Welcome to my online studio!

Working on a graphite under-drawing of a Wood Duck (Carolina duck) composition.

I have majored in Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and after that held different editorial jobs. I lived in six countries due to my husbands internatiomnal job and homeschooled my sweetheart daughter for a decade (she is at university now). Whenever I had some spare time, you would find me drawing and painting. I did that from when I was young and I have never outgrown dreaming of a life in which I can draw and paint from dawn till dusk.

I was taught drawing and painting by Spanish-Dutch artist Charito Crahay and Dutch artist Johan Kolman. I will never forget -as a young girl- copying Crahay’s large canvasses in her studio and sitting with her on a couch discussing my progress. Artist Johan Kolman taught me classical painting. I followed courses and workshops at art schools like Honik University College of Fine Arts in Seoul. After I retired from homeschooling, I returned to drawing and painting in earnest.

Art is often seen as a luxury. However, when it comes to memorable events, we are in need of art. I like working with customers on a commission because I love meaningful and practical art; art that has a function that goes beyond my desire to be creative; art that holds significance for the customer. It is perhaps therefore that I feel more like a craftswoman or artisan than an artist. I have no grand ego to exhibit, no trauma to work through artistically, and no super interesting life story to narrate on canvasses. I just like showing the beautiful details of the natural world and making meaningful art. Adding beauty to life is my deepest passion.

Currently, I live with my husband and daughter in the Netherlands. I have a wonderful workroom overlooking Utrecht’s inner city. Birds visit our balcony for food and water, and I love watching the weather and the colouring of the trees. My art comes from a harmonious and meditative place. It is neither political nor emotional, but a celebration of the amazing world inside and all around us.

I welcome hearing from you. Please, feel free discussing commissioned art; just start somewhere and I will -using a Socratic dialogue- help by asking questions to find out what preferences you might have in your mind. Should you have no answers, I will fill in the gaps with ideas and suggestions.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer, Drs. M.A.

Utrecht, Netherlands

Contact form:

• Mandarin Ducks in Neutral Colours
• Venus of Willendorf & Lionman
• Floral & Avian (Name) Commissions
• My Art-Making Kaizen
• A Visit to Holywell