About me as an artist
My name is Josephine Sieveking, born and raised in Munich. I currently live in The Hague, Netherlands, but have also called Shanghai, New York, Madrid and Berlin my temporary homes.
My studio in The Hague is a small sanctuary where I explore oil and acrylic painting, from traditional realism to abstract color fields.
Painting serves as a form of meditation for me, offering balance and peace amidst the busyness of my day-to-day job. It is a space where I can disconnect from the expectations of others, free myself from comparisons, and quiet the noise of outside opinions. Painting allows me to reconnect with my inner self, reminding me of the joy in trusting the creative process.
Creativity at my Core in Childhood
Art has been a constant in my life since childhood. One of my memories is sitting side by side with my brother in the mornings, listening to audiobooks while we sketched and scribbled for hours. I attended children’s painting and workshop classes where I explored techniques from paper cutting to woodworking.
As I grew older, my creative interests shifted, and I was particular drawn to figure and portrait sketching. During my teenage years, I transitioned from sketching with pencils to painting with acrylics, and a new chapter in my artistic journey began. It was during this time that my curiosity about abstract art emerged, leading me to explore the work of Mark Rothko. Writing my high school thesis on Rothko was an inspiration —I was captivated by his vision of art as a spiritual practice, an act of resonance and emotional connection.
Rediscovery of Painting
In 2021, during a sabbatical, I moved to Madrid and took a leap into oil painting. From the very first day, I fell in love with the city and with oil painting, opening an entirely new world for me. The long, layered process taught me patience and trust — it required me to embrace the journey and trust that each layer contributes to the final piece. I also came to appreciate the softness of mixing colors, the forgiving nature of the medium, and the way it allows for refinement and correction. Oil painting became much more than just a technique; it transformed into a practice of leaning into the process and embracing the beauty of evolution. It reconnected me with the joy I had felt as a child creating art. More than that, it helped me rediscover how art can spark flow states, bring emotional clarity, and serve as a powerful tool for self-expression and processing emotions.
Current Painting Practice
Now, whenever day-to-day life allows, I retreat to my small studio in The Hague, where I continue to paint and experiment. Whether I’m working on a detailed oil painting or letting my intuition guide me through a spontaneous acrylic piece, the act of creating art remains a constant source of joy, healing, and inspiration in my life.
In 2024, I took my first steps into painting from life during a workshop in Florence. Working on realistic portraiture and painting directly from life was both a challenging and deeply rewarding experience. It pushed me to sharpen my observational skills, embrace subtleties in light and texture, and immerse myself in the classical traditions of art.
2024 also marked a significant milestone in my artistic journey—I ventured into taking on a portrait commission for the first time. This experience presented a new and exciting challenge: staying true to my own style and methodology, while embracing the responsibility of meeting someone’s expectations.
Training
While I’m mostly self-taught, I’ve sought out learning opportunities to deepen my skills:
2024
2-week of realism portrait and figure oil painting classes from life under Marco Franco
Florence Academy of Art
Florence, Italy (2024)
2021
3 months of realism portrait and landscape oil painting classes
DeCinti Villalón Painting Academy
Madrid, Spain (2021)
