Hi there! 

I'm Ariëlle, a self-taught artist working and living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. My work consists of graphite pencil (and charcoal) drawings on paper. 

Drawn to Realism, I focus on intricate details while leaving out parts of the context to create a sense of mystery. 
My love for drawing began in my early teens, inspired by my mother and grandmother's hobby. I would borrow drawing related books from the library and spend hours in my room trying to copy pictures. Drawing became a moment of peace and quiet, a way to inner silence and to escape struggles within myself. To this day, I still draw for the same reasons, now combined with a healthy dose of ambition and dedication. 

Hands often play an important role in my work, as they fascinate me. Hands are silent narrators of stories, emotions, and meaning. Alongside hands, I also depict faces and other parts of the human body. I find inspiration in seemingly ordinary moments, thoughts and emotions - which often pass unnoticed but make me pause and reflect. Within these moments I see a deep value, a hidden meaning that I try to capture in my drawings. 

My goal is to convey emotions and meaning, while still leaving my work open to interpretation. I don't aim for viewers to understand my personal message, but rather to evoke their own emotions, memories and associations.