Renewed concept: Countryside Chic!

In order to grow, you have to take decisions. Decisions that sometimes are quite hard, but essential to take a step forward. So, as you can guess: I’m no exception. For a while, I wasn’t quite satisfied with what I was doing, like creating too many, different things. I want to be more specific. But, how will I translate that to my concept?

Because not every dream is beautiful…

When I started painting, I wanted to create as much as possible. From exotic animals to close to home, from big horses to tropical birds. How I look at that now? I’m glad I did!

Not only because I’ve learned to step out of my comfort zone sometimes, but I’ve also learned more about my own interests. Animals I thought were super exciting to make, weren’t that exciting after all… More than once I experienced that disappointing feeling, that you just doesn’t feel that connection to the painting.

Not because it wasn’t technically right, that’s my number one priority, but the ‘click’ wasn’t there. That you realise that some dreams can better stay as a dream: that reality is sometimes just not that beautiful…

Back to where I started

The other part of the story is that it also gave me a lot of insight. I started to realize which animals I find most interesting. It were the animals I first started drawing (since I was young), the once I grew up with and were close to my home, also known as European farm and forest animals. But, most of all, the horse: my first and overall love.

And, if I take a good look at my interests (which style appeals me most), these animals are the best matches for it. I’m very attracted to more countryside-like homes and, looking at clothes, I prefer a more city-chic style above trendy, flamboyant and colourful items.

It can be so wonderful out here

Partly because of corona I realized how beautiful my own place is. Not that I didn’t before, but especially when you can’t travel abroad, you will realize it even more. When I went to the forest with my best friend in the evening, we saw how beautiful nature close to home can really be.

Just before we arrived, there were some rainfalls before. All the typical scents of the forest were released and the birds started their evening concert. Thousands of frogs were calling from the water and in the misty sky, we saw some birds of prey ‘arguing’. Short story: for beautiful scenes of nature, you don’t have to travel to some far-away place, it can be just around the corner...

The new concept: Countryside-Chic

The newest concept will be more about ‘countryside-chic’. What you will see? Besides many horses, I will focus myself on animals from the countryside, such as sheep and cattle, but also species from the European forest, like deer, the fox and hare. Because if I can focus on one theme, the better the quality will be because of full commitment.

And, exotic animals?

Exotic animals will be painted too, also in a lesser amount then before. And, if I paint them, it will mostly be African wildlife, complemented with some famous species from other continents. So, you won’t see them as much as before, but they can be commissioned too, so they will definitely not disappear.

The upcoming period will be a time of hard, extra work: not only to renew and optimize the site to this new theme, but also to create new works, looking at this new concept. So, it will be a time of hard work, but, with this feeling of ‘coming home’ it won’t feel hard at all…