About us

Text, Photography, web design: © Cissi Driessen 

> for full text see Dutch version of website (Google Translate)

Studies
My name is Cissi. At the age of 17, I started with my studies as a translator and interpreter at the University of Antwerp, which I completed 4 years later in 1991 (master). Then followed a year at University in Strasbourg, France. In between I also studied and worked in Spain, Greece and Italy. I had the privilege to meet so many interesting, valuable people from all over the world during all these years.

In 2015 I said goodbye to the office environment and opted for a life without stress with my paintings. Even more connected to nature, my heart and intuition.

* Upon request, I provide interpreting/translation work (​​English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Modern Greek)
* Specialized in bioidentical hormones; member of the Hormone Network in Munich since 2016

With 'Bird of Paradise' I try to inspire (a.o.) in:
* Naturopathy: a holistic way of living according to Nature
* The prevention of menopausal symptoms
* Cooking grandma's way
* Know your familiy history, understand and heal yourself
* High sensitivity and giftedness

A peaceful home
Vitamin D3 and a pan of fresh soup every day
inspiring people around you
positive thinking and just being happy
then you have already won 95%

'Happiness comes from Contentment'  (Taupe STUDIO garden)

My inspiration: the art of being content
I am a content, grateful and happy person, I have a strong connection with nature, people and animals and I feel privileged to be able to take so much pleasure from the smallest, everyday things. That’s where I get my inspiration. ​
For my paintings, I work with acrylic on linen canvas and 45 mm thick aluminium frames. My work is abstract and my style is characterised by the thick paint, the large size and the sides of the canvas, which are also painted in detail.  

Painting: how it began
I just created my first painting one day in 2010, I am an autodidact in every respect and I believe that, with self-confidence, willpower and simple hard work, anything is possible. When you put passion and commitment into something, it’s all great fun and good things come your way. My style developed naturally after that and the paintings find their way in and outside Europe. 

Giving up my regular job and choosing painting has meant there is no stress in my life - one of the greatest pathogens of our time - and I have plenty of time for other people. I hope to create moments of happiness and inspire people to be mindful and live in the moment more, through a wonderful combination of colours and composition. 

Life is like a camera:
Focus on what's important
Capture the good times
Develop from the negatives
And if things don't work out
Take another shot

Making choices and scaling back
I am convinced that daring to make choices consciously and in time will help us to give direction to our lives and our own happiness. We just keep rushing on through our crazy, overfull society, where there is too much of everything. We are always busy but can't see the fact that we ourselves are the cause of this. We derive most of our identity from what’s on the outside.
I think this is largely because of the internet and social media, but we ourselves want to keep too many plates spinning too. It has caused a lot of stress and superficiality, which means that we don't pay enough genuine attention to one another, our children and the things we do. 
I believe in a life closer to nature and in scaling back: being content with less, finding peace in ourselves and in our own home, moments of calm spent together at the dinner table, live and let live, in short: quality over quantity.

Happiness is a way of travel
not a destination

Being friendly
By living my life in a positive and disarming way and passing this on to others, I try to inspire people to do the same wherever possible. If we could all be a little bit friendlier and mild, do more for each other and accept each other as we are, everything around us would immediately seem so much brighter. A smile or just a little compliment, you'll see that it spreads like wildfire and you get twice as much back. Your smile will open the world. Karma!

Cissi       

"ALL CHILDREN ARE ARTISTS. JUST TRY TO REMAIN AN ARTIST WHEN YOU GROW UP"