Where do you find inspiration and what influences your drawing style and imagery?

I get my inspiration from daily mothering my daughter, my childhood memories and what I found important back than connected with what I find important today; my love for nature, joys that every season brings with itself, making constant connection with natural world around me and thinking how our ancestors did the same in some different and some same ways. I love to read Carl Jung and I try to put in some psychological aspects in my work as well, like facing fears and difficult emotions. Since I was a child I was in love with fairy tales and folklore my grandmother told me about so magic plays a big part in my work. Trying to get to know who I am and constantly answering that question, is what influence my artistic style the most. Bringing myself to my work is the most important to me.

What is your process?

I Love to read a lot (fiction books, essays, articles but mostly non fiction books lately). I get most of my ideas while reading which I then draw quickly in one of my sketchbooks. I write little notes of what colours I would use and later when the right time comes I transfer the sketch on a painting paper and paint it. While painting I am going a lot with the flow and many things get to change while working so I don’t always get what I initially imagined. Hope this sums up a bit my messy process.

What book has inspired you the most in your life?

It’s not one book but all books from Haruki Murakami, he is my favourite writer.

Do you take personal commissions (portraits, birth cards, etc.)?

No. At the moment I am focused on working on few book projects, my personal work and my web-shop.

But I still take few commissions a month for brands, magazines and shops.

How do you make your prints?

I make giclee prints on 350g etching paper. I order them from a printing company in Antwerp here in Belgium.

How do you choose your colour palette?

I have a Pinterest board where I collect my colour inspiration and I generaly love dusty pinks, vermilion red for accents, earthy colours and blues but at the end while painting I mostly get inspired by the colours of the season we are in.

Do you use procreate?

I don’t use it for making my work as i paint traditionally with gouache on paper, but I have it installed on my iPad and I use it after I scan my work to see if I would change something without risking it on the original painting.

Which paint and other equipment do you use?

I mostly use traditional Talens gouache (only sometimes I work with Acryla and Turner acrylic gouache), different types of colour and pastel pencils and I work on Arches hot pressed 300g watercolour paper.

When did you start your painting?

I started my painting training in high school and then got into art university where I studied painting and after did one master in painting and second master in drawing.

Have you always wanted to be an artist?

I remember there was a small period when I wanted to be biologist or to study psychology, but to be an artist was my wish since I remember myself. Colors and brushes were something I was always drawn to. 

What, to you, makes a piece of art interesting?

I love when there is some magic or something unexpected in a piece. But on the other hand, I also love simple daily joys captured in a work, as a reminder to be present and enjoy life and its beauty.

When do you consider a piece "done?"

When it says everything I want it to say.

For those who feel disconnected from their creativity, what do you recommend them to do in order to tap back into it?

What I try to do on daily basis is sketch, like every little thought that comes to my mind, or write them down until they come together in one bigger picture, read well written books about topics I am very interested in, journal, go for a walk in nature.

I would also highly recommend listening to the podcast  Creative Pep Talk — it gives the best advices on this topic.

How do you recommend we play?

Create for yourself, without the pressure of sharing it with anyone. Let yourself make mistakes and accept imperfections.