I grew up in a family where there was a lot of drawing and painting. My father built his own atelier in the garden. I regularly stood wide-eyed watching him as he walked back and forth with his Sony Walkman on. Then distancing himself from his work, peering and back again for an adjustment or new stroke with a brush or large piece of chalk. Peter van Ginkel, the shop in Arnhem for artists' supplies, was a favourite outing. The smell in the shop alone.... I usually came home with a new pencil or eraser. The books with drawings of old masters on the bookshelf in the attic, I couldn't get enough of them. How do you do it! I copied a lot of them. 

 

Crafts and drawing were, of course, my favourite subjects at school. And not just because I was taught there by my father. Looking for security and a steady job, I chose a profession that would be as close to my passion as possible: industrial designer. My dream came true and I graduated in Delft. After four years of self-employment, I was hired at Philips in Amsterdam. A lot of kitchen appliances, irons, beauty and health equipment passed by. And the necessary design awards I and my colleagues proudly won. I worked for Philips Design for 14 years, roughly the second half of which I served as Creative Lead; leading a team of designers on a daily basis.

 

During that time, I married Leonie, we bought a house near a small forest, had 2 beautiful daughters, a cat came to live with us, and... I started drawing again. My need to create, to explore art, became very strong and increasingly caught my attention. Relatively simple ink portraits, became watercolour and acrylic paintings. Until I started mixing oil paints for the first time and it gave me butterflies in my stomach. Then I realised I had found something. 

 

Since 2020, I have been registered (again) with the chamber of commerce and in mid-2022 I became fully self-employed again. But now as a portrait painter and it feels like coming home. 

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Creating from the silence, the beautiful encounters, the craftsmanship and finally creating a timeless portrait that makes someone very happy is what gives me daily satisfaction.

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The effect of light and the suggestion of plasticity are facets of portraiture that fascinate me endlessly. I pay great attention to this and strive to ensure that the gradations of light, guide the eye delicately through a portrait. 

 

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Minimalist, layered, powerful, personal are words I use to describe my work. In both abstract and figurative work, I feel at home and mostly work from inner feelings and my emotions. In the portrait, I search for the soul.

 

I like to 'experiment' and work with different techniques. An 'accidental' touch is a typical signature, as well as expressive line work.

 

You can read more about me and my way of working via the blogs below. If you want to be kept up to date with what I make, consider signing up for the personal newsletter at the bottom of this page.