“The first artist and painter I’ve met in my life was my dad.”

My dad played a very important role early on in my creative, artistic and intellectual life. When I was born a dream came true for him as he always wanted to have a daughter first with whom he wanted to share the good and enjoyable things in life such as music, history and especially art. My dad always had a book in his hands and still reads a lot. He discussed a lot, also criticised a lot (phew!) and he was talented at drawing and painting portraits. My mum painted, too but it were the sketches of my dad that pulled me into the world of drawing and painting. I was impressed by his work and decided: I want to do, too! It were his ink sketches in specific and one piece he copied from a famous artist and his stories that sparked my interest to learn more about painting and artists. My parents loved music, dance, a good debate or theater piece, cabaret and comedy, deep conversations, weekend trips to museums and galleries, and a good bottle of French wine in the evening when watching crime movies. They both introduced me to a lot of great cultured things in life and of course to some of the artists I still adore today. I wish I had taken pictures or documented my parent’s work and sketches but back then I had no camera nor any smartphone. My dad once painted a copy of Sylvette David in green chair using oil colours, and I remember that he painted the chair actually in blue. So it was more of a Sylvette David in blue chair from the so called blue phase of Pablo Picasso. That brings me to my first favourite artist which is Pablo Picasso.

Picasso was a fascinating personality and artist, if not a very intense character in the art world. I was very curious to find out more about his private life and not surprised at all to learn that he loved women (of course), though his relationships with them were not easy. Known for having a lot of lovers, only eight of them became his muses. I secretly wished I was or would become the muse of an artist like him one day. Who doesn’t love the idea to be immortalised in a famous painting?But well, I’m the artist now. Sylvette however has never been his lover. Learn more about her story here, it’s very interesting.

In the late 1990’s my parents returned from their usual Sunday trip and told us about this Austrian-born New Zealand artist and architect they’ve just discovered. I remember it all very well because I felt surprised to see that they loved such colourful paintings. Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s bold use of colours influenced the way I use colour in my own paintings and illustrations. I can only recommend to book a flight to Vienna (okay maybe later this year) and explore his Hundertwasserhaus. I love how he opposes the straight line and how he gives space to nature within a building through his forested roofs and “tree tentants”. You will find trees a lot in his painting. My tip: google the story around those trees and how he “found” or let’s say “stole” them.

Henri Matisse - I always think of my best friend Jana when I read or watch something about Matisse. I remember she did a copy of his cut out work La Gerbe and put it on her wall. The simplicity of this piece of work was extremely beautiful and elegant. Some years ago, I watched a film with and about Matisse that was shown at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. My very first reaction was: oh look at him! He’s a hipster through and through! Matisse looked like he’s been one of the first real hipsters with his large and thick beard and clothing style. Matisse is one of those artists I would love to spend a whole summer with to paint together in a large and bright garden atelier in the south of France. Looking at the late years of Matisse’s life, I’m encouraged to keep creating, no matter what age I am or with whatever restrictions I am going to deal with. Learn more about mister hipster here.

I cannot recall how I got to know Jean-Michel Basquiat exactly but I do know that after learning more about him and watching some interviews on YouTube I officially had an artist crush on him. And still have. Go and check it out yourself! Do you know who is best friend was?

“I don't think about art when I'm working.
I try to think about life.” –Basquiat

I discovered Leon Löwentraut about three years ago reading an article about the “new” Picasso in one of those art magazines. I was impressed by how young this artist super star is (born in 1998) and how down to earth he still seems to be despite all the success he is having in the last couple of years. His colourful abstract paintings are very expressive, almost explosive. The first time I saw Löwentraut paintings live, I literally stumbled over them on a city tour through Palma de Mallorca. I couldn’t have felt more excited, happier and and inspired. His paintings make me feel alive and uplifted. They inspire me to create beautiful expressive and colourful art myself. I highly recommend to check out this young German artist and his contribution for the Art4GlobalGoals initiative.