My name is Knaepkens Ludo, born in 17/05/1962, a painter living and working in Hoogstraten, Belgium. I have been drawing and painting all my life. My mother painted and my father was in the transportation business. The genes I inherited clearly influenced my life and my works and are irrevocably linked to it. Due to the busy job, I only graduated from IKO Art Academy at the end of my professional career. In addition. I also completed the training of art gallery owner:operator. In my studio I paint with acrylic and oil paint, but I also like to experiment with mixed techniques. Over the years my style has evolved from romantic Impressionism to graphic, colourful popart. The freedom to use colours, to mix images, implementing humour and texts in the work is something that has attracted me since my childhood. The greatest passion I experience through painting and seeing the growth process of the work. My favourite examples are Norman Rockwell, E. Hopper, Gil Elvgren and comics from Spirou Publishers. Not only my passion for oldtimers, classic racers, trucks, vintage motorcycles and pinups is an important source of inspiration, but also contemporary images or events, old photos, memories, music and lyrics can inspire me. Often I make compositions of images or I mix my models with a strange, unexpected background. The own use of color combined with working with pixels makes my work graphic, sometimes even photographic from a distance. The entire image feels very lively and almost threedimensional due to the appropriate use of color. I like a challenge; so I love to participate in painting competitions, open calls or an exhibition. Sometimes you can see me live at work during my exhibition. Creativity has no limits. Unleash your cfreativity and the joy you experience is the greatest gift of all.