About the Dots

As far back as I can remember, I’ve been drawing a lot—whether it’s during classes, phone calls, or meetings. Hand me a pen, and doodles magically appear (I just can’t help it). It started small, tracing phone numbers, drawing mustaches in the newspaper, and creating quirky scribbles in my notebooks. But before I knew it, the margins of my notebooks were completely filled. I often get asked if I’m paying attention… rest assured, I certainly am. Drawing, for me, is a way to listen better and process information more effectively.

Hi, this is me!

About me

Hi, I’m Gemma, the face behind DOTSbyGemma, and I’m an artist in heart and soul. Growing up in a creative family, my grandfather was a significant inspiration. He crafted beautiful, realistic still lifes and had an abundance of drawing and painting materials at his disposal. I could use them, “as long as” I did it the right way. Though he sadly passed away before I attended art school, his paintings adorn our home, and I feel honored to follow in his footsteps.

With a background as a visual arts teacher, I currently run my own business as an artist, DOTSbyGemma. Besides creating and selling original art, I also take on do-it-yourself projects to inspire you to pick up a pen and explore your creative side. You can find DOTSbyGemma at fairs and markets, where I also conduct workshops. Additionally, I work two days a week as an education staff member at the De Wieger Museum in Deurne. Here, I seek ways to lower the barrier to visiting the museum, providing everyone, from young to old, a positive experience and helping them look at art and form an opinion. Think treasure hunts and games for kids, audio tours and guided tours for adults, and drawing lessons/workshops for all ages.

Fun facts about me:

I love working in circles, a habit I developed in art school. At one point, I designed a wallpaper collection with circle doodles for a graphic project, which I named DOTS (DOT as in dot = round). When I started my own business, it naturally became DOTSbyGemma.

I exclusively drew in black and white for many years, surprising many in my circle given my vibrant real-life personality. I always wear brightly colored clothing with busy prints.

People meeting me for the first time are often taken aback by my height—I’m 6 feet and fearlessly wear platform shoes or heels.

In art school, my classmates nicknamed me ‘the monk’ due to my angelic patience and ability to work silently and super focused on my drawings.

I get restless if I don’t draw for too long; it’s my way of processing information. After a long day, I prefer putting my racing thoughts on paper in the form of a drawing.

According to my boyfriend, I have absolutely no talent for loading the dishwasher. I never do it; he always does. I must admit, I have very few issues with that!

I’m a proud Brabander (region in the Netherlands) and love the warmth of togetherness. My boyfriend and I spend a lot of time with our families, and we’re always there for parties. We also regularly organize game nights and dinners.

Want to know more? Have questions? Drop me an email at info@gemmarakels.nl or leave a message via the contact form.