A story without an ending

For me, making art comes from a natural need to create something with my hands. Making with my hands make my ideas more specific and keeps them from floating around in my head. Creating with my hands is a different kind of thinking, with different outcomes and possibilities.

At the same time, for me, making my art, is accompanied by a flow of thoughts. Thoughts in the form of random words, inspirations, ideas and feelings. They arise while working in my studio, but also outside my studio, in the car, on my bicycle, while swimming or when I am reading a book.

In order not to forget these inspiring thoughts, I try to write down as many of them as possible. Some are immediately useful in a project, others are not, so I save them for later or they are forgotten. When I reread them, all of those random fragments can inspire me again to create something new. Making art this way seems to be a self-sustaining process, like a story without an ending.

The rewards

Working in this self-sustaining process gives me a sense of freedom. Freedom to create what I want, in the way I see fit. Because of that freedom, creating art is a way to relax and step away from the daily grind of work and obligations. In a way, the time I spend in my studio is a kind of mini-holiday.

I also experience satisfaction in coming up with solutions to the challenges I encounter. Of course, those challenges also bring frustration; it’s not always sunshine and roses in my studio. But on days when things are tough, overcoming the difficulties makes the reward even bigger.

The practice of art isn't to make a living. It's to make your soul grow.
Kurt Vonnegut 
American writer and painter (1922 - 2007)

Are you curious about my process? I’ll tell you more about it in my next blog.

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