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local Tuesday 18 OcTOber 2022
The life in balance of Aruban impressionist artist, Elvis Tromp

ORANJESTAD – He had barely a he was ten years old. “It was a
few hours to complete the paint- painting of Alto Vista. The paint
ing of House Ecury for the unveiling wasn’t even dry, but even like that
ceremony of the 103rd commemo- I sold it.” Elvis determined the price
rative house of KLM, but the chal- himself. “It was a very low price. But
lenge didn’t affect Elvis Tromp’s the late Julie Oduber was selling my
(59) concentration. Not even with paintings and one of her assistants
all the guests around him, chatting, said that a collector in the Nether-
asking questions, was the painter lands had 24 of my paintings.” Elvis
hindered in his goal, which was wasn’t even 15 years old.
making sure that there is a com-
pleted painting ready to be gifted Elvis’ intention was to save money
to the director of KLM for a special to go study in the Netherlands as
moment for Aruba and for KLM. soon as he finished Colegio Aru-
bano (Aruba’s highest secondary
And those who know Elvis know education). It was his cousin who
that this is the way the Aruban came with a letter already written
painter works. He has a wide port- for Elvis to just sign to apply for a Elvis Tromp is autodidactic when art where he determines the lim-
folio of remarkable paintings, most job at the government. “I filled it in it comes to his art and his ambi- its himself. “Perhaps that is what
of which a reflection of landscape with the intention for working there tion was to become a really good keeps me in balance”, Elvis com-
and architecture of Aruba. But per- temporarily, and then go study.” painter. He had to teach him- mented. “I put a lot of time in art to
haps what is attractive is that Elvis Elvis got the job and right away self the techniques that could’ve compensate my work that affects
is a tax controller during the day, began completing courses, and been a lot easier if he had studied people.” His hope is that one day
even though his intention was nev- in three years he became deputy art. But his discipline pushed him to he can dedicate completely to his
er to become a tax specialist. commissioner, something that nor- learn everything, even the ones he art, where he can affect people
Quite the opposite, Tromp’s inten- mally takes a lot longer to achieve. didn’t like, like the impasto tech- in the way he wants. In the mean-
tion was to learn information tech- “Every day after work I would study nique that has a lot of texture and time, he can count on a family that
nology combined with art studies, and that way I grew. By then, I from paint leads to creation. supports his passion. His wife and
but life had other plans for him. bought a car and was tied to other children know that in the hours af-
expenses which made it difficult to
Elvis always knew that his passion leave Aruba.” Elvis knew he liked fine paint right ter work, Elvis is in his studio, paint-
away, “but after a lot of practice, ing. In the weekend he spends
was in painting. His father worked I realized I got the technique and I some hours doing chores around
as a house painter and would Even so, Elvis retained the ambition liked it. After that, I realized that im- the house, but always reserves
bring the rest of his paint home, to continue studying and received pressionists painted like that, a long some hours for painting.
where his son would observe all the opportunity to follow an inter- time ago already. So I realized that
the colors, the mixes, for as far as nal course for tax controller orga- I discovered something for my- Elvis’ trajectory, from the child who
he can remember, this allowed the nized by the Tax Department at self that already existed for a long taught himself to paint, to one of
child to experiment. the University of Aruba, for which time.” And when Elvis realized this, the impressionist painters most ap-
a teacher came from the Nether- his own paintings started remind- preciated in Aruba, continues.
“I started drawing with pencil, but lands. And in two years, Elvis spe- ing him of the work of impressionists His vision for life after retiring from
I began using paint when I was cialized in tax document control who in the first instance he didn’t public service is one dedicated to
seven years old”, Elvis told us. The and other areas. like, because he liked realistic art. his art. And as he painted for the
reason he knows it was that age so event for KLM, the reality is that El-
clearly is thanks to neighbors who Because Elvis studied in Aruba, he Elvis’ life was marked by two ex- vis Tromp will only continue spread-
had his paintings stored from the didn’t realize his ambition to go
time he was that age. “I know for to an art academy in the Nether- tremes, a very rigid job and his ing his artistic wings even wider.q
sure in any case that at that age I lands. “But many people told me
was already using paint.” that perhaps it is good I didn’t go,
because in an academy they can
It was his father, a sculpture, who push a student in a specific direc-
stimulated Elvis’ creativity, and he tion. This allowed me to develop
began selling his art from a young my own technique.”
age. He sold his first painting when