About me
Hi, I'm Willemijn van Poppel , an artist on a mission: to bring more smiles into the world! Because I believe that a smile, no matter how small, not only brightens your day but also makes the world a little more beautiful. If you love color, playfulness, and unexpected beauty, you've come to the right place. My art is a celebration of life, an ode to the little things that brighten your day and give you a fresh perspective.
I paint and photograph. Using paint, ecoline, markers, and even Polaroid photos, I bring expressive, colorful works to life. My paintings are intuitive; I start with an idea, but then let it flow freely, full of energy and spontaneity. For me, photography is all about discovery: a flower growing through concrete, the movement of the sea, or an unexpected find on the street.
This love of seeing and creating began during my studies at the University of Amsterdam, where I took photography and video courses. While I was graduating in artificial intelligence, I attended the preparatory program at the Rietveld Academy three evenings a week. I loved that combination of thinking and creating. A few years later, I graduated from the Photo Academy, where I discovered the power of learning to see clearly. When I started painting in 2022, it not only gave me peace but also the opportunity to reconnect with the beauty of the moment, after a difficult period during which I was seriously ill.
My artistic motto comes from Marcel Proust, who said that a true voyage of discovery isn't about finding new landscapes, but about seeing with new eyes. That idea inspires everything I do, in my art and in my life. It's also how I find beauty in the everyday: in a ray of sunshine, a beautiful leaf, or a chat over a cup of tea. Why do I create art? To share this sense of wonder with you.
My art is for anyone seeking color, energy, and inspiration. For those who want their interior to be not only beautiful but also vibrant and cheerful. For those who are young at heart and love to be surprised by the unexpected. The greatest compliment? That my work brightens your day a little.
Welcome to my world! I hope you'll be as inspired as I am when I paint or photograph. Together we'll make the world a little more beautiful, one smile at a time.
Monthly smiles in your mailbox?
On Substack, I'm sharing a monthly dose of wonder to make you smile, brighten your life, and help you see the world around you with fresh eyes. Small moments that not only benefit you, but also those around you, because a smile is contagious! Read more here, and sign up:
Willemijn's substack