Ciska Kalkoven was born on Thursday 19 September 1963 in the Hague. At a young age she became fascinated by writing, drawing and painting. This passion was adept and techniques refined into her late teens.

In the period in which she successfully completed her studies for both speech therapist and remedial teacher, her passion for writing poems remained undiminished, but drawing and painting hid in the background.

After her studies she married her high school ‘sweet heart' Jaap in August 1987 and built a flourishing speech therapy practice in Rotterdam (the Netherlands). Her artistic urge was channeled in a different way. Or as she expressed it herself  'a contribution to society, can appear in many forms’. During that period, ‘contribution’ manifested itself  by ‘giving intensive guidance to aphasia patients and children with dyslexia and learning disabilities’.

The marriage was blessed with son Antony and daughters Naomi and Sarah and moved to Belgium in 1995, in 1996 the Dutch practice was sold. The passion for artistic expression flared and technique and style were taught by Peter Engels and subsequently by Christiane Vleugels and further refined. In 2018, the family moved to Singapore.

Ciska hopes to touch people consciously and unconsciously, with colors and words, to evoke pleasant associations and to bring joy with her paintings and poems in peoples lives. With which she, like in her family, wants to give her audience that...

"Style is the result of inner beauty, respect for others and hope in humanity"

Her paintings are now both national and internationally in homes and businesses.