Artist Interview: Yan Paul Dubbelman

Yan Paul Dubbelman is a digital artist from The Netherlands, known for his Ambient Art – featuring pleasing shapes, colors, and gentle movements, Dubbelman's creations aims to blend seamlessly into our surroundings, becoming a part of our daily lives without demanding full attention.

Inspired by nature's beauty, universal symbolism, and the shared associations we all carry, Dubbelman’s art serves as quiet companions by evoking a sense of familiarity and calm that lingers even when we're not consciously aware of it.

We asked Yan Paul about his art, creative process, and inspirations.

*Ambient Art: Still from GREEN by Yan Paul Dubbelman*

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field?

While I was studying film I was obsessed with animation, 2D, 3D and stop motion. The idea that inanimate media can inspire so many emotions in us drove me to dive into the world of digital art. As I was teaching myself CG applications I realized that I gravitated towards calm, sincere and romantic (the art movement) work, I wanted to imitate reality but then add a dash of extra unreality. My work is exemplified by this idea of Beyond Real, I want the audience to be absorbed by my simple, humble compositions that may on first glance seem real but add a little magic here and there.

*Ambient Art: Closeup Still from ABUNDANCE by Yan Paul Dubbelman*

What inspires your art? Are there any particular themes or subjects that you enjoy exploring through your artwork?

Most of my work is directly inspired by nature, many flowers, plants and other recognizable shapes make up my portfolio. The reason I choose this direction is the belief that there is a human reaction to natural shapes that can be easily shared between cultures, countries and backgrounds. When I look at a flower I feel something, throughout my travels I’ve noticed that people usually have a very comparable feeling, no matter where they’re from. This is a constant driving force in both my art and personal goals, finding the common threads that connect us.

*From Yan Paul Dubbelman’s most recent exhibition,* *NUR FESTIVAL*

What is an event which you consider a milestone in your digital art career?

The most difficult part as an artist is finding people that not only like your work but connect with your art even after they are finish directly interacting with the work. Recently I’ve been receiving candid photos of people enjoying their day with my art in the background. The biggest milestone so far has been seeing how people behave in the space I’ve helped create. I was able to add a constant feeling of calm, vibrance and ambient warmth to spaces. I’m very happy to be in the background.

*Ambient Art: Still from Macro by Yan Paul Dubbelman*

Can you tell us about some of your favorite pieces? What makes them special to you?

The most iconic piece so far has been the Single Daisy work, people love to pose for photos with that work behind them. I think this perfectly exemplifies my goals, the work is simple enough for people to “get” while being artful enough to be special. This simplified version of nature is increasingly what I’m known for.

*“The Girl” with SINGLE DAISY by Yan Paul Dubbelman*

Can you share an example of a challenging project you've worked on recently? What were the obstacles you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

Recently I’ve been approached by several VR projects. This new medium is very exciting but poses a new question in the presentation of my work: when are flowers beautiful and gentle and at what size does that cross over into scary or overwhelming? Interacting with my work on your phone or during an exhibition feels natural, like you’re seeing them through a window, but being able to look around you and seeing the flowers come towards you is a challenging new emotion that I’m actively trying to master.

*Ambient Art: Still from Blauw by Yan Paul Dubbelman*

What is a fun fact about you?

I used to be a teacher of human rights and how to make documentaries about those rights, during that time I was able to travel and see how different cultures react to difficult and often painful topics, I believe this inspired my ideas of common values and the aforementioned threads that connect us.

*Ambient Art: Still from ABUNDANCE by Yan Paul Dubbelman*

What would we most probably find you doing if not creating art?

Definitely teaching in some capacity, I love interacting with interested people and helping them continue on their path wherever I can. Teaching is great because you learn just as much while doing it as you convey to the students.