After quite some time, there is another interview here—and I am really happy about it. This time, Birgit Susemihl answered my questions. For years, we have both been participating in Judith Peters' annual review challenge. So
Signature Strokes
A blog about art, art history, and artistic processes.
Here I write about what interests me in art: artworks, artists, materials, thoughts from the studio, and questions I am exploring. This blog is a place where I collect observations and share what really interests me. Sometimes other artists also have their say, for example in interviews about their work and their views on art.
Es ist nichts Schlimmes passiert. Aber doch, 2025 war ein Jahr, das ich weniger erlebt, als ausgehalten habe. Es gab keine persönlichen
A vast winter landscape stretches out beneath a high, cold sky. In the far left foreground, three hunters are coming down the
Aquarellfarben gehören zu meinen liebsten Kunstmedien. Was ich mag, ist diese Mischung aus Freiheit, Leichtigkeit und Zufall. Man kann sie nicht bis
Today, I'm continuing my blog series “Art Explained”. What's it about? In exhibition texts, image descriptions, books and even in my own
In art history, the colour blue appeared surprisingly late. For a long time, people painted with whatever they had available, using earth
The world is currently moving in a direction that frightens me. In the United States, critical voices are being silenced. Foreign journalists
Dieses Jahr ist irre. Erst zieht es sich wie Kaugummi und zack – in 4 Wochen ist schon der erste Advent. Spätestens
Did autumn take you by surprise this year as much as it did me?One minute it was still warm and summery, and
I have a real weakness for heist and art theft films. Pierce Brosnan's nonchalance as Thomas Crown, the teamwork in the Ocean
This week, time is slipping through my fingers. My calendar is jam-packed, I hardly know where to turn, and yet I'm only
While researching last week's article on a painted summer, I once again came across Winslow Homer. He is one of those painters
August will soon be over and so this summer is slowly but surely coming to an end. Overall, it was rather slow
I recently bought some liquid charcoal from Schmincke. I had had my eye on it for a long time and really wanted
Light has an immediate effect on me. A grey winter day can exacerbate my depression.Conversely, a bright morning or a honey-coloured ray
Früher war Material für mich vor allem eines: knapp. Kunst war ein Hobby und mein Budget war begrenzt. Neue Farben, Papier oder
She sits completely still. The room is dark; only the faint glow of a candle falls on her face, and even that
Creativity is rewarding in many ways. Whatever ignites our love and devotion, at some point, we bring it out into the world.
Joan Mitchell’s work is fierce and expansive. Her colours scream; they swirl, they flow across the canvas. There is a power in
Art is in the eye of the beholder, or so the saying goes. But does that really mean outsiders get to decide
We’re travelling in the first half of May – the beaches and alleys are still almost empty. The evenings are cool, and
Ich mag die Stille. Das In-mir-Sein, das Langsame. Und doch frage ich mich manchmal, wann sie kippt. Wann aus Ruhe Rückzug wird.
In just over two weeks, I’ll be heading to Spain – the Costa Brava, to be exact – and I honestly can’t
Sandra Stops tells stories through images – quietly, sincerely, and with great sensitivity. Her work often emerges intuitively and shows that clarity
Es gibt Tage, da fehlen mir die Worte. Nicht, weil es nichts zu sagen gäbe, sondern weil mir Sprache manchmal zu klar,
This week, Silvio answers my questions. He is a passionate photographer.In his adopted home of East Frisia, he specializes in capturing his
Art history is filled with great names—most of them male. For centuries, female artists were overlooked, ignored, or even had their works
After a short break, I'm all the more excited to continue my interview series today. This time, Heiko Metz has taken on
There are days when I feel like Wile E. Coyote—you know, from Roadrunner & Coyote. He takes off running, his legs spinning
The current global developments scare me. In many countries, authoritarian forces are gaining ground, and democratic values are under pressure. In the
A dramatically lit room. At its centre lies a corpse—pale and motionless—surrounded by focused, attentive men. As the light falls from above,
Antje Schulz is a creative explorer with a special passion for illustration. Combining kawaii cartoons with vintage elements, she creates illustrations that
Kathy ist eine kreative Seele. Sie bezeichnet sich selbst – zu Recht – als Wortmalerin und Literaturträumerin. Schon seit ihrer Kindheit begleitet
For many years, I had lost touch with my creative side. I had slipped into burnout and found myself caught in the
This year, I wanted to focus on what truly matters. 2023 had been a challenging year for me. I struggled with recurring
In the works of Kathrin Denecke, also known as CreativeSoul Hamburg, you can feel the joy of storytelling through words and colours.
