In his his upcoming release, Painting the Skies, multidisciplinary artist 
Wisse Scheele takes us on a transformative journey through the lens of freedom and imagination. In an exclusive interview, Scheele shares the inspiration, techniques, and challenges behind the creation of this captivating work.
Q: What was the primary inspiration behind Painting the Skies and how did your background as a dancer influence the piece?
A: The core inspiration for Painting the Skies was Search for Freedom. It’s a story about a boy visualizing his escape through the form of birds, finding freedom by painting his own world—a place where anything is possible. To create this, I listened to my inner voice and heart. It took many versions of Painting the Skies to reach a point where I truly felt I had expressed myself fully.
Movement is integral to my art, coming from my dance background. I feel freedom when painting or creating art, or being in the mountains, I wanted to combine these feelings into a movie that people can relate to on a personal level.
Q: Can you describe the techniques and technologies you used to create this piece?
A: The project took about 10 months to plan and execute. We started with choreography—testing, rehearsing over Zoom, then filming in a church, which was a new setting for me. From there, I created 3D worlds, adding birds and paintings, along with a touch of AI. The process was gradual, and each small step helped shape the final piece. I opted to communicate through visual storytelling rather than traditional methods, using my brushstrokes to convey my message.
Q: What reactions or reflections do you aim to evoke in the audience with Painting the Skies?
A: I think everyone has experienced some form of freedom or its absence. I don’t expect everyone to interpret the piece in one specific way. Instead, I want viewers to connect with the theme in their own way, perhaps relating to my expression of freedom and understanding how I perceive it.
Q: What challenges did you face while creating the piece, and how did you overcome them?
A: This was my first 10-month-long project, so it was a considerable challenge. The choreography and visual art components were familiar, but staying on track and maintaining confidence in the vision was the hard part. I had to continually ensure the message was cohesive. For instance, in the beginning of the movie, he looks up to the bird, then his wings begin to come and he visualizes himself as a bird—remaining purposeful and consistent with my vision.
Q: How does Painting the Skies differ from your previous works?
A: This is the biggest and most ambitious work I’ve made to date. It’s more physical and less digital than what people usually expect from me. The focus was on showing real human emotions through dance and beautiful imagery. This work marks a significant evolution in how I approach my art, and the entire process has opened up new creative possibilities. I'm also working on a new project, Art in Nature, which will be closely related to freedom, and I plan to incorporate AI in future works—very much keeping it in my hands, not letting AI take the wheel.
Wisse Scheele’s Painting the Skies demonstrates his unique ability to merge physical movement with digital artistry, creating work that evokes profound reflections on freedom and personal expression. With new projects on the horizon, Scheele continues to push the boundaries of digital art and dance.
