Short notes after the events I paint — who was in the room, how the night went, and what the portraits turned out like.
I don't usually commute through peak hour traffic to paint portraits. But Kuala Lumpur has a way of making you say yes to things. I was engaged by WIP, a restaurant and bar in the vibrant city centre, to paint live on Ladies Night for three consecutive weeks. The evenings were sponsored by Herradura Tequila, and any lady who ordered...
Every live painting event surprises me in some way. I'd been hired to create live portraits at Build Your Archive, a cultural event in Rotterdam organised by Pan Asian Collective and Onni Rotterdam. The event was supported by Stadsarchief Rotterdam and Museum Fenix. The afternoon centred on the stories and origins of Asian women in the Netherlands: where they came...
Much like reading, when you look at people, you don't need to study every detail to recognise someone. In a split second, we take in the general structure — height, colouring, size — of a person and already know who it is. Then we spend the next seconds taking in more detail, but this is more to determine, perhaps, how...
People want gifts that feel personal. Whether they cost a little or a lot, people like to receive a gift and get the feeling that some thought went into the picking of it. I've always enjoyed browsing the shops or online for gift ideas that I think might suit the recipient. But now that I have kids, time is more...
If you’ve ever looked into commissioning a custom portrait, you may have wondered why the price can vary so much.
After my first live painting event at the Plant Market in Hoorn, I was ready to try my hand at a private event. It would be quite different — instead of the general public walking by, sometimes stopping to take a look, at a private event, guests can really come up close. It's the same group of people, mingling, socialising,...
Writing a graduation card can feel harder than it should. You want something meaningful but not awkward. Whether you’re congratulating your child, a friend or a university graduate, here are 50+ graduation card messages you can copy, personalise and make your own.
Most people aren’t sure which photo is best to send as reference for a portrait, and that's okay! My portraits represent likenesses and stories, rather than being a realistic representation. This makes it easy when it comes to picking a good photo to send over. A good rule of thumb is: “If I can clearly see the face and hair, I...
How many birthday cards have you bought in the past year? I have a relatively small circle of family and friends here in The Netherlands, and even then, I only really give cards when it's accompanied by a present in person. Still, every time I write in a card, I want it to mean something. It's not just an accompanying...
This tool is amazing for many reasons. I get to create lots of different portrait elements, and you get to mix and match what suits you. It's a unique illustration each time, and I love seeing what everyone designs. The best thing is that the variations are almost endless, as I keep adding more designs to it every day. So...
