no.1130

Butterflies can be wonderful messengers. Particularly for our loved ones who are physically no longer in our world. Our loved ones are never truly gone as long as they remain in our hearts and thoughts. Just by fluttering by they touch our hearts for a moment.

'Forever In My Heart'

5x5cm 2x2"inch

no. 1129

Does it also make you happy to see a butterfly? It symbolizes spring, color and lightness, among other things. You know what makes it even a better gift? Floating in the pool and then feeling such a beautiful butterfly land on you. A momentary break from his flight to the butterfly and a moment of total connection for me.

'Butterfly Kisses'
acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

no.1101

Todays miniature shows you the north-sea-regatta we witnessed in Scheveningen. At first we just thought "wow" so many people sailing today haha.

And to be honoust I've had no idea what so ever about who won or what the main goal of this competition is. But it sure looked impressive.

Life, of course, is never a race, but sometimes it's fun to enter a contest.

You might remember one of my larger paintings is selected for zomerexpo and is on display and for sale at a Dutch Museum de Fundatie. 

(To be precise my work is in the garden room (Tuinzaal) at the Castle Nijenhuis in Heino if you would like to visit)

But there is also a contest for the public's favorite and I would love to win that of course:-)

Please vote for me if you like. With this link you can vote and see the big painting at the same time. Thank you so much!

https://zomerexpo.nl/collectie/2017-064/

Have a 'fortunate' week

With Love Lies

'Life is'nt a race,

find joy in your journey

and that way

win every day' 

'North Sea Regatta in Scheveningen'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1099

You probably know walking is good for you. It strengthens your heart, lowers disease risk, gives you energy, helps you lose weight and best of all walking makes you happy. It's the best medicine for a mild case of depression.

If you walk outside every day for about 30 minutes you also boost your vitamin D and that's something your bones and immune system will love.

Strolling down the beach and feeling the sand between your toes is my absolute favorite. It's like a free foot massage. That together with smelling the sea and all of the above advantages makes me wonder why I don't go there every day:-)

Have a healthy week

With Love Lies

'Always keep a little

beach day in your heart'

'Barefoot At The Beach'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"

no. 1092

The most lovable sign of spring is seeing butterflies again. They need sunny weather. When the sun shines, they can absorb solar heat with their wings, to warm up and fly.

Butterflies are light and frivolous the way they flutter from flower to flower. It's a joyous sight. They simply enjoy life so it seems. Makes me smile always.

To enter spring I've painted a butterfly for you today. It's one from South-America and usually when they rest they will sit upside down in a high tree. I like their graphic pattern a lot. The male can make a cracking noise, although nobody knows what it's used for. That's how they got their name.

Hope we get to enjoy lots of sun this week, 

With Love Lies

'A butterfly

counts not months

but moments,

and always has time enough'

 'Flying Blue Cracker'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

-personal collection-

no.1088

Kingfishers could easily be the most exotic bird we have in the Netherlands. Those bright colors are not so common over here.

Walking near a clear stream of water you might see a flash of quick-flying blue feathers diving for fish.

It is said the kingfisher is the promise of more abundance, new warmth, prosperity and love that is about to enter your life.

So if you have the luck to see one it probably leaves you in aah.

Meeting a kingfisher, even in your dreams also tells you to enjoy life more. And teach your children to enjoy life. In real life the little kingfisher-babies learn to live their own life right after they fly out of the nest. Don't be afraid to try new things. The way a kingfisher dives into the water to catch a fish, you can see yourself diving into something new.

Don't worry, with a kingfisher around you will do just fine...

That's why I painted two today, so two people can enjoy these bird powers :-) Or if you are a huge fan and you are quick you can choose them both, they kind of belong together.

(also have a look at no. 1089 HERE)

Enjoy your week!

With Love Lies

no.1088 'Kingfisher Love'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no. 1086

Cups and Bowls, Vases and Plates, all kinds of ceramics can make me greedy. I don't give in too often because I have a small apartment and not so much cupboard space.

