Artist Statement

I am a Belgian artist, both painter and ceramic sculptor. My work is best described as contemporary expressionism, because my art starts from my heart, feeling and intuition. The art that I make is symbolic, layered and full of expression, with layers of energy that hold what words cannot.

I paint from my intuition and inner voice, to honor beauty in all it's forms.

I believe that when we live from the heart, miracles are possible, for us and the people around us.

Biography

Saylee is my artist name. This artist name was chosen very intentionally, for personal and symbolic reasons.

I am currently living in Edegem (Antwerp) Belgium, but I was born and raised in different African countries due to my fathers work. My love for the African continent and its nature is an influence you will regularly see coming back in my artwork.

From a very small child, I had a passion for creating. Every spare moment, I was crafting or drawing. At that time it was already clear that art would become a very important part of my life. I followed different art educations and masterclasses over the years, and discovered that my true passion lies within painting and sculpting in clay.

My current studio in Edegem Belgium, is oriented south so there's a lot of sunshine coming in, inspiring me and keeping me company throughout the creative process.

I am currently working on my “Aurum” series, a series with golden glow shining through. Gold not only as a symbol of prosperity, wealth, and everlastingness, but also as a symbol of sacredness in the mundane, and a symbol of inner light showing through.

Future plans include moving to an old farmhouse near Hasselt, Belgium, that we are currently renovating. I'm looking forward to create art even closer to nature from my new studio there.

Process

My painting process is almost never the same, although certain elements are key to my process and my voice. I like to follow the flow, the magic of the moment, and see where my intuition leads me. Texture, marks, skratching, motion, wiping and dripping, are all part of my toolbox. I always work in layers, to build up the final image, and follow my inner guidance along the way. The beauty and symbolism of animals and (human) nature is a big inspiration to me. My subjects help me convey a message that carries feeling, emotion, atmosphere and depth, beyond what can be said with words.