Damien Kloot XX Icon

Art Gallery

DK-XX-53

One of my first memories as a kid was telling my parents I wanted to be an artist.

I remember it so clearly. We were walking down Cavill Avenue on the Gold Coast in Australia, and I saw a painting of an old Queenslander, and I knew straight away that’s what I wanted to do.

I was quickly put into place when they told me that artists don’t make money and only become rich when they die—a great way to put out a flame.

But that flame was only temporary, as I started to look for other ways to be creative.

Fast forward many years later, and over the years, I have been paid to be an artist – it might not be in the traditional sense, but exchanging creativity for dollars makes me feel like I proved them wrong.

While writing this, I am starting to see it in another sense. It’s not about the money. It’s about being free and creating without a care or worry in the world.

My little art gallery here is all about that. The pieces that have no strings attached. They are my creations, and they make me happy.

And that’s all that matters.

I have wanted to get into mixed media art for about 16 years, but it just didn’t happen. So at the end of 2021, finally, I have made a start.
The story behind an old self-portrait I recently dug up while looking for old music files I created more than 15 years ago.