About Lenora Dontens

Lenora Dontens is the artist name of Nina Hendrikse. I chose the name Lenora because it means ‘light’. In my paintings, I use light and shadow to create depth and bring my subjects to life.I'm a self-taught artist and usually paint with watercolors. Aquarelle flows freely and is untamable, which matches my personality. Moreover, I love how watercolors allow me to achieve both soft washes and crisp, intricate details. It’s a medium I can experiment with endlessly. I’m constantly exploring the boundaries of watercolor and seeking to push its limits further.

Having experimented with various styles, I have developed a particular fondness for realism, which is the style I most frequently paint in. Whether in my botanical works, animal paintings, portraits, or figures, I prefer to depict my subject in a highly realistic manner and with great detail, while intentionally leaving the background somewhat less defined to ensure that the focus remains on the main subject.

My greatest sources of inspiration are nature and mythology. I was born in 1998 in Belgium and later moved to the Netherlands. Growing up in the village of Berlare in East Flanders, I often went for walks along the Donkmeer lake and in the woods. Since then, I've had a deep appreciation and admiration for nature, which is reflected in my paintings. I even created a board and card game about mushrooms, for which I painted all the artwork using watercolors to help children connect nature and introduce them to handmade illustrations.

I've always been interested in learning about different cultures and their myths and legends. In a world that's becoming increasingly polarized, I want to bring people together by sharing stories from all cultures. I hope not only to celebrate our differences, but also to highlight our similarities. In Norse mythology, for example, the goddess Idun has golden apples which keep the gods young, and in Taoism, Xiwangmu has peaches of immortality. With my goddesses series, I also want to showcase many forms of human beauty. In today’s social media landscape, with all its filters and retouching, it sometimes seems as though only one face shape with certain features is considered attractive. Through my paintings, I strive to portray different types of beauty and celebrate diversity.