My studio in Tilburg — a behind-the-scenes look
⏱️ 6 minute read
As an artist in Tilburg, I work from an open studio in the Carré building. Some people think that painting looks like a quiet afternoon with a glass of wine and a brush. Sometimes it is. But more often, it's about searching, deleting, starting over, and ultimately creating something where you yourself aren't entirely sure how it came to be. That process — that's what I want to show you.
On November 7 and 8, 2026, I will participate in Kunstscene Tilburg, the city-wide event where over 80 locations open their doors. From studios and workshops to attics and creative hubs, spread throughout the city. I will open my studio in the Carré, and you are most welcome to visit and buy art in Tilburg — directly from the artist.
But before that, I'll give you a sneak peek inside.
Where I work as an artist in Tilburg
My studio is located in the Carré building in Tilburg. I work there at fixed times — usually on Wednesdays, often one evening during the week, and I'm regularly there on weekends. Besides my work as an online marketer, this is the place where I find myself.
The space is sparsely furnished. Large canvases against the wall, paint tubes on a table, a few brushes that have been with me for years. I prefer to work with plenty of light and minimal distractions. The color on the canvas should be the only voice in the room.
The Carré is a place that suits my way of working. No white gallery walls, no pressure to be presentable. Just a workspace where things can go wrong, where paint stains on the floor are normal, and where a canvas can stand against the wall for weeks before I look at it again.
Visit during Kunstscene
On November 7 and 8, I will open my studio in the Carré. No appointment needed, just walk in. You'll see work in progress, finished paintings, and prints from the collection.
How a painting begins
I primarily work with acrylic and oil paints. Large areas of color, few details. What I create often falls under color field painting — a movement where color itself is the subject, not a representation of something else.
A painting rarely begins with a clear plan. I start with a color that attracts me at that moment. Sometimes it's a tone I've seen somewhere — in a building, a fabric, a sky. I apply that color to the canvas and see what happens.
What follows is a dialogue between layers. I add, cover, sand back. Acrylic paint dries quickly, which means I can work fast but also make mistakes that I can't undo. That forces decisions. Oil paint is the opposite — slow, forgiving, but also demanding in patience. I use both, depending on what a work requires.
Sometimes after an hour, I know something isn't working. Then I sand the layer back or cover everything with a new ground coat and start again. That feels like a loss, but it rarely is. Beneath every painting are decisions that are no longer visible but shape the work. That history is embedded, even if it's invisible.
A painting is finished when I no longer want to change anything about it — not because it's perfect, but because it has become itself.
"Beneath every painting are decisions that are no longer visible but shape the work. That history is embedded, even if it's invisible."
What is color field painting?
Color field painting is a movement within abstract art that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s in America. Artists like Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, and Barnett Newman worked with large fields of color that fill the entire canvas — without narrative, without figures, without perspective. Color as an experience.
What attracts me to this movement is its directness. There's no story to hide behind. The color is there, and you are standing before it. What you feel is what you feel. That sometimes makes it unfamiliar for the viewer — there's nothing to recognize — but also liberating. You don't have to understand anything. You can just look.
In my own work, I combine this flatness with more texture and layering than classical color field painters. The paint layers are visible, sometimes rough, sometimes smoothly sanded. This gives the work a physical presence that you cannot fully see on a screen. That is precisely why I am happy that people can visit during Kunstscene.
"There's no story to hide behind. The color is there, and you are standing before it. What you feel is what you feel."
Buy originals and prints in Tilburg
From my studio, I sell two types of work. Original paintings — unique, hand-painted works that exist only once. And art prints — high-quality reproductions of my work, available in multiple sizes.
An original is an object with history. You see the paint layers, the decisions, the places where I covered something up or retouched it. It is a unique work that will never be made again. Prices for originals vary depending on size and material — from smaller works from the Affordable Art collection to larger canvases that stand as a statement in a room.
A print is a way to take home a work that resonates with you, even if the original has already been sold or is outside your budget. The prints are available in multiple sizes and are professionally printed on high-quality paper. They are suitable for any interior — from a small wall in an apartment to a large wall in a living room or office.
Not sure which size fits? During Kunstscene, you can see and compare the works in real life. That makes the choice a lot easier than on a screen.
During Kunstscene, both will be on display and for sale — directly from the artist, without an intermediary.
What you can expect during Kunstscene
My studio is not a gallery. There's no receptionist, no price list behind glass, no threshold to step inside. You just walk in, look around, and if you have questions, you ask them.
You'll see work in different stages. Some paintings are finished and for sale. Others are still in progress — half-done, with notes around them or a layer that still needs to dry. I find that precisely interesting to show. Art is not an end product that appears out of nowhere. It is a process, and that process should be visible.
Prints from the collection will also be present, in multiple sizes. If you buy something, I'll carefully package it on the spot so you can safely take it home. For larger originals, we can also make arrangements for delivery.
And yes, there will be coffee.
Why I participate in Kunstscene Tilburg
Tilburg has historically been a textile city, but for a long time also a City of Makers. This craftsmanship is in the city's veins — in the Spoorzone, the Dwaalgebied, the creative hubs on the fringes. Kunstscene exposes this scene and makes it visible to everyone.
More than 80 locations are participating: studios, workshops, cultural venues spread throughout the city. From the heart of the center to Moerenburg and the Reeshof. It's not a fair, not a gallery — it's the city itself opening its doors.
I believe that art works better when you see it in real life. On a screen, a painting loses its scale, its texture, the way light falls on it. Kunstscene is an opportunity to change that — to let people into the place where the work is created.
"It's not a fair, not a gallery — it's the city itself opening its doors."
Visit on November 7 or 8
Kunstscene Tilburg will take place on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026. More than 80 locations throughout the city will open their doors — from the Spoorzone to the Reeshof. My open studio in the Carré is one of them.
You don't need to make a reservation. Just walk in. Look around. Ask questions. Buy something if you want, but you don't have to.
Want to preview the collection?
Browse the original paintings and prints on the website. Everything you see online will also be available during Kunstscene.
View the collectionFrequently Asked Questions
Where is KOJO Art's studio in Tilburg?
My studio is located in the Carré building in Tilburg. During Kunstscene on November 7 and 8, 2026, the studio will be freely accessible.
Do I need to register for Kunstscene Tilburg?
No. Kunstscene is an open event. You simply walk in, no reservation needed.
Can I buy paintings in Tilburg from KOJO Art?
Yes. During Kunstscene, original paintings and prints will be available for purchase on site. Outside of the event, you can order via the webshop, with worldwide shipping.
What is color field painting?
Color field painting is an abstract art style where large fields of color fill the entire canvas, without figures or narrative. Color is the subject. Famous names include Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler. In my work, I combine this approach with visible texture and layering.
Does KOJO Art also ship outside the Netherlands?
Yes, I ship worldwide. Can't visit? The full collection is available online.
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About KOJO Art
KOJO Art is the brand name under which I, Jordy Koumans, paint and sell. From my studio in Tilburg, I create color field paintings and abstract works in acrylic and oil paint. Available as originals or prints, shipped worldwide.
