Interview with painter Sigrid van der Mersch

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I live in De Bilt, a village near Utrecht, the Netherlands, with Jorn and our two children, Bodo and Senja. I studied Art Education at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht. After finishing these studies, I was 21 years old. I found myself too young to be a teacher, so I also studied French at the University of Utrecht.

I became a parttime teacher, and the rest of the time I make drawings and paintings. I have OI type I, and my two children also have OI type I. OI runs in our family, my grandmother had OI and my father and uncle as well.

When and how did you decide to become a painter?

I always used to draw and paint, and when I was a little child I always wanted to go to art school. Drawing and painting have always been a creative outlet for me, a way to find peace. I remember breaking my left arm and being in the hospital. There was a place where I could paint, and this was a good way for me to deal with the situation.

Briefly describe the development from the initial idea/concept of an image to the finished artwork.

The theme of my work is nature. I love walking in the woods or at the sea, being in nature gives me peace. I also have a garden where I spend a lot of hours gardening. I take photos while I’m in nature, and every season gives me new inspiration. I use these photos as a source for my work.

Often my work starts from a photo, and I use my imagination while the work develops. Also, I work outside. For me this is a way to really be in the moment and observe the place where I am. My fantasy always plays a role in my work. It’s an atmosphere I’m searching for, rather than reflecting the world like a photo.

Did OI influence your decision to become an artist, and how does OI influence your artworks?

I think OI confronts me with the vulnerability in life. This became clearer for me as my own children are growing up. Ever since Bodo was born, OI is a theme in our lives, and the fragility of our children is always on my mind. Maybe this vulnerability is also present in my drawings.

My drawings are detailed; I use a lot of little stripes and colors which you don’t see on first sight. When you take a closer look, there are a lot of colors next to each other. I draw a lot of trees, and I love the little branches which cross one another in different directions.

Combining those fine lines results in a lot of layers which cross one another, creating a dense network of pencil-lines. The fine lines are also fragile, and maybe the fragility of my drawings is also due to OI. It takes some time to finish a drawing this way and this work brings me peace of mind.

Which one of your artworks makes you most proud, and why?

I’m proud of the landscapes I drew the last two years. I find the combination of pencil, pastel chalk and marker very interesting. I’m also proud of the murals I made, for example the Bloom! tree, which I drew in a hotel room in Brussels. I love the way a mural interacts with its environment.

What role can artists play in society?

I think art can make people aware of more than just the world you live in. It reflects on the world but also shows other views and perspectives. Art makes the world so much more beautiful!

If any of our readers want to experience your art and maybe even purchase it, what should they possibly do?

I’m always open to making murals or drawings on paper. People can send me an e-mail: sigridnora@gmail.com. My art is on instagram and on my website.