Modern Delft blue: The first prints are a fact!

Yes! The first modern Delft blue prints are a fact! And, with the energy I’m getting from it, there is a lot more to look forward to! Why I specifically start with the black-tailed godwit? I will tell you down below...

Getting used to it…

Although I really enjoyed the process even before starting, it really wasn’t easy at the beginning. Since my childhood I’m used to work with natural colours, so a completely unnatural palette was very challenging, especially for my brain who really had to get used to this new process.

Especially when putting the first blue stripes on paper and it seems like you’re losing the control already; even before you start. What is blue going to do there on paper? What is the best ratio looking at light and dark colours? Does it go well or will it be a big fiasco? As if you are a complete stranger in your own discipline. It sounds exaggerated, but it is how it feels like, haha!

But, I wanted to make this happen. First: I’ve always wanted to do something with Delft blue, so why give up if it doesn’t go immediately like I want it to be going? Even plants and flowers need time to grow, so why shouldn’t this new style? Two: as much as I like working with natural colours, sometimes you really need a new challenge to keep your motivation as high as possible. So, extra reasons to give this Delft blue style a shot!

The black-tailed godwit for the perfect start

Delft blue is -of course- typical Dutch. But, that’s not the only thing. If there is something typically Dutch, then it is the black-tailed godwit, in Dutch known as the ‘grutto’, living in the polder area. Nowhere in the world are so many godwits than in this small country by the North Sea: this is even a percentage of eighty five percent!

In fact: within the city borders of Amsterdam are more black-tailed godwits to be found than in whole Great-Britain and France together! For this beautiful reason, he has become the national bird of The Netherlands.

In The Netherlands, the black-tailed godwit owes his name to his typical call, because it sounds like he’s calling his own name. Would you like to see this godwit? Keep your eyes open, especially in The Netherlands, when crossing the polders.

The black-tailed godwit is threatened

But, even this bird is -again by human actions- threatened: because of intensive farming, the habitat of the black-tailed godwit is now in danger, which results to a large amount of disappearing birds, in this case with their death…

Several organisations are trying to learn the farmers how to work with their land without ruining the habitats of these godwits (and many other birds). So, let’s hope this beautiful piece of nature will be saved in time, because way too many areas worldwide are already ruined by human actions… Enough is enough, don't you agree?

Are you curious to see what next when it comes to Delft blue? Follow Dominique Laurine on Instagram to never miss an update… 😉

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