I have been preparing my exhibition. ‘Between the lines’, it’s called, or ‘Tussen de regels door’ in Dutch. It will consist of 50 portraits of writers.

I’m surrounded by writers. Not real life ones, because that would get a little too crowded in my studio. Portraits.

I’m feeling a little down. My inner critic is shouting that I’m an ungrateful b*tch, because so many good things have been happening in my life lately, and if anything, I should be euphoric.

Last week I tried to move my enormous couch down a narrow staircase on my own. Of course I knew in advance that was a crazy idea. But I attempted anyway.

Five minutes later I rang my neighbor’s door, ashamed and feeling like a failure.

As an artist I’m often told to dream big, and to believe in my art. I try to do that, but last week I had a conversation I never thought to have in the coming ten years. It was epic.

“Why do you have pink hair?”, she asked me.
“It makes me smile”, I said, because that’s the truth.

We humans generally don’t like change. There are exceptions of course, but I definitely belong to the large group of people that don’t go looking for big changes. I don’t even like small changes, unless it involves a new pair of shoes ;)

When I was 16 I decided what kind of adult I was going to become. The traits I wanted to portray were based on the adults I was surrounded by. Only, I was determined to become the opposite of what they were.

The only thing that stands between who you are and who you want to be is a feeling you don’t want to feel. (Antrese Wood) Read that again.

Several people have told me they’d like to be in my studio when I paint. I’m not sure that would be very interesting for them, because most of the magic happens in my head.

There’s a lot to say about the internet, but I can’t imagine living without all the information, connections and learning opportunities we’ve got.
One of my favorite nuggets of wisdom on the www is this video.

I love making lists. They give me a sense of control over this (oftentimes crazy) life.So they’re supposed to make my existence a bit easier. But there’s one list that has made my life… to say it politely… so much harder. I just wasn’t aware of it.

Somehow the idea of one hundred million porselain sunflower seeds touches my heart deeply. And the more I read about this work of art that Ai Weiwei created years ago, the more obsessed I get.

They say a lot of creative people are. That it is helpful, because we see the world slightly different, and that different view makes our art relatable, refreshing. I agree.

My high sensitivity makes me see, feel, hear, smell a lot. And I mean: A LOT. As in: too much, actually. Nearly every day it leads me to be overwhelmed.