The process

I created this painting within a single day during my Vedic Art course. Previously, I mainly painted realistic scenes and wanted to learn to let go of the rules. My brushstrokes and lines were still very stiff at first. I found freehand painting quite difficult and was still very much searching during the process. As I worked, I began to become increasingly aware of my desires. I wanted texture and pasted some sand in the bottom left corner. I thought of the Tuscan countryside and began to paint it. The moment felt magical, which was expressed through the purple and dark blue colors. Eventually, I grabbed a brush, diluted the paint with water, and dabbed it over the landscape. The watery paint dripped down. To prevent it from running further, I laid the painting flat. I enjoyed this so much, and as I looked at the work, I thought: 'This feels liberating, I want to keep doing this.' I created a representation of my inner world and, in doing so, captured a dream, hence the name 'Dreamday'.

Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos of this process, because I was completely absorbed in it.

The process

Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos of 'City Drone' during the process, because I find it difficult to step out of my flow. City Drone is one of my first intuitively created paintings on canvas in a larger format. I started by combining different techniques and forms. It was during a period in my life when I was searching for something new. I was curious, enthusiastic, and above all, experimenting a lot. When I finished the painting, it reminded me of a mysterious alien city in harmony with nature. This is reflected in the mushrooms, bushes, leaves, and shell-like shapes. I see an enormous richness in this mysterious landscape, and for the first time, I discovered my own depth.

The process

Facing Fears vs. Limits is about the fears I was able to overcome during this period of my life. Often, when I feel anger or get stuck, there is chaos and I create a kind of black hole, as can be seen in the third image. At that time, I regularly felt inner restlessness, which is reflected in the dynamics of the painting. It looks as if a strong wind is blowing, trying to knock over a little bird. The little bird remains standing steadfastly. Another bird has become trapped in a garland. Birds symbolize freedom. I did not yet feel free while creating this work. I could be brave and face my fears, or choose to be limited by them.

The process

I created this work when my life was once again shrouded in darkness. I had been rejected by someone I was in love with and couldn't understand it. To focus on something other than the pain for a while, I started painting. I saw nothing but black before me and began with that color. Gradually, I saw an image in the darkness, which I tried to bring more and more to the surface. I accentuated the lines by adding different colors and white. It seemed as if the light was trying to penetrate it and was even refracted, causing it to turn out in all the different colors. Ultimately, it looks like a fish being held by thin threads to prevent it from falling into thorny aquatic plants.

The work is titled 'Hold me' because, at that very moment, I wanted nothing more than the human need to hold someone for a moment. The water in this work represents the emotions I was swimming in. The thin threads are like my painting supplies, holding me and preventing me from falling.

The process

Vanilla Sky High depicts the cheerfulness and the 'high' I was in. I was enjoying my life and was incredibly excited about it. I was driven and discovered new forms. I absorbed a lot of new information and was as curious as a child. At the same time, there was a mystery that I didn't understand much of yet, nor could I decipher. The ice cream with the flower petals is cheerful, but it is upside down and worms are coming out of it. The purple fire on the central mushroom has the contours of leaves. Is this a bush after all? The patterns in the two dark blue discs seem like a mystical language that I do not yet understand. The thing in the sky appears to be a UFO, staring at you penetratingly. A number of figures are sitting on the pumpkin-like little house, self-assured and open to contact with the unknown.