Courtesy Jan Min, watercolorsjanmin.c0m
Dutch watercolorist Jan Min was traveling on Vancouver Island two years ago when he came across a tranquil scene at the dock that inspired his painting Morning Mist. “If I see boats in the mist, then I’m sold,” he says. “Especially when there’s a strong backlight or a misty mood, then I love to paint it.”
Artwork and the sea have always been in Min’s blood. His father was a sailor, and his grandfather collected paintings. Inspired by visits to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam with his grandfather, where he was introduced to 17th-century maritime artists Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son, Willem van de Velde the Younger, Min began painting sea battles in oil at a young age.
“The sea has always attracted me,” says Min, who spent 20 years working as a doctor for the Royal Dutch Navy and previously owned large sailboats. “Whenever I am on the water, I’m happy.”
After retiring from the medical field in the early 2000s, Min picked up his oil brushes again and devoted himself to drawing and painting full time, taking a five-year course at the Gooise Academie of Laren. A couple of years later, he transitioned entirely to watercolor. “For me, it’s the best way to represent water,” he says.
Now, a day never goes by that Min doesn’t pick up a brush, even when he’s traveling. He often paints dreamy subjects that invite interpretation, using reference photos he takes himself and occasionally making first impressions en plein air. He focuses more on feeling than detail so as not to overwhelm the viewer with too much information.
“If you are looking at that subject, then you can dream yourself away,” he says. “Is it misty? Will it clear up? Are they leaving? I love if people make their own story, because I make these subjects with a feel of soul and serenity. I want to transfer that feeling to my audience.”
Min co-founded the Dutch chapter of the International Watercolor Society in 2015 and has served as president of the organization since 2022. He is also a signature member of the Pittsburg Watercolor Society, San Diego Watercolor Society, American Society of Marine Artists and Northwest Watercolor Society. In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious title of IWS Master. His work has been displayed in exhibits and publications around the world. He shares his knowledge with others through demonstrations, workshops and courses in watercolor painting.
This article was originally published in the August 2026 issue.
