His grandfather, who had several well-known artists as friends, noticed Ferdinand's talent for drawing and advised his father to have him given lessons by Johan Adolph Rust (1828–1915), a noted marine painter who taught at the local technical school.

Initially, he painted in the style of Amsterdam Impressionism but, while in Paris, came under the influence of Vincent van Gogh and Georges Seurat and adopted Pointillism.

He also travelled to Germany and Algeria, which proved to be a disappointment because it was too hot to work and he could not find any models.

He returned to Laren a year later, however; in 1910, he built a house, designed by Georg Sturm [nl].

[3] After his death, Johanna moved to Dornach, Switzerland, where Rudolf Steiner had established a private institute.