Tineke Stoffels

As long as I can remember, I have had the urge to create. With paint, brushes and paper and textile arts. In the garden with plants, behind the stove with ingredients, indoors with paint, wood, fabric and wallpaper. To get the result I’m striving for, I want to understand and master the techniques I require. I just keep trying until I succeed, understand what I’m doing and satisfied with the result. Many years ago when my father gave me his old camera, I discovered photography as the perfect medium. Photography for me as a means of expression is the ideal combination of technology and design. Because I think mainly in pictures, the camera helps me to visualize my thoughts and ideas. The biggest source of inspiration for me is the past. As a child I loved to listen to the teacher during history lessons at school. And I am still curious about the history of a region, a building, a city or village. I love to collect old jars, glass, textiles, and especially kitchen utensils. My interest in art was born when my aunt took me at the age of 12 to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I still feel how impressed I was by the works of the Dutch Masters: the use of light and shadow, the colors, the clothes, the subjects, the techniques. In my studio I can fully concentrate on the creation of a new work. With the use of my camera on a tripod and strobes. For preparing and assembling a new still life I take plenty of time. Until everything is placed the way I want. I love natural materials, simplicity, symmetry, strong lines, sober colors and exquisite detail and apply that as much as possible in my work. Where possible already during the assembly of the still life. Or afterwards in post-processing. The digital ‘dark room’ is the final stage. Photoshop gives me the tools I need to convert the picture into a painting like image. A process that takes several days. Until I’m satisfied with the result. Although I follow a specific procedure, I leave room to be surprised by what comes up seemingly spontaneous in this process. One often wonders upon seeing my work, whether it’s a photograph or a painting. For me it’s both.”

Bell-Gallery Collection: www.bell-gallery.com