Hello!
I'm Sjoukje
Back in 2004 I made my first collage with God. That moment showed me something new: how creating can bring connection and healing.
For years art was just between Him and me – a place of healing and learning. Over time it began to grow: pieces that spoke to others, workshops, and art people could take home.
Since the summer of 2024 there’s been more space and speed in this process.
God is always challenging me and teaching me something new. These days He is teaching me about honoring and restoring the old and about creating interactive and missionary art.
I'm excited about this new road in my journey
On this website and on social media I share my art-journey with Him and try to open space for others to meet Him through art.
Why "From
the Mere"?
When God gave me this name, I didn’t understand it. Over the years I have been discovering more and more of its meaning.
The word mere has several meanings that come together for me in Genesis 1.
Humble heart:
In English, mere means “small,” “not big or important,” or “pure.”
Reflection of Him:
In the Strong’s translation, the word mere is used for “image” when God says in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make mankind in Our image.”
It speaks of a reflection on the surface of water.
When God says that He makes people in His image, it means we may be a reflection of Him.
Void:
In Genesis 1:2 there is another kind of “mere.” The Bible describes the earth before creation as formless and empty – dark, chaotic, without shape, with an overall sense of “useless and worthless.”​
Abundance:
How special that the English word mere is pronounced almost exactly like the Dutch word meer, which means the opposite: “more,” abundant.
This name is an invitation to create from the “mere”. From the humble and quiet reflection of Him
To bring a little light where there is darkness. To bring stillness where there is chaos. Life and beauty where things seem lifeless.
And especially: to see and to give back value to what is often overlooked, but so precious to His heart.
He is a God of restoration, of worth and of honor.His creation is so dear to Him – every person, every tree, every animal.
We live in a broken world, full of pain, despair and chaos. But He has not given up. He sees value: in us, in others, in the world.
That is His heart that I want to reflect.
That is where the humble mere, through His Spirit, can become the rich and abundant 'meer'.
How this can take shape
There are many ways in which this can grow into something we do together.
I try to follow God’s lead in that, which means it can look different every time – sometimes through workshops, learning together, creating together, or something completely new.
On the Opportunities page you can see some of the ways I have been involved so far and ideas for the future.
If something there sparks your interest, or if you feel drawn to explore something with me, you are very welcome to get in touch.
