On this page, I share a curated selection of blog articles that are internationally relevant and connected to my work as a portrait artist. These stories reflect encounters, collaborations and moments where art, music and personal history come together.
In addition, I occasionally share video fragments and vlogs that offer a closer look into my working process.
Now that the design of Holding Bowie is nearing completion, I would like to share something about the adventure and the extraordinary process behind it. The idea for this intimate interlude quite literally came to me on my father’s birthday, 4 October 2025. This year, everything came together: a tribute to my musical hero David Bowie, dedicated to my father, who passed away on 6 January 2025.
Before setting off with my friends Joop Koning and Hélène IJspelder to Château d’Hérouville, just north of Paris, I had my doubts. As someone who doesn’t drive, I was not exactly looking forward to the long journey, arriving at a nearby Ibis Budget Hotel in the middle of the night, only to get a few hours of sleep before heading straight to the famous château the following morning.
The first time I ever picked up a brush to paint a portrait in oil must have been around the age of twelve. I painted my very first musical hero: Sting. At the time, I was completely immersed in the music of The Police. My brother Marijn and I would play their cassette tapes over and over again. So Lonely was my favourite track, and I insisted on performing it at school parties - which I did.
