Biography: Born in 1914, Oudendag was a Dutch immigrant who lived and painted in the Vancouver and White Rock areas until his death in 1998. Fiercely individualistic with many eccentricities in both life and art, Egbert customized his paints with a guarded mix of varnish and oil, which he would transfer back into the tubes, creating a unique quality to his work. He worked almost exclusively en plein air, so primed Masonite panels were a convenient substrate for coastal landscapes, mountains, boats, beaches and many derelict sheds and buildings. Oudendag’s ‘alla prima’ style of oil painting was done in a direct, expressive way and completed while still wet. His works are distinctly minimalist and sparse, yet striking and subtle. Oudendag’s late friend and influential BC artist, Robert Genn, made a short documentary video about Egbert and has mentioned him in his Painter’s Keys newsletters. Genn observed, “He was a rugged individualist who was capable of running his own show, and completely oblivious to what other people thought.”’ (Source: Reference A Dictionary of Canadian Artists)
