They had a good life

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.

Fluffy & Aki

My 4-year old nephew made up a girl named Fluffy (don't know how he came up with this name, because he doesn't speak english ;-)) and a sea-gull named Aki. Don't know where that came from either, except for the fact that we were on the beach and he saw a sea-gull, but I found it funny. This is how Fluffy and Aki look like in my imigination ;-).

Autumn Nights

There's something about autumn nights. Staying home where it's warm, with a cup of tea.I felt like drawing a cosy autumn scene. Yay for my Nikon camera! Well....not really mine, but my cousin was so sweet to lend me her camera, since she's got a newer one. I'm so happy with this, because now I can take better pictures.

Magic happens when Lily is reading a book. :-) This is a page from the story that is developing for visual journaling. Painting over what you don't like and altering...I kind of like how this page looks now. Needs a litle bit of paint to cover up previous layers and some finishing touch maybe, but other than that, I'm satisfied.
Visual journaling is fun. :-)