BIO 

Maayke Bal is a Dutch contemporary artist. From a young age she has been an alround creative. She has always had a broad interest in art, sociology, psychology, economy and geopolitics. She studied Policy& Governance Sciences and Psychology and graduated her master in Clinical Psychology & Personality Theory. Maayke is intrigued by human nature and psyche, both in their best and worst forms. She holds the strong belief that that the best within and amongst people can occur as long as the worst is not denied, for denying the negative comes with dangers, loss and hypocrisy. Maayke held positions in the fields of addicion treatment, forensic psychiatry and in the Dutch prison system, both as a psychologist and in management. Maayke got her three children from the age of 26, which gave ultimate meaning to her life. Reflecting on her own childhood, being a good mum and providing a steady and loving home has always been vitally important for her. Therefore, she suffered a a big loss when she went through a divorce in 2012. After processing this loss Maayke wanted to focus more on the fulfilling things in life, among which making art. She started a private practice as a psychologist and relational therapist. In 2018, the year Maayke married her newfound big love, she began her intensive study of art, producing more artwork and pursuing a serious art carreer.
STATEMENT

The beauty of the good as wel as the pains of the bad form the source emotions for my abstract oilpaintings. I want my endwork to be part of the good. Oilpaints to me have classic beauty and a richness that I strive to integrate in my abstract works.
In this journey I search to maximally exploit my materials and techniques and, through the exploration of shape, color, value, and texture, find a pleasing balance between geometric tightness and expression, movement and stillness, and brilliant and achromatic colors. While freely associating thoughts, feelings and action form the beginning of my creative process, my focus, intention and formalism grow as a painting matures.