What Happened When I Painted Live at Build Your Archive
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 from, where their parents came from, whether they feel they belong here. It was thoughtful, personal, and political in a gentle way.
My role was to offer something visual alongside that. I created a series of hand-drawn portraits organised around three emotional themes: Grounded, Moving, and Holding. Each figure was inspired by its own theme: a distinct pose, no labels. Guests were invited to look at the three poses and choose the one that reflected how they felt in that moment. Then I'd personalise it with their hairstyle, working from a quick photo, and hand it to them to take home.
Before the event, I was asked by the organiser to create eight portraits as Thank You gifts to the heritage experts from the archive and museum. For me, pre-orders are great, because the more I prepare beforehand, the more comfortable I feel on the day.
I arrived at Museum Fenix. Everyone was busy but relaxed. They were warm and welcoming. They understood the meaning of the moment and created the right vibe.
Guests started arriving and eleven commissions came in a row. Many guests spent several minutes considering the poses and the themes, trying to match how they felt inside to what they saw outside. It was very touching to have them discuss it with me and hearing them with other guests.
Still, eleven commissions in two hours builds pressure. I know what I'm doing, but these things can't be rushed.
A music act started mid-session and the guests sat down right next to me, close enough to watch. This gave me some space and time to catch up on the portraits. I kept drawing.
I only started to breathe again when I looked down and recognised each face in the sketch. That moment when the lines become a person. That's when I knew it would be okay.
What struck me most was how people engaged with the unlabelled pieces. There was a small sign explaining what Grounded, Moving, or Holding represented. But it was still up to the guests to interpret the poses themselves. They looked, they sat with it, and they decided.
One person said she didn't feel like her chosen theme right now, but it was what she aspired to be.
Another said she felt Moving, but chose the thoughtful figure because she felt represented as a scholar.
Someone nearby commented to a friend: "It's so simple but powerful."
That's what live portrait painting can do in the right setting. It gives people a mirror. Not a literal one, but something that reflects how they feel, or who they want to become.
By the end of the event I had sold 19 portraits and gently turned one person away because I had nothing left. I packed up my things, said goodbye, received a very thoughtful bag of fruits, and got in the car with a smile.
If you're organising a cultural event, a community programme, or a gathering where the people in the room have stories worth honouring, I'd love to hear from you.