Interview
Theresa Broekema
Theresa is an artist based in the Netherlands. She is inspired by Henri Rousseau and feminity. She uses her own taught unique style of mixed media. Her work has been exhibited at Art Galleries in Rome and London.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am a self-taught artist based in the Netherlands. My journey starts in my childhood and as teenager always being creative with drawings and making a little art piece of every photo album. I could spent hours on it. I build a career as a real estate agent but during Covid, I had more time to be the person that I love the most: the creative one. I started painting on vases and later on canvas. My mood is my style, if something sticks in my head, like colour combinations or something that hits me - I create. My paintings are also really relative to me.”
What inspires you?
“My inspiration are the things I love or feel. My travels. The way people interact, females and their femininity, the clothes and accessories. My coffee in the morning, flowers on the side of the road. Stories on Instagram of other peoples travels. As a highly sensitive person nature, colours and music touch me deeply. But before I start, I need to visualize it. Sitting in front of white canvas with no vision doesn't work for me.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work is all in relation about me and what I would like to see in the world. It’s colourful, love and respect for each other and our nature but also the realistic side and with humor. Do not take everything too serious; then you will miss all the fun. That is how I stand in life.”
How would you describe your work?
“Modern but not chaos, bold, beautiful colours that you see instantly. I use mixed media and different techniques to get the feeling you want to touch it. Also every time you look at it something else will catch your eyes.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My taste is all over but I’m often inspired by the oldies like Henri Rousseau, Dali, Thomas Lawinsky, Rene Magritte; so the impressionism and surrealism is something that is appealing to me but also abstract and the art of street artists. I find many artists inspirational and hang on there lips when they tell about their art with so much passion. Art is something you need to feel.”
“Art is something you need to feel.”
What is your creative process like?
“I will get inspiration from something and an instant idea is created mostly late at night. Then, I will visualize it in my mind until a clear image comes to mind and search for the best colours with it. I put on classic music like Pavarotti or Lakmé and begin with the sketches, looking and changing it until it feels right. I’m totally lost in time and free from other thoughts only focusing on the creative progress.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The world needs authentic people with their messages to the world. Art makes places more beautiful, calm and gives it a signature. Art needs to be everywhere, government buildings, offices, the dentist/doctor because people lose track of time looking at art. It's nice to hear what people see when they look at it, each person has different vision. Art connects us something that is important and what we need is connection!”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had the pleasure to participate together with lovely other artists from around the world at the Comtemporary International Art Fair in Rome and in London. The next one I would like to be in New York!”
Website: www.tbheart.com
Instagram: @tb_heart