It was a time of discovery, exploration, and rediscovery – in art, science, and thought. Three giants embodied this era of creativity
Ich freue mich, dass in dieser Woche mal wieder ein anderer kreativer Bereich in mein Interview-Projekt hüpft. Diesmal beantwortet nämlich Simone Rindlisbacher
I don’t follow a plan when I create art. Layer by layer, stroke by stroke, it’s all about letting something emerge. I
This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing illustrator Bianka Behrami and photographer Kate Brunch. Both are versatile creatives with over 20
Dieses Jahr hatte es bisher in sich – und darüber will ich mich nicht beschweren! Es lief ganz gut, mein bisher bestes
My interviewee this week, Anita Griebl, has been helping people discover their own creativity for years. For her, painting is a joyful
Ich komme gerade von einem Waldspaziergang zurück. Die Luft ist kühl, und die Blätter färben sich in warmen Gelb- und Rottönen. Das
Maria Chiariello expresses her art in many forms. As the non-verbal stage persona Ms. Italia, she captivates audiences alongside Mr. Rockalicious in
No artist I know captures light quite like Max Liebermann. Filtered through leaves and branches, it flows like gold onto paths and
Tobias Tambornino deliberately celebrates imperfection in his works. His style is experimental, playful, and allows space for chance to remain visible. Mistakes
Honestly, I had pictured the past few weeks rather differently. But sometimes life just forces you to hit pause—whether you’re up for
Hard to believe, but it’s already October. Unlike summer, which this year shyly peeked over the garden fence a few times before
Ich freue mich, heute einen weiteren Künstler vorzustellen. Werner Szendi lebt in Österreich in einem ruhigen Ort direkt an der Donau, wo
This week in my interview series: artist Sabine Seidel. She lives in a picturesque village, surrounded by nature that inspires her and
Sometimes, while researching for my blog posts, I stumble upon small details that suddenly make my subject come to life. This happened
This week I am delighted to introduce Sandra Geise in my interview. Sandra is an abstract painter who brings her emotions to
As an artist, I'm used to spending a lot of time alone. My studio is my sanctuary, a space filled with colours,
Meine Interview-Reihe mit Menschen aus den verschiedensten kreativen Bereichen geht weiter. Diesmal hat die Künstlerin Irene Friedrich meine Fragen beantwortet. Irene ist
Female artists are not just underrepresented in museums; they also face greater challenges in the art market compared to their male counterparts,
This week, I am delighted to welcome Corinna Kaspar to my interview. Corinna is the creative force behind the Fairies & Tales
We live, perhaps surprisingly to some, in a world of apples. A humble fruit with a lot to offer! From the Garden
This week the artist Annett Wagner answers my questions. I'm particularly pleased because this is our second collaboration. Earlier this year, Annett
Sprachen As an abstract artist, I frequently encounter questions and comments that challenge the nature of my work. "I don't get it"
Today, artist Emily Pals answers my questions. Emily discovered her love of oil painting in the cosy atmosphere of her grandfather's studio.
I am delighted that my interview series continues to grow and that so many creative people are answering my questions. Today I
It's time for another interview in my creative series, and I'm delighted to introduce you to the next artist today - although
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill Of course, no
A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune to stumble across an inspiring community of creative people. People from a wide
Sprachen Do artists tend to be more creative in the kitchen? Picasso's dinner parties are said to have been legendary. Frida
Have you ever heard of Artemisia Gentileschi? She was the most famous female painter of the Baroque period, known and admired for
The path of an artist can be a bumpy one. It doesn't matter what path we have chosen, whether officially through a
You might think that the art world is a pretty dignified place. But this is not always the case. There are spectacular
Admittedly, the Internet has its pitfalls. But the great thing about it is that we can connect with people all over the
Every year, you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself. - by unknown A new
December - it's time again for my annual review. My first thought as I looked back was: Phew, that was a tough
"I'm standing on the bridge and I'm back in the middle of Paris, in the home of us all. There the water
Okay, today I'm coming out of the closet: I love Christmas. There is something in the air in the lead up to
Acrylics are one of the most popular art mediums. This is not surprising. The colors are brilliant, the applications are varied, the
You've found a favorite piece of art for your home and want to make sure you can enjoy it for years to
When I hear the term Renaissance, I immediately feel transported to Italy. No wonder, since it was particularly pronounced in Italy. From
The anticipation is growing. On July 9th, hopefully a beautiful summer day, the "Culture Island" at the Phoenix Lake in Dortmund will
The world of art is not an exclusive club to which only a select few have access. It is neither a luxury
I love books. All kinds of books. Obviously, there are a few rows of art books on my bookshelves. And I use
It's that time of year again. I'm looking forward to it: When Judith Peters calls for a blog challenge, it gets exciting.
