Tell us how you got into art
I started to paint with oil colors at the age of 6 or 7. My grandfather was an art-painter. I loved my grandfather. Every year in the school holidays, I spent weeks of free time in his house, and we would paint together. We made copies of pictures from Rembrandt, Picasso and other famous artists. Since then, I’ve never stopped painting. It’s my life. Shortly after my education, I made the decision to live as a free artist. In 1993, I was 24 years old. It was a very hard life. But at this time, I worked in three ways to make it possible to get money for living: ceramic mosaics, porcelain and paintings. I am very thankful that I could do this.
Where did you study?
First, I got an education as a porcelain-painter. Most of the time, I painted flowers on white cups or plates. After three years, I studied at a school for design. It was a product-design school with two possibilities: sculpture and painting. I was chosen the class of painting and drawing for three years. So, you can say my education as an artist took six years.
What are your inspirations?
Oh, it’s difficult to say it exactly. I have been a painter for more than forty years and in this time, the inspirations have always changed. At this time, or for the last 5 years, I would say my inspirations come from the universe, from nature, from the stars. Sometimes it’s very inspiring for me to do absolutely nothing for a few hours. It’s like a meditation before I start with a new painting. Perhaps my inspirations come from God. I also love the paintings and drawings of little children. They are so free and they don’t think twice. The lines or colors are come easily while they are painting. This is a fantastic way.
What form of painting would you say your art is?
I love the circle, the square and the triangle. I also love red, blue and yellow. But I do not paint in the form of formalism. It is a poetic art. I want to tell little stories with my oil pictures. If you want, you can call it poetical formalism. But it is not enough. It is also very expressive, the signs of the brushes! It is a new way of painting.
Who are your clients?
People who can read my message. It is a message for change. We must make change happen. We are living on a ball in the universe. We must learn again how fragile we are and we must learn again to love nature, animals and each other. My clients are very different and come from all over the world.
Have you done many art shows?
I have done art shows since 1989, so for about 30 years. Most are solo-exhibitions. Normally, I do one or two shows in a year, but the last time, I took a break. I am waiting for an interesting offer from a gallery or a cool location.
Many cities would be interesting for me to make an exhibition with my art. I often show my paintings in my studio. Next to my working area, I have a showroom to present my art. My studio is big enough with 500 square-meters. Perhaps the future is also to show my art on the world-wide-web.
What is your next series?
The last big picture I painted is the one with the title “Take a Look to the Stars.” I think I will paint more in this style. I think it will be a new series, with reduced colors: white, red, black and a variety of natural brown.
In these painted colors on the canvas, I make my scratchings with a pencil and I write my messages like a child.
Which series are you the most proud of?
A few years ago, I was changing my paintings. First, the canvas was completely painted with colors. Now, and for me this is a very big series, I like it to play with the natural canvas in combination with pencil and oil colors.
I like this bright brown of the canvas. I am proud to found this way. Sometimes, I write my messages in the paintings. This is also new, over the last few years. Both characteristics I am very happy to discover.
Which artists inspire you the most?
Joan Miro, Paul Klee, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Cy Twombly. I love the work of Basquiat and Twombly!
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