Interviews with artists are often very interesting and insightful and I always enjoy learning how other artists get inspired, how they practice art and why they became an artist. Therefore, I am very happy that Wescover, the place to discover art and design in unique spaces, asked me to do a interview about my art practice. The full interview is on my Wescover artist page, and below are a few excerpts.
What motivates and inspires you?
"My sculptures and wall art are inspired by nature, life and the uniqueness of the reclaimed wood I use. Each piece of wood is unique. I try to discover what wants to emerge. Sometimes, I can see it from the outside, but often I start carving to have the color and flow of the wood grain guide me."
What is your favorite material to work with?
"Reclaimed wood, mostly redwood is my material. I like the material because it is very unpredictable, has dramatic variations in grain and colors, features cracks and discolorations that offer many surprises and forces me to improvise, which I enjoy. Also, with my work I want to demonstrate that re-use of old material is not just a necessity but also a beautiful and inspiring part of our existence and future."
How do your pieces come to life? Tell us one interesting thing about your creative process?
"After carving and sanding I still don’t know how the final piece will look like because the various wood pieces have a similar color. Only after I apply the linseed oil, the pieces really come to life with vibrant natural colors, flowing grain lines and unique imperfections of the reclaimed wood. There is a lot of surprise and uncertainty in my work, which I enjoy, and so far I was not let down, simply because wood is a natural material, and nature is just beautiful."
What funny moments, unexpected surprises, or obstacles have you encountered?
"The unexpected surprise: While working on a large sculpture, cut-off pieces of wood accumulated on the floor of my studio. One day, I noticed the scattered pieces forming a wave. I put the pieces on a table and played with them for a while, then I started gluing them together in a wave-like shape and eventually carved them. This first wall sculpture “The Wave” resulted into a completely new series (Nature) with over 30 artworks."