Name
Nina Valkhoff

Age
24

Company
Creatief op Commando

Website
Visit Homepage

Home
Schiedam (The Netherlands)

Education
Academy of Arts

Motto
I design my own world

Nina Valkhoff (24) can probably turn anything into a wonderful piece of art, just by picking up her brush. Take a toilet seat. She can make you one on demand, turning your toilet into one of the best looking places in your house. She’s had her seats, wall paintings and jewelry displayed in several magazines and ads and is working very hard to create even more. She currently lives in Germany, but luckily we were still able to get in tough with here.

A brief overview of what your company does:
It all started with mural paintings for companies. Now I extended my activities with illustrations, paintings, and painted ‘useful’ objects, such as toilet seats, furniture, pillows, bracelets, and a lot more.

How did you get into business?
When I was in the Academy of arts, the owner of the salsa school where I danced, asked me to make a mural painting for him. While doing that, I got ‘discovered’ by the owner of a big club, where I made my second mural. It got very successful, so I decided that it was time for my own business!

Which achievements are you proud of?
All the publications I’ve already had in national magazines and papers, and the huge murals I’ve made.

Did you run into many obstacles?
Pretty much. Most obstacles were related to bad organizing, or unclear agreements about the price. I’ve learned to become more businesslike, and to always make a contract.

What differentiates you from other entrepreneurs?
My own style, my positive attitude and the fact that I’m not afraid to do the boring side of the job.

What have been the keys in bringing your company to the present level?
Work, work, work, and to search publicity.

Has your age given you an advantage in getting where you are now?
No, I guess that when you’re a young female, people don’t take you too serious, especially not the older men. They think you’re cute and that your work is a hobby, so be careful in those situations. Most likely they will try to pay you as little as possible.

How do you keep yourself motivated to work hard and to get even better at what you do?
Sometimes I look at very ugly stuff that colleagues have made. That motivates me to make beautiful stuff. Or I look at design and art that I admire, to think: ‘I want to be that good, or do even better!’
To scare myself works quite good. When I’m not very motivated, I think of a 9 to 5, which makes me so sick that I don’t mind working for myself any longer!

What are the most important lessons you have learned along the way?
Be patient, work hard, make a contract, be professional. Never give less than a 100%, or you will face the consequences.

What is your goal in life?
To go on like I do now, to grow and become the real artist that’s inside of me.

Who do you get support from?
I live with my boyfriend, who supports me mentally and financially, when the incomes are not so high. All my friends and family are my biggest fans and they would take any chance to promote me! What would I do without them?

Who are your role-models?
I don’t have role-models.

How important do you consider networking to be?
Crucial! I thank everything to my network. I network all the time, even in the train or at the supermarket. Make sure that you’ve always got your impressive name-cards with you, and see the opportunities. And, of course, through the internet. Swap links with related websites.

Apart from running your business, are there any other things you’re passionate about?
Salsa-dancing, photography and well, my work actually. My work is my passion!

What would you advise people who dream of doing what you do now?
Just start doing what you feel like doing. In the beginning you might not be successful, and stay broke for a long time, but in the end it will be all worth to have your own work and to be independent.

Any websites/ books or other resources you can recommend beginners?
Not really. Just browse on the internet and get inspired by what other people do, your creativity should do the rest.

What can we expect from you in the future?
More, bigger and better. I’m working on many things right now, in different fields, but all related to what I do now. My first priority is to start a proper English website, because so far it’s still in Dutch.

Who would you like to be contacted by?
Anybody who’s interested in what I do is more than welcome on my website or can send me an e-mail.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 26th, 2007 at 1:59 am and is filed under Articles, Europe, Artist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.