In 2008 my parents dragged me to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I can still remember how enthusiastically I looked at Rembrandt’s "Night Watch" (1642). Rembrandt captured light and shadow on 3.6 x 4.44 meters of canvas in a way that continues to inspire me to this day. The level of detail is overwhelming: from the facial expressions of the rifle company to the highlight on the captain's shoe. For a very long time I couldn't understand how a painting of this kind is made.

 

Sometimes I would dig out the paint box myself and try again and again. I've always been good at painting and drawing, but considered myself average. It wasn't until I learned that art also means patience that my pictures got better and better. I really enjoy recognizing, mixing and applying colours. Realizing that object’s colours are only rarely the colour of perception is probably one of the most important realizations for me. Grass is rarely green, water is rarely blue and skin colour varies depending on environment in question. Mixing exactly the same colour twice is almost impossible. If I were to paint the same painting one after another, I would definitely not get the exact copy, therefore, for me every painting is unique, something very special that only exists once.

 

Lastly, the “Night Watch” is also a commissioned painting that Rembrandt received from the rifle company.