This year, we’re delighted that the campaign for Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam (31 October – 3 November, de Kromhouthal) puts the spotlight on Fading Flowers Gold, a digitally manipulated photograph created by Dutch artist, Yvonne Michiels, of De KunstSalon.

Through her work, Yvonne tells personal stories about beauty, emotions and mortality. We caught up with Yvonne to find out a little more about the artist behind those beautiful blooms:

MEET PHOTOGRAPHER AND DIGITAL ARTIST, YVONNE MICHIELS

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT HOW YOU DISCOVERED CREATIVITY AND HOW YOUR CAREER AS AN ARTIST BEGAN?

As a child I was always busy drawing, painting and creating anything and everything. Later, I went to art school and then started working at advertising agencies where I came into contact with photography and digital editing of photos using Photoshop – a very powerful tool which I use daily to create my work. I think this accelerated my move from painting and conventional mediums into digital art.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR STUDIO?

To be honest, a typical day in my studio doesn’t exist. Sometimes I spend a day photographing my models and searching for the right exposure poses etc. And sometimes I crawl behind my Mac in the morning and stay there until late at night. I can really lose myself in the possibilities of Photoshop and perfecting my work. I also often go out to shoot the cityscapes that appear within my art. I have already visited many cities in Europe and beyond to create these images, where I always look for the highest building or vantage point to capture the best picture of the city.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

Stay true to yourself…

WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR WORK?

My works appear to be confident portraits, but I hope that people also discover their vulnerability and perhaps recognise something of themselves in each of them. Perhaps, that a certain elegance is conveyed which means they are a pleasure to look at.

WHERE DO YOU GO FOR INSPIRATION?

I love to wander around museums such as the Rijksmuseum and there are also fantastic galleries that I visit when I’m in different cities taking photographs. That said probably my biggest source of inspiration is of course the internet, for me that’s one big toy store, hahaha!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

I have had several; my first exhibition in New York, the release of my book (which will be on sale at Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam 2019) but the nicest moments are when I see how happy or moved people can be by my work.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT AFFORDABLE ART FAIR AMSTERDAM 2019?

I always love to see how my art hangs in the stand of gallery De Kunstsalon and this year my work has also been used in the campaign for the fair. I am naturally very curious about that. Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam is the most important exhibition of the year for me and I’m looking forward to it!

As the fair approaches this Autumn, no doubt you’ll see the Yvonne’s work within our campaign, all over the city, why not snap up a ticket and see more of her stunning works on display on the De KunstSalon stand (B8) at the fair.

Main Image:
Artist Yvonne Michiels considers one of her pieces.

Featured art from first to last:
Photographer and digital artist, Yvonne Michiels.
Behind the scenes at the Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam 2019 campaign shoot.
Yvonne Michiels taking cityscape photographs in Times Square, New York to create her stunning digital artworks.
The Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam 2019 campaign features Yvonne Michiels artwork; Fading Flowers Gold, 2018, photo composition on diasec, De KunstSalon.