Artist statement Ingrid I. van der Meer

As a Dutch artist it took me nearly 40 years to realize that making art was not only for the artistically inbred talented artists. 30 years ago schools in the Netherlands did not encourage students using their ability to be creative. Global circumstances gave me the opportunity to develop my unconscious need to create. Creating three-dimensional objects with metal give me the 'freedom' to express myself. The use of vitreous enamels add color to my work. I mostly work with silver and copper but other materials like gold, wood, glass, plastic (take a look at my recycled earrings) have my interests as well. Many times my designs originate in my dreams. Always looking at everything that surrounds me, I get my ideas from nature as well as shapes of buildings or shadows on the ground. I like to use bright colors in my work since bright colors represent the way I think about life.
Most of my designs have a contemporary look, but I feel drawn by Art Deco and Art Nouveau as well. Sometimes I like to put some humour in my pieces. I feel like my creativity is my 6th sense that needs attention all the time.

My studio is small, but effective and efficient. It is build as an extension on the side of our garage. My tools mean a lot to me and in the course of time I got some nice pieces of equipment that make my work go easier.