Process notes
I stretch my boundaries, experiment with new techniques, and continue to challenge myself to arrive at what I truly want to bring into the world. My artist blog brings together reflections on process, symbolism, and studio practice within my contemporary art practice.
Leonoor Ruigrok –
-
Why Artists Work in Series
Working in series allows ideas to unfold gradually across multiple paintings. Symbols, colour and composition shift and return. Series such as *Sneaky Hidden Sunflowers* and *Icelandic Houses* illustrate this process.
-
Material and Handwriting – Movement Within the Surface
This studio note expands on the ideas described in my Artist Vision.Read the full Artist Vision here → Instinct and Knowledge My choices are instinctive, yet rooted in knowledge. Years of studying technique, observing drying times, understanding surface tension and absorption. Because of that understanding, I can allow instinct to take over. Control and surrender…
-
Selecting Work for the Archive
Today, I am selecting works for archiving, a careful process of archiving contemporary paintings within the larger structure of my oeuvre. Archiving is not closing a chapter. It is structuring the oeuvre. It clarifies continuity, strengthens coherence, and preserves the evolution of the work.
-
How I determine the price of a work
The price of an artwork This studio note expands on the ideas described in my Artist Vision.Read the full Artist Vision here → The price of an artwork is never based on a single factor.I weigh several elements together. First, format and material. Oil paint, wood, canvas, or mixed techniques each come with their own…
-
solvent free
Solvent-Free Oil Paint Medium I enjoy working with a solvent-free oil paint medium. It is significantly more environmentally friendly than historical painting mediums and also better for my own health. I had been considering this medium for quite some time and have been using it since December. A Day of Materials, Colour and Presence New…
-
artist writer collaboration
Karin Melis wrote a literary reflection MOVING IN THE LIMINAL in response to my artistic process and the symbolism of the hare in my work. Karin is a writer and philosopher who unravels life with relentless curiosity (De Nachtzoen – NPO). This studio note expands on the ideas described in my Artist Vision.Read the full…
-
art in the Snow — Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes — photographing Icelandic Snowwhite in the snow Today there was snow in the Netherlands. A beautiful layer covered the bulb fields around us. Even the water was wrapped in a true blanket of snow, which I could gently push aside with the paddle. Normally, we use this boat to cross over with…
-
Soft Hope
-Dreamland collection- soft hope oil painting Soft Hope was created in 2025 as part of the Dreamland collection. Within this series, I explore how subtle shifts in image and feeling can open an inner landscape. The work does not stand alone, but belongs to an ongoing inquiry in which symbolism and imagination converge. Dreamland is…
-
What will 2026 bring?
Art plans 2026. What will 2026 bring?Hopefully, at the very least, plenty of snow in the coming days. Beyond that, I am planning ahead, with a focus on suitable gallery contacts, Kunstmaand Ameland, and Kunstmoment Diepenheim, two curated art events in the Netherlands. That is exciting, because it has to be the right fit. A…
-
studiocat
Photoshoot Starting my photoshoot today:I’m never alone during my studio days. Surrounded by so many animals, we’re blessed with colors and little (art) friends. I’m not there yet… at least not when it comes to photographing my paintings. Next week I’ll have the opportunity to use a suitable camera again. I’d much rather spend most…
-
When a Story Chooses an Image
A new story by writer Karin Melis. (Published on 22 december 2025.) A story that pulled me into a cave, to follow the feelings of a man on a mission. Karin writes. And listens. I still have much to learn from her in many areas, but above all in compassion.(https://www.trouw.nl/auteur/karin-melis/) Where I can sometimes end…
-
Morning walk
A walk in the early morning. Never alone. winter reflection artist What’s hidden, and reappears in spring? It’s winter, a season of winter reflection for an artist. And winter is a time for making plans for the new year. December has always been a rather hectic period for me, energetic, social, full of movement, and…
I invite you
By fully immersing myself in the act of making, I come closer to what authentic work means to me. I want to keep developing and to carry my raw honesty close, alongside my inner discoveries. I do not do this alone. Through these stories, I invite you into what inspires and nourishes me as a maker. Learn more about my artistic vision.
For collectors
Let’s connect
Just hit the button below to reach out
Curious to drop by my studio in Voorhout, interested in one of my works, or thinking about a potential collaboration? I’d be glad to hear from you. I enjoy working with collectors, curators, galleries, designers, architects, interior creatives, and brands.
Looking forward to your message!
From time
to time
I let my process, my considerations, and my experiences in and around the studio become visible
through
these posts.
Note
“She has a madness that turns every situation into inspiration.” – Karin Melis author and philosopher
- How does my artistic process evolve?
Each new series explores different techniques, shifting from oil paint to mixed media, always driven by my emotions and curiosity. - Why an artist blog?
The blog is a way to share the stories behind my art, offering visitors a deeper look into my sources of inspiration and creative discoveries.