Thereby I can just as easily enjoy it on a table of a friend or in a restaurant. But this cup made by Sue Tirrell I find very love-able. 

Animals as you know are a favorite but the way she draws them is fun. So if I can find this cup I will probably buy it, and if not for myself, then for my good friend Janneke who loves rabbits.

For now I enjoyed painting it just as much. I do not try to make it superrealistic but I like it to be a bit naive and skewed imperfect.

That's what I like most in people too:-)

I don't find it easy all the time but I try to love my own imperfections just as much. In Japan they have this good habit of repairing broken cups with pure gold. Don't hide it but show it.

Have an imperfect proud of yourself week:-)

With Love Lies

There Is A Crack In Everything,

That's How The Light Gets In.

Leonard Cohen

Team Blue-

'Blue Rabbit Ceramic Bowl'

 - after Sue Tirrell

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1075

You probably know our days are getting longer. After the 21th of December we are on our way to the light again! Some day soon we can see the blossom on our dutch trees coming up. Personally I am looking forward to it.

Make it a good last week of 2016!

With Love Lies

'Almond Blossom'

acrylic on canvas 
5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1074

It's Monday and that's always a good reason to begin with a miniature, to start your week happy.

This chalky coastline seems to have a silver lining. If you look intensely at this view, you can feel the peace, the space and creativity coming up to live your life according to your heart's desire. Do you know how much the gods of nature like to help and support you in living your dream life? If you want you can practice to be more ready to receive prosperity.

Take, preferably outside, a moment to feel what it's like to walk in your dream life. Make it as vivid as possible. And feel grateful, as if it's already part of you.

I know it may sound like gobbledygook, but I assure you it works.

Real joy, heartfelt, whether it is over something small or very big, invites more joy and prosperity on your way, try it, it's fun anyway!

I would love to hear what you receive this week on additional joy.

With Love Lies

'Chalky Coastline'
acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1052

Sometimes I’m asked to paint a miniature commissioned. This time it was a question coming via a church in France. This church stands in the place St Simeon and they liked me to paint their name giver.

It is said Saint Simeon started his life being an ordinary shepherd’s son. Though when he grew up he choose a new and strange form of asceticism. He wanted to devote his life to praying. 

And while he did not manage to escape the world 'horizontally' because he was constantly disturbed by people who came to him for prayers and advice. He tried to ease up his world by leaving it vertically. He found a very high pillar and decided to live on top of it on a very small platform to have enough time for quieting his mind with meditation. But still people came to him from far away to receive his useful advice and compassion. 

Well I would never want to live alone on a high pillar away from the lively world, but I do like to quiet my mind. 

Painting and especially the miniatures, is my best and easiest form of meditation. But it can also be writing without thinking to empty up. Or walking outside preferably with a dog:-). And of course just close my eyes and be still. 

Do you have a way to silence your thoughts? I would like to hear about it.

 'St Simeon'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1050

Today's guest is Rapunzel. A cat from the siamese breed I've introduced you to yesterday. She has this frail body, white furry coat, two stripes on each leg and the most dazzling blue eyes. I never saw her in real life but I was told she had this strong loud voice, deep and dark.  Though this appears to be typical and normal of the siamese species, it still feels weird coming from such a tiny delicate creature.  In the older days, siamese cats were also used as a sort of guard dogs. Specially in important places like temples. They could meow so loud, that unwanted guests were scared away or at least got detected before they could do any harm. We as humans sometimes here our little voices inside, also referred to as our intuition. It tells us things we know are right deep down, but we are not always used to follow them up. Stuff like, 'this does not feel right' or the opposite 'this is something I would really want to do but I don't dare to go for it'. Can you relate to this? Maybe today is a good day to use Rapunzel's loud voice to wake up to our inner voice. Listen to it with an attentive ear and let it out in the open to scare away our fears and doubts. 'Blue Eyed Rapunzel' acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no. 1022

Sometimes you can combine the good with the good. 'Dog-sitting' in France and painting the view when you are taking her for a walk. It was dog/goat/sheep/rabbit/chicken and guinea-pig-sitting to be honest and I loved it. Life can feel so nice and simple on the countryside. But living in Amsterdam is also great and driving back home I saw some pretty views too. Like to share this one with you.

