Opening New Doors: How Maartje Simons Is Transforming Augmented Reality into a Living Canvas

In a creative journey that began behind a drum kit and moved through the world of animation, Dutch artist Maartje Simons found her calling in an unexpected medium: augmented reality. What started as a side exploration quickly grew into a full-blown artistic practice, blending physical illustration, digital animation, and immersive technology into a compelling new form of storytelling.

Discovering Passion through AR

In the middle of a career shift—from drummer to animator—Maartje was searching for that elusive spark that would generate a "wow" effect not only in her own life but in the lives of others. Whether in a band or a design studio, she often found herself executing someone else’s vision.

“I was searching for a form that would ignite something in me, something that would instantly make me enthusiastic.”

That breakthrough came when she stumbled upon Adobe Aero through her Creative Cloud subscription. Curious, she began exploring augmented reality platforms and eventually discovered Artivive, a tool that made it easy to bring static artwork to life. The learning curve was short, the results immediate. It was the spark she had been looking for.

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First Experiments and Fast Growth

Maartje’s first AR piece was simple: frame-by-frame animations drawn on paper, photographed, stitched into a short video, and linked to the physical drawing using Artivive Bridge.

“The drawing and animation itself were nothing special, but it showed me how easily and quickly I could create something.”

That initial experiment laid the foundation for increasingly elaborate and ambitious projects.

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When Art Meets Apparel

The idea for wearable AR art came organically during an extended exhibition, Maartje shared with a fellow AR artist. As the show continued, she began adding new works, including hoodies that featured AR prints. To her surprise, visitors started asking if they were for sale, even wanting to try them on inside the gallery.

“That struck me as odd, because, well, you don’t usually try on clothes in a museum!”

That curiosity sparked the creation of an AR-powered clothing line, followed by a dedicated webshop and physical store. Located in a repurposed prison complex turned creative hub in Leeuwarden, the space immediately felt like home.

“The moment I saw it, I knew I belonged there.”

Her store now serves as both a gallery and a place of discovery, where visitors can interact with the work in person.

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Behind the Process

Every AR piece Maartje creates begins with animation, guided by two key principles: the first frame must work as a standalone print, and the animation must loop seamlessly. Over time, she began incorporating doors into her animations.

“They make infinite loops easy: the door opens, something happens, and the door closes again.”

This visual metaphor invites curiosity and interaction, key elements of the AR experience.

Maartje doesn’t stop at visuals. She also composes original music for each piece and often is the star of her own art, experimenting with motion capture tools like Move.ai to turn her movements into 3D avatars using Cinema4D. The result is a multi-sensory, deeply personal experience, crafted entirely by her.

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Balancing the Physical and Digital

For Maartje, the physical and digital aspects of her work are inseparable. Whether printed on canvas, T-shirts, or hoodies, the physical artwork receives the same attention to detail as the animation. The garments become more than wearable, they become interactive conversation starters.

“While I don’t expect to make a full living off the store alone, it’s incredibly valuable for visibility, networking, and sparking collaborations with other artists. It feels more like an information centre than just a store — and I absolutely love that.”

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Connecting Through Curiosity

Some of Maartje’s most rewarding moments come from the spontaneous conversations her work sparks. When the artwork “comes to life,” viewers are often stunned—and then inspired.

She recalls a recent visit from a man working in dementia care, who immediately saw potential for using AR as a therapeutic tool, an application Maartje hadn’t considered.

“It’s amazing how inspiring those conversations can be — for both sides.”

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Lessons from the Journey

Despite its high-tech surface, Maartje has learned that AR is still unfamiliar territory for many. Nothing replaces the impact of a live demonstration. “You can hang up signs and run demo videos all you want, but often, people only really ‘get it’ once you show them in person.”

She’s also learned the value of foresight. In one early project, reflections on a glass storefront interfered with the scanning process—something she now accounts for with a detailed checklist before every installation. Maartje’s advice to aspiring AR artists is simple but powerful: start small, experiment often, and be intentional about your message.

“Take your time, be critical, and truly work on your craft. It’s more than worth it.”

Her most popular piece is also the one she spent the most time developing—proof that thoughtful, well-crafted storytelling has a lasting impact.

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The Future of AR

Maartje is highly optimistic about the future of AR in digital art. With emerging technologies like AR glasses on the horizon, she envisions a future of hands-free, real-time collaboration. From fashion and medicine to education and storytelling, AR’s potential is expanding fast.

Looking ahead, Maartje is collaborating with Buddy to Buddy, a nonprofit that connects local residents with newcomers, many of whom are refugees. She’ll photograph and film each “buddy” pair as they interview one another, transforming their stories into AR-powered portraits for an upcoming exhibition.

“I hope it brings more positive attention to newcomers — they deserve more than the negative headlines we usually see.”

She’s also diving deeper into sustainable AR fashion. Rather than printing on new garments, Maartje plans to use a heat press to apply AR designs onto customers’ second-hand clothing—a fresh take on upcycling that merges creativity and sustainability.

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Conclusion

Through her thoughtful and hands-on approach to augmented reality, Maartje Simons is redefining what art can be. Her work lives at the intersection of analogue and digital, personal and universal. It invites us not just to look, but to engage, interact, and imagine.

Whether it’s an animated door on a hoodie or a portrait that tells a refugee’s story, Maartje’s AR creations aren’t just seen—they’re experienced.

“I felt like I wasn’t fully expressing my creativity. With AR, I get to share my voice and vision directly.”

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Find out more about Maartje Simons work by following him on Instagram or visiting his website. If you would like to purchase one of Maartje‘s stunning AR artworks and clothes, visit “Life on Marzj AR shop”!

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/lifeonmarzj/

‍Web: Adobe-Prtfolio "Life On Marzj - Maartje Simons

‍Shop: Life on Marzj AR Shop - Bringing imagination to life through...