My process is one of layering, but ultimately it is also about relinquishing control and taking it back time and time again. This is where I see the analogies between the process of painting and life in general. Life is a constant balance of trusting your intuition and the unfolding of life, yet deliberately choosing what to let go of and what to move towards. It’s the same in painting. The journey is the goal, and I can only fully experience the journey if I stay focussed on the process and willing to let go of what’s already there to move forward.

I work on a number of paintings at the same time, starting my work with an intuitive approach and no end result in mind. It is only during the actual painting process that I get a sense of where the painting is heading. If I get stuck and am afraid to continue working on a painting that is not yet resolved, I often find myself drastically overpainting parts of the painting to take back control and liberate myself from the anxiety of ruining the work. My paintings evolve with each layer of paint, but the history remains underneath, leaving hints to what was there before.

I constantly balance intuitive interactions with paint and texture with conscious adjustments of color and composition. You will often find me using unusual tools such as sharp-edged stones or screwdrivers to deliberately create marks that are rough and uncontrollable. These marks add a sense of spontaneity and looseness to the painting and in addition allow me to overcome my perfectionist tendencies. The actual act of being in the moment is what informs the content and final outcome of my work. My process focussed practice inspires my art to be permeated with a sense of spaciousness, freedom and uninhibitedness.