Ever since his early years Gert-Jan Aaltink has been busy with pencil & paper… On the backs of envelopes, letters and newspapers he drew, only because back in the days paper was expensive and drawing supplies were unaffordable for the average family.

Ever since he hit puberty he started to paint besides his love for the electric guitar. Music was/is an outlet, he combined his creativity between art and music.

 

In 1991 he bought his first airbrush set after this gained his interest, of which he used the creativity and techniques into his painting.

New work started flowing in after which he eventually quit his job as a carpenter in 1996 when he decided to start building a name as a full-time ‘artist’.

In 1997 he got a kickstart due to big assignments making mural art and tattooing in his own tattoo parlor, which became an official company in 1998.

His love for painting never disappeared and remains a good way to change things up.

He now paints different styles, landscapes and nature but also portraits.

The paint he uses is often acrylic based but he also uses car paint to airbrush with, depending on the surface and the goal of the painting.

 

He never thought of going into just one direction or focussing on only one style. This way he keeps creating challenges for himself and this sparks his creativity. He wants to keep learning and improving.

He calls them ‘periods’ of abstract, realism, surrealism or expressionism. Often combined, which makes it even better.

 

Aaltink says: ‘In painting everything is possible, so why limit yourself?’