From Uniform to Canvas: My Creative Journey

My sanctuary: where every brushstroke brings a bit of peace.

Hi! My name is Dennis.

I'm a Dutch father of two and husband to a wonderful woman who has supported me in all my adventures creating art. My two boys both have very strong personalities! They keep us busy with their own hobbies (judo, rugby, playing the cello and saxophone) but also give us all we need: a lot of love. Thankfully, my creativity rubs off, and I have the pleasure of being creative together with them as well—though usually, that means lending a hand with their projects rather than working on my own!

 

Then there is our dog, Beer. That's Dutch for "Bear," not the beverage! She’s an old lady, a Golden Retriever who loves to be lazy but also loves to swim. She keeps us on our feet a few times a day, and she doesn't care if it’s raining or if the sun is out! Unlike us.

 

By day, my world is defined by the structure and discipline of the Military Police. But when I put on my artist's apron, those boundaries disappear. Art is where I trade my uniform for a pencil or paintbrush and find a different kind of focus.

 

I have been drawing ever since I was a little boy, but I really picked it up again a while back. During those earlier years, you might have seen me signing my work under the pseudonym "Yoemba." While I now create under my own name, that moniker marks the beginning of my journey and the foundation of the style I continue to develop today.

 

In our busy daily life, I found that making art—drawing and painting, but also building miniature models—gave me the relaxation and peace I needed. I’ve always been drawn to small details. Building miniatures requires a level of patience and precision that slows time down for me. There is something incredibly satisfying about creating a tiny world from scratch, a feeling that also translates into my drawings and paintings.

 

Whether I’m sketching or painting, I tend to gravitate towards abstracts. I love exploring new techniques and ways to express myself, which explains the vast variety of styles in my work.

 

My studio is my drawing table, placed in a small office on the first floor of our family house. From the window, I look down on the water and the field of grass behind our house, watching people walk and cycle down the path while small wildlife minds their own business. On days when the pencils stay still, I often pick up my acoustic guitar. I’m still very much a beginner, navigating my way through chords and strings, but I find a similar kind of peace in the learning process as I do in my art. It’s all about the rhythm—whether it's the stroke of a brush or the strum of a string.

 

Remember, art can be anything you create! Keep being creative.