There are places that are inextricably linked with art. Monet's water lily pond is one such example. Or van Gogh's wheat fields
How do you transform a room from ordinary to extraordinary? With art! But how do you hang art properly? How do you
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These
Colors are my tools, my voice. As an artist, I use them to bring my visions to life. They help me express
"Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as >art<. There are only artists. Once upon a time, there were people who took
Now that spring beckons, Stefan and I have resumed our morning walks in the woods. Currently, there are still many broken twigs
I recently joined the Artist Alliance Community, a group of artists. For the first time, I have the opportunity to participate in
A few weeks ago, Stefan and I started a new and exciting tradition. On Sundays, as we sit comfortably at the breakfast
I knew the feeling long before I knew there was a word for it. The feeling that you're pretending to be someone
Do you know your art type? We want to be comfortable in our own four walls, surrounded by beautiful things. But finding
I love browsing in flea markets. It's like looking for hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. You never know what you might
Art is an inescapable part of human existence. Since the beginning of time, we have expressed ourselves by creating works of art
As an artist, I know how important creative expression can be for mental health. As someone who suffers from depression, I also
I didn't know how good it is to take some time and review the year. Also, to define dreams and wishes for
Lately, I have been dealing a lot with my childhood. In the process, a lot of things that had been buried a
"F*ck positive vibes only" - that's the motto of Anette Schade's blog parade. An optimistic basic attitude is important. We should think
It's time again for an art quiz. I really enjoy testing my knowledge. Especially when it comes to topics that mean a
Mass-produced goods or original art? There is an enormous difference. Genuine art touches us, speaks to us. And today, it's no longer
I really enjoyed the Blog Challenge at the end of last month, so I thought about taking part in another one. I
Judith Peters from Sympatexter is hosting the BoomBoomBlog Challenge this week. Since I like challenges - and want to improve my blog -
How do ideas come about, and how are they brought to life? What exactly is creativity anyway? Do you know this too?
A while ago, in connection with the new limited edition art prints I've been offering lately, I told you about giclée prints
What role do women play in art? How are they perceived, what influence do they have? How was it in the past,
As an artist, I always hope that I can touch people, leaving a mark with art. My emotions, my thoughts and experiences
My new project "Shore" - a whole series of seascapes - is very close to my heart. I love the sea, actually
I am so happy to announce that I have expanded my offer. From now on, you can also buy selected artworks as
International animal exhibition"WILDART 2022. THE MAGICAL WORLD OF WILDLIFE".Ecological and Biological Centre "Krestovsky Island".19 February 2022 - 17 April 2022Novosibirsk - St.
Today I have a tip for you. I recently discovered an art podcast that really inspires me. "Augen zu" is an art
Do you know anything about Impressionism? Today I've put together a quiz and it's about Impressionist painters.Since I've never done anything like
Édouard Manet was a controversial artist throughout his life. Artistically, he went his own way and could not be pigeonholed. This earned
Today, like every other 13 January, is a special day. The Let-Your-Dreams-Come-True-Day is meant to motivate people to achieve their goals. Or
Art is my way of understanding the world. It is a social process, a human interaction – with society, with myself. Creating
Maybe you feel the same way: When I want to learn more about someone, I prefer the information that you can’t find
Sustainability is an important issue that affects us all. But what about the art world? Is sustainability an issue here? Unfortunately, the
The Northern White Rhino is the rarest mammal in the world. There are only 2 left! That’s right, only 2 living northern
Did you know that every year 800 lions are slaughtered in South Africa and their bones are exported to end up as
At the end of 2019, ABUN had called for a new project. This time it was about black-faced lion tamarins. These golden
Lea Finke
- Artist -
Lea Finke is a visual artist. Inspired by small imperfections and nature, her work explores vulnerability and the traces left behind by time. In her art blog, Signature Strokes, she combines thoughts from her studio with observations on art and art history.
Up for some creative exchange?
Other artists also share their thoughts on this page. If you are interested in collaborating, you can find more information here.


