Noël van Hoof was born in the Netherlands in 1963. He acquired some skills and techniques at the St. Joost Art Academy in Breda. He works primarily with ecoline (watercolour) and oil, mostly combined in one work. The themes in his paintings are mostly derived from or a reference to another work of art: a painting, a book, a film or a piece of music (or the composer of the music). He has developed his own style, sometimes close to cartoons, posters or illustrations. Noël doesn’t see himself as a pioneer. “Whether a painting is pioneering is not important to me. The point is: does it reach your heart, does it make you smile, or does it give you a view that you didn’t have before.” Artist’s website: www.artmajeur.com/noël_van_hoof