“I was lucky enough, as a young woman, to pursue an education that truly matched my passion.”

My name is Claudine Hermes, born in Amsterdam (1967). I was fortunate enough, as a young woman, to pursue an education that truly matched my passion, and in 1987 I graduated from the Fashion Academy with a specialization in Presentation. Wanting to further develop myself, I went on to take several additional courses to specialize in various creative fields.

I’ve always had a strong preference for drawing and painting—it was something I was constantly doing, and that’s how my love for painting began. I enjoy working with a variety of materials, which can include anything from acrylic paint, oils, and pastels to charcoal and much more. Working with different materials is known as *mixed media*. I’ve always loved experimenting with materials and techniques because it often leads to the most beautiful results. It’s always a surprise to see what emerges.

The lockdown gave me the opportunity to start painting full-time again. For many, it was a difficult time, but for me, it was a blessing. I wanted to spend my time doing what I truly loved, and in doing so, I began creating my dream.

It has always been my dream to work with art and to inspire people through it. Since 2019, I’ve been focusing more on portrait drawing and painting. Through experimentation, I discovered a technique that allows me to sketch and draw intuitively—*in the moment*. Simply painting from your authentic self, without a predetermined plan.

My portraits are colorful, playful, and expressive—but never “inside the lines,” if you know what I mean. I draw inspiration from everyday life and combine it with the feeling and emotion of the moment. I let my emotions flow onto the paper through the brush. I also love imperfection and the fact that my work is far removed from reality. The looser I work, the more powerful the image becomes. By working with different materials, I can channel more and more creativity into my paintings. The mixed media technique gives me an incredible sense of freedom!

I sense connection intuitively. That feeling of connection can come from a person, an animal, or even a certain color. I’m also a great lover of nature, the sea, and the beach—these give me a sense of freedom that’s very important to me and my work. To me, the portraits I paint are a *vehicle* for expressing my inner world. The fun part is that they’re always different in nature—sometimes fashionable, sometimes flowing, sometimes clean and modern. Whatever comes, comes.