Wintery tree

Two versions of a watercolor-drawing I made. These two digitally edited. I hope you like them!

Red snow in december

Recently, I read a book that made a real big impression on me. It's called 'Rode sneeuw in december' (red snow in december), written by Simone v/d Vlugt.

It's historic novel and takes place in the 16th century. The story is about a family and a period in history that's known as 'the eighty-year war' in the Netherlands  from 1568-1648.  The Netherlands were in war with Spain, and a lot of it had to do with religion: katholicism vs freedom of religion.

I always like to read stories that take place in past times. I learned a lot from this one, because I didn't remember a lot from history-class in school about this period in history. One day the Spanish invade a small city of 800 people called Naarden. Only 60 citizens of Naarden survive this invasion, almost every person in the city was killed at that time by the Spanish. The family in the story lives in Naarden at that time….The writer sketched a very vivid image about what happened in Naarden and wrote a beautiful book. Horrible things happening but hope still floats.

I just had to make a few drawings about this story.

The father in the family was a doctor and wrote and read a lot about herbs ('kruiden' in dutch).

The day the Spanish invaded Naarden, they destroyed the whole city and took peoples belongings like jewelry from the houses.

A passage from the book, translated from Dutch in English: 'She wipes away the snow from the stone-bench she used to sit on of years, in the sun. She did her sewing and talked with her parents and sisters while sitting on it. Cowered, motionless, Isabella warmed herself in the smouldering house. It didn't collapse but not much is left from it either but a smoking carcass of a place that had been a safe place for years. Vaguely, she realizes that the world as she knew it had disappeared, but for now she won't abide the size of this awareness. It's too big, too incomprehensible.'

I made these three drawings on a thicke, rough paper with gouache.

It's been too long!

…since I've been around here on my blog, writing about the things I'm up to. I have to admit I don't feel like writing long blogposts most of the time, something I've discovered along the way since I started this blog in 2012.  I'm more of a drawer and artist in image then in words I suppose, at least when it comes to writing about what I'm up to. But every now and then I feel like I have to do it, also for myself, to put in words what I'm thankful for.

I think I have to pay some attention to the things I've learned since the beginning of this blog…has it only been a year and a half…?! I remember me writing about things I wanted to be able to do, wanting to be able to work in Photoshop and so on and so on. A lot of things were secret wishes I only wrote about briefly, because there's always a very shy person inside me. In one way I want to show the world what I draw, what I do, what I make, what I think. But at the very same time I often feel sort of ashamed about what people might think of what I do like ; 'it's no good', 'what is she thinking, she has to learn so much' etc. I also often think about all the things I still want to learn and still have to get practice in…before….

Well before what..? Let's just sum up the things I already did learn and accomplish…

- I can work in Photoshop now, to edit and present my drawings and work the way I want to.
- I made my own website
- I had the courage to start a Facebook-page
- I started an Etsy-shop
- I met a lot of inspiring, nice, sweet and creative people both online and offline
- I gained a lot of more practice in drawing and different media such as watercolor, ink and pencil.

And the last weeks/months things are coming my way that gave me the courage to take the next big step: officially registering as a one-woman business: Esther Lankhaar Art & Illustrations.

The things that are coming my way are beautiful people and opportunities! Opportunities for illustrations for a website, designing a wine-label and getting in contact with a nice lady with a vintage-clothing shop I might draw a logo for. All good things for my portfolio and experience!

So all this I'm, very thankful for and I feel I'm on my own way with my art. It feels good and like it's supposed to be this way. I've been very busy lately with figuring everything out for the start of my business, my drawing-commision for the website I mentioned and so on. I have to find some balance in being on and offline, being behind the computer and laptop and on the other hand not forgetting about were it all came from and what I'm all doing it for: my love for drawing and creating.

I will try to post some images of the work for others I did lately this week. I also did manage to do some personal work in between and this is something I made yesterday-evening and finished up this morning. Smart and wise people like Einstein are a true inspiration to me.

I almost forgot! : I've been working on my christmascards!
https://www.etsy.com/nl/listing/169988741/donkey-little-hedgehog-robin-set-of-3?