Meet Marleen Pauwels

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marleen Pauwels. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marleen below.

Marleen , so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

The key for me is not to stop working, because staying active has always stimulated and inspired me to new work so far.
So when I hit a wall, the first thing I usually do is walk away from the piece I am working on and put it somewhere out of sight. This helps me gain some distance and see things from a new perspective.
Additionally, I start by making lots of rough gesture drawings to loosen up and break any rigid patterns. I practise techniques, sometimes drawing the same thing over and over again in different ways.
I also find it useful to declutter my workspace, revisit my inspiration board and look at older drawings. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try something completely new to both challenge myself and get me out of my comfort zone.
Furthermore, taking the occasional break, reading a good book and being gentle with myself always works to recharge my batteries.
Lastly, talking it through with other artists definitely helps. It is quite reassuring to know that I am not the only one experiencing these stagnations and it can spark new ideas and possibly even engaging collaborations.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a Belgian minimalist painter and illustrator based in Spain. As a child I was determined to be a performer, craving the attention of the stage. Yet gradually I found myself drawn to a different kind of expression — the silent dialogue between form and space through drawing, painting and sculpting. However, it was the ability to convey emotions and narratives through my work that truly captivated me and led me to pursue a career as a professional artist.
After traveling through Spain many years ago, my husband and I built our studio/gallery in Andalusia, surrounded by nature where we can work in absolute silence.
I employ a multi-layered approach to create depth and structure in my paintings. Acrylics serve as my initial medium to lay the foundation. Additionally, I incorporate silica powder and paper, strategically applied to certain areas to create subtle variations in texture and tone. But it is the addition of oil paint that truly brings my paintings to life. Throughout this process, I carefully hide snippets of text, relevant to the work, in between the layers.
These snippets, as well as the open windows or doorways in my work are subtle yet significant details, inviting the viewer to journey deeper into the narrative of the painting.
Alongside and as a counterpart to my introspective paintings, I have created Zef and Zan, a chubby and perky cartoon couple whom I also render as sculptures.
And while these endearing characters seem like a light-hearted antidote to the themes highlighted in my paintings, they subtly address similar topics in an ironic and playful way, thereby adding an extra dimension to my artistic portfolio.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience, perseverance and willpower have brought me where I am today.

To thrive as a creative means going all in, forget about safety nets, work hard and focus on your goal.

For those just starting out, I would say:
Be absolutely clear to yourself why you want to be an artist and definitely don’t let success or money be your main reason.

Stay true to yourself and never give up.
In a world filled with noise and distractions, this is more important than ever.
Social media can make it feel like artists need to be constantly churning out content. But let’s be real, quality beats quantity every time. Don’t let the pressure to keep up suck the fun out of creating.

Practice, experiment and explore to develop your skills.
Learn to deal with the business side of the art world, because, while not the most fun part of the journey, it can open many doors.

Embrace your unique voice and strive for excellence without sacrificing authenticity, even if it’s tough sometimes.
Set some boundaries and make time for what you love. It’s all about balance.
Be patient, persistent and enjoy the process.

And finally, be kind to yourself and to others as you navigate this journey.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who recognises the value of original art and is aware of the time and effort that goes into creating each piece.
Someone who can perceive the dedication and emotion I put into my work and is willing to invest in a piece of art that touches them personally. My most passionate collectors see it as a form of expression and a connection between the artist and the viewer. They are not just buying a piece of art; they are buying a piece of me.
I am aware that my art may not find mass acclaim, and that’s fine. I am fortunate to have a small but very dedicated group of collectors who appreciate my work and support my artistic vision. They are the ones who keep me going.

In addition to Rise Art, the London-based gallery that has represented me since 2008 and has been a great partner so far, I mainly work with private collectors who come to the studio after contacting me directly through my website. The personal connections that arise from these interactions are increasingly fulfilling for me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Artwork photos taken by me. Studio images and photos of me taken by Stuart Weston and Kris Heyse.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that