, transformation, purity, courage, reflection, and awareness.

She aims to portray her fascination and deep admiration for the natural world through her artwork in a way that enthuses our love for nature and invokes a deeper connection to ourselves and the natural world around us. Aspiring to join in a collective and positive transformation of the world, where we can thrive with nature in harmony, and feel more grounded within ourselves and the planet.

Violet was born in London and grew up between England and the Netherlands. It was early on in her life she was inspired to forge a path towards becoming an artist, her mother also being an artist meant an upbringing of frequent visits to all the wonderful London art museums and galleries. She then moved to the Netherlands and studied at Artez Art Academy in Arnhem, Netherlands, then continued to the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, academy for fine arts and design in Amsterdam. From there she started traveling, exploring different regions in the world and discovering a special affinity for America, thus settling there.

Across America she started live painting and exhibiting her work at festivals, fundraisers, galleries, bars, clubs, numerous art walks across California and other events. Some of the festivals she has live painted and exhibited her work include; Gem and Jam Festival, Serenity Gathering, Wanderlust Festival, Joshua Tree Music Festival, Cascadia NW Arts and Music Festival, Guitarfish Music Festival, Whole Earth Festival, Summer Arts and Music Festival and Suspended in a Sunbeam. She has sold work internationally and has a collection of her work for sale in a couple of different shops across California as well as online.

During Violets time in Los Angeles she started collaborating with art ninja, Mitchelito Orquiola, who co-founded the Mar Vista Art Walk. Starting their collaborative work together at the beginning of 2016, they have not wasted any time creating, already with a full body of works, numerous events, art walks, shows and festivals behind them. They have also created three murals internationally, one at the Flying Fish Boutique Hostel in the Philippines, one at the restaurant Louies of Mar Vista in Los Angeles, and one in a recording studio in Seattle. Their collaborative style is a fusion of Mitchelitos use of expressive lines, shapes and patterns, enhanced by the precise detailing and shading of Violets brushstrokes, making the artwork pop from its unique blend. 

Now Violet is based out of Northern California, though travels frequently for live painting events, exhibits, or to work on her collection.