Where are you from?
I was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Now I live in the North East of the country.
Describe your art style in 3 words?
Simplicity, colors and shapes.
Name 3-5 consistent elements of your art routine.
For my ‘hard edge’ paintings I tried a couple approaches when starting a new design, but I find it works best when I use the computer. I push shapes around until I’m happy with the result. This way I create a lot of images of which I make a selection to actually transform into paintings.
I prefer a linen canvas, but that’s more expensive than cotton, so I don’t use it a lot.
I used to paint with colors straight out of the tube, but recently started mixing colors a lot more.
I rarely use varnish to finish a painting. I like to see the texture of the canvas and the more paint and/or varnish you put on it, the less texture you see. But for some paintings it is appropriate, so I like to experiment more with that. It’s also kind of scary to varnish a painting if you have little experience with it.
What are your favourite colours to use at the moment?
I just got a tube of Phthalo Blue I would like to try. And I always liked chromium oxide green. I like greens and blues in general, but sometimes a painting needs vermillion, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna or whatever.
What artistic advice would you give to your younger self? (in less than 30 words)?
Just do it. Don’t think too much about it, but just go for it and see where you end up.
Name an artistic medium you’d like to try?
I paint with acrylics, because it is the most practical at the moment. But I like to give oil paint another try. I’ve used it in the past when I was taking some art lessons but don’t have a lot of experience with it.
Do you paint with music? (If so, who are you listening to nowadays)
It depends. Sometimes I like complete silence when I have to concentrate. Sometimes I like to crank it up, and listen to heavy guitar rock (AC/DC, Van Halen, Deep Purple). And sometimes I’m in the mood for classical music or Frank Zappa.
Name your favourite film director?
Hmm, tough one. There are so many. I would say Christopher Nolan. I love all his movies. Long time ago I interviewed him for a local radio station, around the time Memento came out. He was really nice and we talked about the novel The Darkroom of Damocles (by Dutch author W.F. Hermans) when he heard I was studying Dutch Literature.
What is your favourite decade of music?
I would say the eighties or nineties.
Which is your favourite art movement?
I don’t have a favorite movement, but I do have a lot of favorite artists. All very different. To name just a few: Piet Mondrian, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, Sigmar Polke, Keith Haring, Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Gerhard Richter, Le Corbusier…
What/where is your favourite art gallery?
When I’m in Amsterdam I like to visit Het Stedelijk Museum. But I also like the Kunstmuseum in The Hague a lot.
Which city or country inspires you the most?
Berlin.
What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
For years I was a project manager for a large publishing house in The Netherlands.
What’s your favourite quote or maxim to live by?
Just do it.
Name an artist on instagram that we need to follow?
Dutch photographer Gerald Emming (@geraldos65). I especially love his 30 seconds project (@30secondsportraits).
Besides painting, name another way you are creative
At the moment I’m giving calligraphy a try. And I started playing the electric guitar again. Years ago I used to play in a band and we wrote our own music. I like to do that again if I have the time. But I’m not the type of musician to write music on my own, I like to do that together with others. I’m planning to put an amplifier in my studio but have to make room first. 😁