Layer by layer: a glimpse into Marielle’s creative world
Here are Marielle’s words.
Hello everyone,
Some of you may know that outside of busy family and business life, I spend a lot of time making art. What began as a lifelong, quiet passion has, in this phase of my life, become an essential part of how I experience and process the world around me.
My art is rooted in nature: earth pigments, rough textures, mark-making, organic shapes, and natural elements form my materials and my inspiration. I work primarily with mixed media, layering tactile surfaces to create depth and a "story." In my work, following energy is paramount: invisible, yet tangible. I want what I create to touch me, and if it touches you, to move you, that's fantastic. My work radiates energy - sometimes grounded and meditative, sometimes wild and vibrant. Like life, it's all in the layers.
Texture is everything to me. It holds memories. It slows down the gaze. It invites you to look closer. And through each layer, I find a kind of peace - an honest expression that connects me more deeply with the world and myself.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about questions - not the questions we ask to find answers, but the questions that open doors.
In my art practice, "what if?" has become my favourite tool.
What if I lay this delicate fabric over a rough texture?
What if earth pigments mix with metallic ink?
What if I stop trying to control the outcome and just… play and explore?
Mixed media has taught me to love the in-between spaces - the unknown, the mess, the quiet surprises. Each layer, every trace, every combination of natural elements and found textures is an invitation to play, to be curious, to stay open.
For me, the process is the goal. The journey is the result.
When I let go of what it "should" look like and instead follow the energy, that's when the magic happens. Then something true emerges - unexpected and more honest than I could ever have imagined.
There's so much joy in experimenting, in stepping outside the box and into the possibilities. I find beauty in the cracks, in blending, in the unpolished. I'm always learning, always asking, always reaching for something just outside the box.
So, to the questions that don't need answers.
To new ways of seeing.
To the wild combinations.
And to trusting the journey - layer by layer.
A little more about Marielle
I'm a mixed media artist (1961), inspired by the textures and hues of nature. My work combines layered materials and intuitive mark-making to explore emotion, energy, and the beauty of imperfection. Based in Oudsbergen, Belgium, I create in the in-between moments - searching for connection, story, and stillness through art.
If you're curious, take a look at my journey. You can find my art on Instagram, Facebook, and my website.
Thank you so much for reading and for joining me on this journey.
– Marielle