Waarom maak je kunst?
I enjoy playing with lines and colors. I love drawing black lines on white paper and filling them with my favorite hues. Looking at the finished work and seeing how the colors interact always brings me joy.

Hoe lang schilder je al?
I’ve enjoyed drawing since childhood. At age 14, I received my first watercolor set—a key moment for me. During my architecture studies, I learned to sketch on location and enhance my drawings with watercolor. Since 2014, I’ve been part of the Urban Sketching community. Today, my main passion lies in nature sketching and painting animal portraits.

Heb je een formele kunstopleiding gevolgd?
I am mostly a self-taught artist and have developed my skills through practice and personal exploration.

Ben je een werkende kunstenaar of een hobbyist?
I paint mainly as a hobby—art is my passion and what I do for enjoyment. However, I also teach online courses in sketching, so there is a professional side to my art practice.

Bij wie en/of wat zoek je inspiratie?
I find inspiration in nature and in encounters with animals, which often move me to capture their character in watercolor. I enjoy expressing the world through my own perspective—shaped by mood and emotion—and aim to reflect both the atmosphere of a place and the personality of the animals I paint. I also love documenting my travel experiences through sketching and painting.

Naar wat voor muziek luister je tijdens het schilderen?
Lounge music.

Heb je een mentor gehad?
I haven’t had a personal mentor, but I’ve learned a lot from books, online resources, and other artists.

Schilder je elke dag?
I try to draw or paint daily. Sometimes I only manage a quick sketch; other times, I return to an unfinished piece and add color. It’s not always a full painting session, but I make sure to stay connected to my practice.

Schilder je één stuk tegelijk of werk je aan meerdere tegelijk?
I often work on several pieces at the same time. Sometimes I create a sketch and return to add color much later.

Maak je eerst een conceptstuk?
No, I usually start directly with a sketch on location or from an idea. I work intuitively and let the piece develop as I go.

Schildert u liever in uw atelier of in de open lucht?
I enjoy both, but I especially love painting en plein air. Being outside in nature or the city gives me direct inspiration and helps me capture the atmosphere of a place. However, since I don’t always have the opportunity to sketch outdoors, I often work from reference photos. For animal portraits especially, I prefer to develop them calmly and in detail in my studio using photos as a guide.

Hoeveel basiskleuren gebruik je?
I love colors—which is why I own many! I don’t limit myself to basic colors; for example, I often hold several shades of green watercolor sticks in my hand and mix them directly on the paper.

Buizen, pannen of stokjes?
I have pans and use them occasionally, but I mainly work with watercolor sticks.

Gebruik je maskeervloeistof?
I use masking fluid only occasionally and rather rarely. Since I often apply color selectively and in a more restrained way, many areas of the paper remain naturally white.

When do you know a piece is finished?
I know a piece is finished when everything feels balanced—when the composition, colors, and details come together harmoniously. Often, it’s also a feeling I get when I step back and see that the artwork expresses what I intended. I try to use color sparingly and avoid overworking the painting, which is why I often stop earlier—even when I’m still enjoying the process.