JAN COUPERUS

My grandfather, Jan Couperus was born on October 13, 1890 on a farm in the small village of Gaastmeer, situated in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. Two years later his family moved to another small town called Gaast where he received his first private lessons in drawing. In 1902 his family moved again to Heech where his talents were noticed and was told that he should become an artist (painter). Unfortunately, financial circumstances did not allow this and Jan attended a vocational school from 1904 until 1907 to learn the house painter trade. After a short stint as a house painter's mate, he opened up his own house painter's business in Sint Anna Parochie, at the same time continuing his education in the art of painting and drawing. In 1922 he was offered a temporary teaching job at the vocational/trade school in Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. A year later this became a permanent job, teaching technical drawing at the school until his retirement in 1955... During World..