Annette Kraft van Ermel

Annette Kraft van Ermel is an award-winning Canadian artist currently residing in Waterloo, Ontario.

Annette received her BFA from York University in Toronto and has painted and exhibited ever since. Often confused with being a traditional encaustic artist, Annette has uniquely developed her own technique of using wax with her oil painting.
Charcoal drawings inspired by nature are enveloped with hot wax before painting begins. Layers of oil are applied and manipulated to intentionally obscure the familiar. Subjects, often bees and flora emerge with complexity and edge. Annette’s pieces are known for their raw allure, nature reimagined.

With the pandemic and other life-changing events occurring over the past couple of years, Annette’s process is evolving, transforming and taking a refreshing, new direction. 

Annette’s work has appeared in television shows such as CTV's 'The Marilyn Denis Show', CBC's 'Workin' Moms', Décor programs and magazines such as HGTV and Style at Home, book covers such as Steven Ehrlick’s novel ‘The Channel’, in theatre productions, and music videos such as David Bowie’s ‘Dead Man Walking.’  Annette has also painted creatively for productions such as CBC’s ‘The Rick Mercer Report’, ‘The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos and NBC’s popular game show ‘Deal No Deal’ with Howie Mandel. In 2015, Annette won the Silver Award for the Centre for International Governance Innovation’s Art Competition.

Private collections - New York City, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Brazil and across Canada.