Els Coppens-van de Rijt explained

Johanna Elisabeth "Els" Coppens-van de Rijt (born August 18, 1943) is an artist and author from Vlierden, Netherlands.

Coppens-van de Rijt was born in Sint-Oedenrode, as one of twins to a Roman Catholic family with 11 children. She studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven with Kees Bol and Jan Gregoor and at the Art Academy of Maastricht.^[1] Here she met her husband, sculptor Joep Coppens.

After her studies she made name as a painter, in particular of portraits.^[2] She ceased painting, however, due to having the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Since, she has been writing among others on her Christian belief.

Books written

• 1996 - The other reality
• 1997 - I stayed at the edge of the river
• 2002 - Frank letters of belief
• 2008 - Martien Coppens, from village boy to city man (with Joep Coppens)

Further reading

• Leo Brabander: Ziekte en lijden voegen iets toe aan ons leven (Dutch: Disease and suffering add something to our lives), book chapter on Els Coppens van de Rijt in Geloven in Nederland. (Dutch: Believing in the Netherlands). Kampen: Kok, 2006, p. 38-43.
• Joep en Els Coppens. Neerpelt: De Dommelhof, 1971.

Notes and References

1. http://www.synccp.nl/zkii/default.asp?page=item&ID=2909 Els Coppens-van de Rijt at Personalia
2. Brabander L: Geloven in Nederland. (Dutch for Believing in the Netherlands). Kampen: Kok, 2006, p. 39.