Cologne, Germany-based artist Torsten Wolber has the most magnificent way of communicating his subjects through seemingly-casual brushstrokes. His paintings, while certainly in a style similar to traditional impressionists, somehow also give the impression of modern painting, maybe even street art. They’re never, ever boring. I enjoy his landscapes, but it’s his portraits, particularly those of dancers and children, that really drew me in. I can’t get enough.

Though he spent most of his career in art as an illustrator, a job that requires plenty of planning and preparation, Wolber’s painting process is apparently entirely intuitive. He does start with a subject in mind, but once paint meets canvas, he works quickly and spontaneously, never overthinking. That makes sense, because his exciting, expressive paintings feel like the result of a creative explosion. While painting had been on his bucket list for many years, Wolber didn’t start until the age of 55.

“I also suspected that I wouldn’t be able to start at age 60 if I was really serious about it. So, after my 55th birthday, I pulled the ripcord and was a painter the next day. Ta-da! In hindsight, it was not bad timing considering that AI now does exactly what I used to do, only cheaper, faster and, unfortunately, often better.”

You can follow Torsten Wolber on his website and on Instagram and Facebook.