I have always been fascinated by what makes us unique. Whether it is people, animals or nature – I look for characteristics that are typical, traits that are hidden in the small details. The fall of light on a surface, the position of a head, a revealing look – these are the things that I pay attention to and inspire me to paint.

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My love for art began early, in a home where creativity played a big role. However, it was only later, when I first started working with oil paint, that everything fell into place. Capturing the feeling of mixing colours, the subtle play of light and shadow – I felt I had found my calling.

 

For me, painting a portrait is a search for the essence of someone or something. I combine my eye for form, incidence of light and eye for detail with a deep admiration for what makes a person, animal or horse unique. I am not only concerned with an accurate representation, but with evoking a feeling, a connection that touches the viewer and continues to intrigue.

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Craftsmanship is the foundation of my work; taking the time to bring detail and nuance to life. Authenticity plays an important role in this – not only in the portrait, but in the connection between me and the subject. This results in an honest and integral reflection of that moment. An encounter that lives on in an image, timeless and lasting.

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Portrait painting is my way of silently expressing my deep appreciation, respect and wonder for creation.

And maybe my work will help to awaken that in someone else as well.

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Experience

My artistic development was fueled by my youth, in which I was surrounded by drawing and painting materials. From my father's studio to visits to museums and the pleasant visits to the shop with painting supplies in Arnhem, Peter van Ginkel. The urge to create was in my blood from an early age.

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My father, an artist himself, guided me in my development as an artist and passed on knowledge and an attitude towards creativity that has been shared within our family for generations. His wisdom and experience have helped me refine my craft and find my own artistic path.

 

Philips

After studying industrial design in Delft and four years as an independent entrepreneur, I was given the opportunity to develop innovative designs as Creative Director with various teams at Philips Design. But capturing the essence of a person or animal ultimately gave me the most satisfaction: After 30 years, my passion was no longer in designing objects, but in painting.

 

I began to apply the focus, care and customer-oriented approach I had built up in the design world to my painting – with the aim of not only creating technically perfect portraits, but images that touch and evoke a feeling.

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The experiences I gained in the corporate world have sharpened my ability to work creatively within structures, and always put the customer's vision first.

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Since mid-2022 I have been an entrepreneur again, now as a painter, and I have come home to it. Painting a portrait is a challenge that will probably continue to fascinate me for a long time: it is not only about continuing to develop technique, but especially about working with feelings.

 

That combination functions for me as a grinding stone for my humanity: As a portrait painter I have to erase myself more and more during the process. Ultimately it is about memories of others, evoked by the portrait.

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Read more about it here.

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