First dive by Niek van Wijngaarden

About "First dive"

by Niek van Wijngaarden

About the artwork

"First dive" - From the series "Ordinary People"
We've all experienced it; the first time.... The first time you do something you are not sure of the outcome of. Do you jump into the deep end and emerge triumphant, or do you hit the ground painfully?
"First dive" captures that moment just before the jump - the tension, the doubt, searching for inner strength and quiet determination.
The image shows that you can put up so many "safety nets" but you only really know how it will end when you take that step.

For those who recognise themselves in the adventure of the unknown. This work combines courage and vulnerability in one image.
Let First Dive remind you that every great journey begins with one step... or one dive.

At first glance, this series shows strange figures in peculiar situations - rendered in an unusual way. Yet all my drawings in this series have one thing in common: they depict something human.
However funny or droll the image may appear, there is always a serious undertone or an emotion lurking beneath the surface.

The characters all seem to be on the move - on a journey, perhaps? On their way to something. What exactly, remains unclear. But one thing is certain: they are all moving in the same direction.

My images are created during spontaneous sketching sessions. When I see something recognisable emerging, I follow that trail and let myself be surprised by where it leads.

Pencil drawing 2023