Herman Kuypers

Fifty-five years ago I was born as the eldest son on a farm in Velden in North Limburg (the Netherlands). As long as I can remember I have been drawing, always with the materials that were available. Some colored pencils and markers, which always ran out too quickly. Especially since my two brothers and my sister also used them. Paper could not be taken for granted either. Scraps here and there and backs of envelopes. Sometimes an uncle who worked at printercompany Océ brought a pile of tinted A4 sheets. Fortunately, in keeping with the Limburg tradition, the baker came to bring the pie for Sunday every Saturday. Mom would then immediately remove the usually still virgin white cardboard plate from under the pie, so that I could draw on it on occasion.
Due to unfamiliarity with the material it took three years before Sinterklaas honored my request for a paint box: one of the Hema.
Fortunately, there was also (a lot) of physical and especially mental space at the same time. It was therefore no problem that I eventually wanted to go to art academy and I got full cooperation from mom and dad. As they have always respected our choices.
It became the Academy for Visual Education in Tilburg. In addition to the arts, I also got to know Sofia with whom I now live in Tilburg with our children Puck and Kobus.