My name is Balder Westein (45). I'm a Dutch artist and animator, living and working in the wonderful town of Amersfoort.
Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by how things move. I spent endless hours drawing, building tiny sets, making puppets and quirky objects, and somehow all those things started to tell stories. That love for tinkering and sketching led me into animation, where I’ve now spent more than 20 years combining craft, humor and storytelling.
Known for my humorous and detailed style I've worked on films, series and commercials—experiences I’m deeply grateful for and taught me a lot.

Through all of this, one companion has never left my side: my sketchbook. It’s a reflection of my mind—filled with scribbles, doodles, and half-formed ideas. Whenever inspiration strikes, I capture it before it slips away. Many of my projects begin as messy drawings on those pages, slowly transforming into puppets, sets, or artworks.

In recent years I’ve felt the need to pause, to return to the simple reason why I started creating in the first place: wonder. Not just racing to meet deadlines for others, but slowing down to rediscover the joy of making. I realised that stories don’t only have to move frame by frame—they can also live in a sculpture, a painting, or simply in something that’s beautiful to look at.

I still love my animation work, but I’m also learning to balance it with my path as an artist. In the end, I’m simply a maker. Whether it’s film, puppets, or paint, I create from a place of curiosity and the desire to spark a little wonder—maybe even a smile.