I love education and making art together!
Whether it's with children, youngsters or grown-ups, I try to inspire and encourage people to dive into their imagination. I've given workshops at festivals, libraries, primary schools, high schools, refugee centre's and at university level art schools. These are some examples of projects that I've worked on and workshops that I offer, but I also love coming up with new ones.
For book readings and workshops at libraries or schools in the Netherlands you can contact de Schrijverscentrale.
THE CITY OF YOUR SKETCHBOOK
In this workshop for youngsters and adults I share my knowledge of one of the things I love to do most: urban sketching. Together we'll explore the inspiring area around my studio in Rotterdam by looking, walking and drawing. Everyone gets a sketchbook, materials and a clipboard. Through quick exercises you learn how to capture your surrounding, overcome perfectionism and start noticing details you would otherwise overlook. The workshop ends by making a panoramic drawing with the other participants, to combine teamwork and creativity! You also get a unique look into my atelier and sketchbooks. I provide everyone with coffee, tea and vegan snacks.
BOAT PARADE
For the Central Library in Utrecht I got to create a workshop for their Summer Festival. Together with kids and adults we filled the pond in front of the library with 80 floating artworks, made of simple materials. The air in the balloon helps the boat sail forward.
BOOK WORKSHOPS
For most of my books I have created altered workshops to give to children. During the workshop the kids learn about the story and the process of making a book. And of course they also create something themselves! Like this 'Design your own imaginary house' workshop, based on the book 'Er kan er altijd eentje bij' that
I illustrated.
HET VROLIJKE STRIPBOEK
Superheroes, magical creatures and power girls, you can find them all in Het Vrolijke Stripboek! Together with Stichting de Vrolijkheid I created a workshop series of 12 weeks in which the children of the refugee centre in Rijswijk made their own comic book and exhibition. They designed characters, came up with their stories and painted life size sculptures of their own creations. All the comics are bound in a riso printed book.
DIEREN VERZAMELEN
If you could design any animal that you want, what would it look like? In this workshop the children of schools all over Rotterdam create a non-existent animal inspired by a visit to the Natural History Museum of Rotterdam. With a focus on patterns, shapes and colors the children learn about different types of animals and how to take the reality into the imaginary. This workshop is made in partnership with SKVR and Rotterdam Cultuurtraject, designed together with Rowanne Settels.
GROWING DRAWINGS
Together with the children and youngsters of the refugee centre in Rijswijk we made a growing installation in a green house. Every week I gave a workshop encouraging the kids to draw something around the theme of growing. What grows around you? What do you want to grow into yourself?
The project was made in partnership with Stichting de Vrolijkheid.