“Starting anew” has been a defining thread throughout my life—shaped by circumstance, family, personality, and the many blessings I’ve experienced. I first started anew when, at age seven my family immigrated to the USA from Indonesia and The Netherlands. I am Friedje vanGils, mother, grandmother and retired catalyst for the re-start of Escuela del Sol Montessori and the founder of its outreach program, The Harwood Arts Center. 
 
Spending time with artists in their studios, in the galleries, watching their process and learning from them was eye-opening and inspirational. Encaustic art classes at The Harwood rekindled a creative spark I was able to fully embrace in retirement.
 
Now in a new phase as a practicing artist, I continue to develop my craft with curiosity and intention, building on a lifetime of educational practice, blending pedagogy, community stories, digital learning and visual experimentation. 
 
A longtime photographer interested in preserving the beauty of nature and everyday moments, I am exploring new ways to share images, evolving from traditional darkroom printing to photo encaustics and gel prints, sometimes using encaustic and gel in tandem. I am discovering new processes while working to refine and expand my practice.