Introduce yourself. Where are you from?
Originally from the Nederlands, our family moved to Canada in 1997, after having lived in England for 8 years in between.
Tell us about your business. How did you get started with painting?
I grew up in a creative household and have been drawing and painting from an early age as well as many other hobbies and creative expressions. I didn't get serious about the fine arts until after high school though and a two year stint working as a Delft Blue Pottery Painter (and yes, they are painted by hand).
Why did you choose this career path? What made you interested in painting?
It is part of who I am, and not creating is not an option for me. The creative form can change over time, but for those of us who are in the creative field, the need to BE creative is alway present. It is like eating and drinking: one can do without the necessities of life for a while, but it isn't pretty when deprived of them for too long. Being creative is part of that package of necessities for me and paint and brushes just feel natural.
Who is your inspiration?
Nature is the deepest well of inspiration, in all its form and at every moment. The Creation is splendid, the patterns in it astounding and its intricacy mind boggling. If I can persuade one person to stand still a bit longer at the mystery of a sunrise, the grouping of stones in a river, or the buzzing of bees on a lazy summer afternoon, I have done my job as a painter.
When it comes to examples of painters who have gone before me, the impressionists and the group of seven come to mind.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
10 years from now, I would hope to sell a few more paintings :), be at work in my studio on a regular basis, teaching some art classes and enjoying what Creation has to offer us.
