From inspiration to object – a new series
For me, inspiration doesn’t come from one fixed place.
It’s in everything around me.
In shapes on the street, in the structures of objects, in lines that don’t seem to have a clear beginning or end.
Sometimes that inspiration is also found in the work of other artists.
A certain freedom. A way of seeing.
A style that resonates with me.
During a visit to the Kröller-Müller Museum , I literally walked through a work like that.
Jean Dubuffet – Jardin d’émail
In the sculpture garden lies Jardin d’émail (1974) by Jean Dubuffet.
A large, white landscape with black lines, as if you’re stepping into a drawing.
What draws me to this work is its simplicity.
The graphic interplay of line and surface.The strong contrast between black and white..
The lines don’t follow a strict system, but seem to emerge intuitively.
You walk through it.
And suddenly, you become part of the drawing.
Why this work
In my first series of objects, I translated forms into graphic patterns in beige and black..
Black and white remains my foundation.
After working with color for a while, I always find myself returning to that origin.
What stays with me about Dubuffet , is not just how it looks, but how it feels:
- freedom in line work
- no perfect symmetry
- a play between surface and depth
- simplicity with layers
It confirms something I always feel in my own work:
that lines don’t have to be perfect, as long as they work.
From observation to creation
After a visit like this, I don’t immediately recreate something.
But something stays with me.
A way of working.
A rhythm.
In my studio, this often finds its way into new objects, sometimes much later.
As my own translation, in my own way.
New series: revived treasures
In this new series, you can see that reflected.
The foundation remains the same:
found objects,restored and brought back to life.
But the lines have become looser.
More graphic. More present.
As if they don’t just sit on the object,
but are part of it.
Sometimes they follow the form.
Sometimes they move against it.
Where form and line come together
What I find interesting is that this lijnvoering line work doesn’t only appear in objects,
but also in my paintings.
It moves back and forth.
From surface to form.
From painting to object.
And back again.
Not created as a set.
Yet still connected.
Why this matters in my work
At Studio TitForTat , it’s about seeing potential in what already exists.
And translating that into something new.
Sometimes it starts with a found object..
Sometimes with a line.
And sometimes with an experience.
The concept of Studio TitForTat truly makes my heart beat faster.
I feel that these forgotten objects deserve to be seen again.
This style and series make me especially excited.
I can’t wait to finish the pieces and add them to the webshop.
I’m very curious to hear what you think.
Hopelijk worden jullie net zo enthousiast als ik ♡
Want to see more?
Curious about the wall art where this line work also appears?
Stay tuned. This line feels right. I’m taking it further.
Explore more or keep reading?
Discover the paintings of Studio TitForTat here - hand-painted, original, and full of character.
And here you can read more about how Studio TitForTat works - from forgotten object to bold home décor.
