The stories behind the paintings of KOJO Art

Inspirational paintings: this is how my artworks are created

Every brushstroke begins with a thought. Or a feeling. Sometimes a memory. In this blog post, I'll take you through my creative process as a visual artist and explain where the inspiration for my paintings comes from: from classical masters to everyday moments. Discover how my art is created, grows, and comes to life on canvas.

A new start in quiet times

I painted as a child, but I had little patience. Everything had to be done quickly, finished, and finished. That changed during the coronavirus pandemic. The world stood still, and suddenly I had time. In that stillness, I found the space to truly slow down, practice, and experiment. I discovered the power of repetition and learned the importance of patience in the painting process.

Together with a former roommate, I bought a set of acrylic paints and just started. That was the beginning of something that has become an integral part of my life.

I now work with acrylic, oil paint, and oil pastel. Three materials that each have their own unique energy and character.

I took painting lessons with Annelies van Biesbergen and further developed my knowledge through blogs, books, and YouTube tutorials. But most of all, I learned by doing. Over and over again. Increasingly free.

Where do I get my inspiration from?

My paintings emerge from a blend of art history, personal experience, and intuition. Great masters like Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt, and Vermeer inspire me, particularly their use of color, brushwork, and thematic depth. And the dramatic light in Caravaggio's works continues to fascinate me.

I also get a lot out of:

• Emotions: I translate what I feel into color and shape

• Memories: a moment, a look, an atmosphere

• The world around me: cities, faces, music, conversations

• Other artists: not to copy, but to learn and to look again

You can read more about my personal motivations on the about me page .

My style in 3 words: color, contrast, layering

My work is often expressive and colorful. Portraits form the common thread, but abstract cityscapes and figurative compositions also recur regularly. I paint roughly, quickly, and intuitively. With thick layers of paint, impasto and powerful, to create depth and movement.

My paintings don't have to be perfect. They have to make something tangible.

You'll never see smooth perfection in my work, but you will see emotion, energy, and movement. Sometimes pieces are deliberately unfinished. That leaves room for interpretation.

From idea to canvas: this is how my creative process works

Every painting begins with a spark. A feeling, an image, or a thought. I capture that in a mood board, usually on Pinterest. I collect colors, shapes, and moods, and let my intuition determine what sticks.

My creative process in steps:

1. Gather inspiration via Pinterest or photos

2. Creating a mood board: capturing colors and atmosphere

3. Sketching on canvas: loose and intuitive

4. Painting in flow: in one go, to capture the emotion

5. Adding details: sometimes I add texture or accents

6. Stopping at the right time: that remains the most difficult part

For me, speed is essential. If I linger too long on a piece, I lose the feeling. Then it becomes too contrived. Art must flow.

The challenge of emotion on canvas

What I find most challenging? Capturing the right proportions and color tone. But even more important: conveying the emotion.

You can't plan emotion. You have to feel it and dare to capture it, even when it's raw.

That's why I prefer to work in short, intense sessions. If I take too long on a piece, the energy drains away. Sometimes I even get tired of it. But if I manage to seize the moment, something magical happens.

Influences in my work: light, speed and feeling

My work clearly reflects the influence of Caravaggio's use of light. The dramatic contrast between light and dark. But Impressionism also inspires me. The speed, the loose brushwork, capturing a moment that can so easily vanish.

I try to combine that: capturing emotion in light and colour, with a raw edge.

What painting means to me

Painting isn't a hobby for me, it's a way of life. It brings me:

• Peace in a busy world

• Focus in my head

• Patience where I lacked it before

• Self-expression without words

In my paintings, I express my feelings, my story, my energy. And if you recognize something in them, if you feel something, then my work is a success.

Want to see or follow more?

Curious?
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