Waarom maak je kunst?

For me, making art feels like coming home after a long journey. It has become a deeply fulfilling part of my life, and I find great happiness in the process of painting. My goal is to create pieces that bring a sense of beauty, peace, warmth, and joy to those who look at them.

Hoe lang schilder je al?

I have been painting since childhood. As the demands of school and my corporate career gradually eased, art naturally became a vital part of my daily life. I returned to painting professionally in 2018, and I have been focusing exclusively on watercolor since 2023.

Heb je een formele kunstopleiding gevolgd?

My academic background is in Industrial Engineering, and I did not receive formal academic training in art. Apart from technical drawing courses at university, I took various courses in charcoal, acrylic, and oil painting over the years. I developed my own practice through continuous experimentation, observation, and self-study, alongside online courses and workshops with watercolor artists from around the world.

Ben je een professioneel kunstenaar of een hobbyist?

I am a full-time artist. After more than 20 years of corporate experience, I decided to devote myself fully to painting and make art my main profession. It was an important transition in my life.

Wie of wat inspireert je?

I find inspiration almost anywhere, but I am especially drawn to nature, atmospheric light, mist, quiet landscapes, and reflections on water. I am also deeply inspired by watercolor masters such as Joseph Zbukvic and Thomas W. Schaller.

Naar wat voor muziek luister je tijdens het schilderen?

I don’t have any particular music that I listen to while painting. I usually prefer to work in silence.

Heb je een mentor gehad?

I haven’t had one particular mentor. Instead, I’ve learned through observing, studying, and practicing, as well as through online courses and countless videos by different watercolor artists.

Schildert u elke dag?

Yes, I paint almost every day.

Schildert u één stuk tegelijk of werkt u aan meerdere tegelijk?

I usually prefer to focus on one painting at a time.

Maak je eerst een concepttekening?

Yes, usually. Before moving to the final paper, I often make small value studies or color tests to plan the composition, light, and my wet-on-wet strategy, while leaving room for the watercolor to surprise me.

Schildert u liever in een atelier of in de buitenlucht?

I mostly paint in my studio, where I can control the drying time, but I gather inspiration and reference photos from what I observe outdoors. I would love to spend more time painting plein air in the future.

Hoeveel basiskleuren gebruikt u?

I have a carefully selected core palette of 18 colors. I like having a relatively focused palette because it helps me understand my colors and the relationships between them.

Buisjes, pannen of stokjes?

Ik geef de voorkeur aan buizen.

Gebruik je maskeervloeistof?

Very rarely. I prefer to preserve the natural white of the paper through negative painting and careful brush control, using masking fluid only when really necessary.

Wanneer weet je dat je werkstuk af is?

I usually know a painting is finished when I feel that one more brushstroke might take something away from it. For me, leaving a painting a little early is usually better than overworking it.