How long have you been creating?

I think that most artists can answer this the same way. I am 24 years old and have been creating things from a very young age. My mum always stimulated my sister and me to be creative in every kind of way. We were often busy with sculpting, making collages, drawings and paintings and I loved it. Once I started with drawing there was no stopping me. I drew whenever I could and whatever I thought was interesting or pretty. When I was still attending primary school I already knew I wanted to go to the Academy of Arts in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), which, happily for me, eventually did happen. I have studied there for six years and graduated in 2002 as an Illustrator (Bachelor of Fine Arts) and then again in 2004 as a teacher of Fine Arts (Bachelor of Fine Arts).

What is your media of choice?

Most of my paintings are done in acrylics. It is an easy medium that dries fast, which I like. I can be very impatient if I can’t continue a painting because it’s too wet to work on. I love bright colors and acrylic paint provides me with all the vibrant colors I can wish for. I sometimes use gouache or oil paint, but I prefer acrylics above all other mediums when it comes to painting.

Another medium I use a lot is my computer. I have several digital programs which I use to make digital paintings, graphic illustrations or photo collages.

What are you motivations for creating?

Whenever I see something beautiful I want to paint or draw it and share it with people. I can’t go outdoors without my photo camera and without taking photos of elements from nature like leaves, flowers, insects, animals etc. A lot of my photos are used as reference in my paintings.

Next to that I get inspired by history, stories, legends, myths and fairytales. I am always motivated to let my paintings tell little stories. There is often a deeper meaning in them, or they resemble a simple moment of joy or mystery.

I think I can call these my motivations.

What other artists or movements inform your work?

I don’t know if there are any artists currently influencing my work really.

Though when I was still attending the Academy of Arts I drew children’s book illustrations that often showed some influences from an illustrator from Belgium. I realized that it was cute, but not my style and I found a way to get rid of it and created a style of my own which also felt more comfortable. I didn’t create the best things in this period but I sure learned a lot from it.

I love illustrative art and I adore the work of the Dutch illustrator Raoul Deleo. He has some magic skills if it comes to using different techniques. I try to follow him in his footsteps if it comes to learning to get better with my techniques and the quality of my work.

Though I like a certain amount of artist from our collective art history I can’t recall being inspired with their styles. I rather work on something that I feel is a fragment of my own.

What do you find visually stimulating right now?

I find digital art and different kinds of Watercolor art very stimulating. I’d like to get better with both myself and feel inspired to make more when I see some good art in these two categories. At the moment I am working on my digital skills.

What's the last book you read?

From The chronicles of Narnia; The magician’s nephew from C.S. Lewis. I had a good laugh at uncle Andrew being planted by the animals. And luckily for him it wasn’t upside down. At the moment I am reading the next book from these chronicles. They are fun.

Tell us about your most rewarding art projects of 2005.

I think that I can count my "Between the..." series as my most rewarded project. People seem to love the mystery of hidden faces behind flowers or leaves. Looking at the beautiful but staring eyes can be a little bit creepy as well as fascinating. Did you never have the feeling being watched when you walk on your own through a forest? I believe that these creatures are keeping an eye on us ;) I love painting these series a lot.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and our collectors to know about you and/or your work?

I hope that fellow artists and collectors enjoy looking at my work. It’s always nice to be able to inspire other people or get inspired yourself. My paintings are often silent moments of thoughts, feelings and mystery. It is great that I can share these moments with others.

I’d like to thank EBSQ-art for giving me the opportunity to give an interview to be able to share more.

Some of my illustration work can be seen at www.miriambos.com. This site will soon experience a major restyling. I will add more of my fantasy work and other paintings, and the site will get more accessible as well.