Herman Kuypers

Fifty-five years ago I was born as the eldest son on a small farm in Velden in North Limburg. For 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 because three other children also used them. Paper was always scarce. Leftovers here and there and backs of envelopes, sometimes an uncle working at copiercompany Océ brought a pile of tinted A4 sheets. Fortunately, in the Limburg tradition, the baker brought the pie for Sunday every Saturday. Mom would immediately remove the usually still pristine white cardboard plate from under the flan, so that I could draw on it on occasion.
As a result of unfamiliarity with the material, it took three years for Sinterklaas to honor my request for a paintbox.
Fortunately, there was also (a lot of) physical and especially mental space at the same time. So it was no problem that I eventually wanted to go to art academy and I got all the 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.