(Mural) The Beetle Flower

In 2022, my neighbor Johan asked if he could bring a friend to my studio. A few days later, Johan showed up with Gerard. I quickly realized that Gerard was no ordinary guest — he was an eccentric, creative soul with a real feel for art. A painter, sculptor, and all-around artistic force with a bombastic aura stepped into my studio, and the three of us ended up talking for hours about art, our hometown IJmuiden, and life in general.

It was a funny and inspiring meeting. Both Johan and Gerard could perfectly be described by that American saying: “salt of the earth.” Hard-working men who clawed their way through life, practical and honest — working men, but with a creative streak all their own.

Johan, my favorite neighbor, is one of those rare people you’re just glad to have in your corner. He loves the plant, speaks his mind freely, and has a heart of gold. It was thanks to him that I met Gerard — a meeting that turned out to be a great introduction, as it led to the biggest mural project I had ever done, right in my hometown… and not for free, which helps!

When Gerard first stepped into my studio, covered in tattoos, sporting a small white goatee and dressed in bold, colorful clothes, I immediately liked his energy. After our lively conversation, just before he left, he turned to me and asked, “So, what are your artistic ambitions?”

Without hesitation, I replied, “I want to paint a big wall.”

Gerard grinned. “Well, aren’t you a lucky fella — I might just have the wall you’re looking for.”

My heart skipped a beat when he showed me a photo of the back of his house: a giant 10-by-12-meter brown brick wall with a slightly pointed roof — the perfect canvas — right in the heart of the city center.

“Make me a price and show me a design,” he said.

A month later, I was sitting at Gerard and his wonderful wife Ellie’s kitchen table, pitching my idea. I showed them a design featuring a giant green bear — something close to my heart and within my comfort zone. Truth be told, I had never painted anything at that scale, and the task terrified me a bit. But to my surprise, they didn’t pick that design.

Ellie wanted more. She wanted flowers. She wanted a Volkswagen Beetle. She wanted the sun! And once again, as often happens, the woman had the final creative word — and thank God for that. Ellie spoke my artistic language and challenged me to go deeper. Together, the three of us came up with a new design that incorporated all her wishes.

Then came the hard part — leaving the comfort of my studio to actually make this thing happen. I had no prior mural experience, only a burning urge to do it — probably fueled by that classic artistic ego, wanting to see my work on a massive public wall in IJmuiden.

We finalized the design in January, but it was too cold and wet to paint outdoors. So I spent the following months preparing, planning, and overthinking. How would I scale my tiny sketch up to this enormous wall? How much paint would I need? What type of paint should I use? Many sleepless nights and cold sweats later, I had my answers.

By mid-April, the scaffolding — three stories high, courtesy of Gerard — was up, and it was time to begin. On the first day, Mother Nature decided to play with me: rain, hail, and even snow in April. I had to wait a few more nerve-wracking days until finally, the sun came out — and stayed. We got two full weeks of perfect weather.

With the help of my artist friends Sjem Bakkus and Chinny Bond, we completed the mural in just eleven days.

I loved every minute of it. The energy, the challenge, the community — all of it. And I hope to do many more like it.