I did a 4 year art training in London, England, at the Croydon College of Art, the last two years of which was a post grad intensive illustration course (BA). That is why most of my paintings are a bit narrative. The Italian Renaissance painters, the Pré-Raphaelites, the French and American Impressionists (like John Singer Sargent)and the 19th century Russian realistic painters I consider my sources of inspiration. The illustrators who have influenced me are a.o. Howard Pyle, N.C.Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham, Alan Lee and James Avati. I love realism and fantasy and a good mixture of both. In all my illustrations and paintings I pay a lot of attention to well-considered composition, harmonious use of colors and good technique. Commissioned portraits I do in (colored)pencil, watercolor and oils. My purpose is to try to make my world a little bit more beautiful and with that I hope other people will enjoy what art and life has to offer. To me art is life. Art can make you happy, bring you peace, make you see things in a different way, and art can heal. I now live and work in the Netherlands, where I also teach art.