'On The Way Back Home'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

You can buy this miniature landscape-painting 

HERE 

no. 1021

Doesn't everybody love the sea? It's the perfect place to meditate while listening to the breaking of the waves. You might just go there to settle an argument, because all of your anger just vanishes into the windy sky. Or even better, celebrate life on a beautiful day, watching the foamy water touching the glittering wet sand. Do you have a favorite moment to visit the beach?

'Shiny Beach'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1007

Ready-Set-Go-2014 will be the year of the horse. A year with lots of energy. 

I wish you all a vibrant, powerfull, happy and healthy new year!

LoveLies

'Ready Set Go'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

'Extra Time'

Soms gebeuren er dingen in je leven die je niet voorziet. 

Zo ben ik de happy-mini-mail ooit begonnen omdat Lisette ongeneeslijk ziek werd en ik haar wilde steunen. Het hielp haar, het hielp mij en naar ik begreep ook vele anderen om de kleine mooie dingen van het leven te zien en te waarderen. Het leven te zien van dag tot dag. 

Nu ben ik onverwachts tijdelijk op dag no 1001 gestopt omdat mijn trouwe Raffie, mijn lieve hond, ziek is. Hij wordt helaas ook niet meer beter. Wel heeft hij een medicijn wat tijdelijk werkt waardoor hij nog wat extra tijd heeft gekregen. En wij om van hem te genieten. Nog steeds zie ik iedere dag de happy-mini-momenten, en ik waardeer ze ook, alleen voel ik even geen behoefte om ze te delen.

Ik ben heel dankbaar voor alle lieve en begrijpende reacties die ik heb ontvangen, waarin velen ook schreven dat ze het begrepen als ik even zou stoppen.

En dat is wat ik voor nu wil doen, een time-out inlassen, een moment van bezinning. Me in alle rust afvragen of en hoe ik door wil gaan met dit project wat zo veel moois al heeft gebracht.

'Extra Time'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

Sometimes things happen in your life, you just did not see coming.

I initiated the happy-mini-mail because Lisette fell incurably ill and I wanted to support her. It helped her, it helped me too, and as I understood it also helped others to notice and appreciate the value and beauty of the little things in life. Taking it just one day at a time. 

Now I unexpectedly stopped temporarily at no.1001 because my special Raffie, my loving dog is sick. Unfortunately he can not be cured. However he received medication which works, temporarily. This buys him some extra (quality) time and us extra time to enjoy him. 

I still see the happy-mini-moments every day and I appreciate them too. Only I feel no need to capture and share them.

I am very gratefull for all your kind and emphathetic responces. Some of you wrote you would understood if I would pause.

And that's what I want to do right now, insert a time-out, taking a moment of reflection. Ask myself in all tranquility if and how I want to continue this Happy-Mini-Mail. A project which has already brought so many beautiful things. 

no.997

This is Bugs a dog from animalinneed. Bugs has eyes that look a little bit outside, as if he sees more of the world than an average dog. Bugs is a sweet, friendly pure-bred Breton Español born around feb 2006 and 48cm tall. He is looking for a quiet family, if you like to know more about Bugs click HERE

UPDATE Bugs found a place of his own in Spain yeah!

'Bugs'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

25% of the sales amount will be donated to animalinnneed

no.992

Sorry, if it looks like an advertisement for Burger's Zoo. Have to  admit I could keep on painting miniatures after my visit there. They also have a fishtank I admire, as if you walk under water in Burger's Ocean. 

'School's Out'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

no.971

Past weekend I followed a workshop on communication with animals at chiron center, it was amazing to find out you can get so much information by just tuning in wholeheartedly.

'Communication With Animals'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

no.968

'Cherries On A Chinese Platter'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

no.957

'Happy Bluewinged'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)