Celebrating 10 Years of ‘Making Rainbows’: The Art of Process

Is it the final painting that matters, or the thousands of decisions that led to it?

It is hard to believe that a full decade has passed since ‘Making Rainbows’ made its debut in 2014. This project holds a permanent place in my heart, not just as my first major exhibition, but as a defining collaboration with the brilliant artist Gijs van Lith. Together, we set out to challenge the traditional boundaries of what an artwork is—and what it can be.

Capturing the Invisible

‘Making Rainbows’ was born out of a shared, almost obsessive curiosity: could we capture the entire creative process in a single view? We wanted to strip away the mystery of the “finished product” and expose every moment that led to it—the mistakes, the hesitation, the breakthroughs, and the flow.

After extensive research, we found a way to turn that vision into reality. I documented Gijs’s process with my camera, relentlessly capturing every second as he painted a canvas through the full spectrum of colors. Over 8,400 photos later, we didn’t just have a timelapse; we had a visual database of artistic energy.

A Living Archive

The final piece is a massive 343 x 555 cm wallpaper. It is a modernistic grid composed of those thousands of images. Standing in front of it, you don’t just see a picture; you see time itself. It is a living archive of creativity that tells the story of every brushstroke, every micro-decision, and every emotion we poured into that studio.

As I look back on the last 10 years, I am filled with pride. ‘Making Rainbows’ was more than a project; it was the beginning of a new phase in my artistic journey. It continues to remind me of the power of collaboration and the beauty of deconstructing reality.

Here’s to 10 incredible years, and to the many more boundaries we have yet to push. Thank you for being part of this journey.

👉 View the full project here: Making Rainbows Project Page

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