no.1133

A pasture full of dots of color. That is a sight that almost has to make you happy. And wouldn't you secretly want to pick a small field bouquet? But make sure you leave enough for the bees! 

'Poppyfield' 

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1113

Almost all flowers are my favorites, but poppy holds a special place. Is it the fiery red that calls you from a distance and stands out in the field or on the roadside? The ever so black heart with an almost purple shine to it? It certainly is the strength with which she endures the strongest winds. She bends and bows but won't let go of her petals. 

But if you pick her, she will soon break. What her message might be is this. 

Let me shine let me show, enjoy my abundance but try not to captivate me then the joy will soon fade. 

Little wise poppy:-)

'Poppy'

acrylic on canvas

5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1103

Today throw your sorrows in the wind, even the little ones, give yourself a serene start of the day.
And let me invite you to a new joyous event I'm joining ARTZAANSTAD.
I will show totally new (big) work there so if you are curious please pay us a visit next weekend.

You can read all about it HERE and HERE 

Have a joyful week!

With Love Lies
'Joy is portable,

bring it with you' 

:-)

'Wonderful Windflowers'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1100

Waterlily's like the lotus have their roots firmly entrenched in the mud and their beautiful flowers lightly floating on the water surface.

They close their pretty heads every evening as the light fades and open up fresh and frivolous at dawn. That's why they can be seen as a symbol of rebirth and second chances.

I like this symbolic meaning and I believe in second, third or even fourth chances. And  I will keep on stating it's important to never give up on your dream.

Several years ago I visited museum de Fundatie /kasteel het Nijenhuis. I fell in love with the natural surrounding and the way the art was shown in this castle. I secretly wished to hang there with my art, but I did not even paint at that time. This Wednesday this dream will come true! 

My painting 'What Lies Beneath' (100x100cm) is being exhibited from the 24th of may till the 20th of august in museum de fundatie/kasteel Nijenhuis. 

It feels kind of festive, just as it feels festive that today I painted no. 1100 of the miniature project. One little step at the time and believing it's possible will get you almost anywhere you want.

What is your dream?

Have a week full of dreams and believing

With Love Lies

'Don't think dreaming is a waste of time, 

for dreams are our realities in waiting. 
In dreams we plant the seeds of our future' 

 'Lily Of The Pond'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1097

Apple blossom what a joy!

This year all of my favorite models seem to blossom at the same time. The blossoms of course but also magnolia, rhododendron, ranunculus, anemone, tulips and I spotted the peony too. Keeps me busy and I like it.

I am painting a larger apple blossom and made a small one on the side for you to blossom away this week.

P.s if you are interested, I will put the bigger painting 

on Facebook and INSTAGRAM soon.

With Love Lies

'Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.' Marcel Proust

'Apple Blossom'
acrylic on canvas
5x5cm 2x2"inch

no. 1090

There is a flowershop nearby my house which I really like. Antoesa.  It's run by a friendly lady which in itself is a good reason to go there. But more importantly she sells beautiful flowers a piece. If you handpick your bouquet there it's as if you see the beauty of each type of flower even more. 

We all have our different kind of beauty, and together we create a colourful mix. Sometimes we have to put in a bit more effort to see the good, but it's there in everything in everyone.

I strongly believe that looking for beauty and amplifying or magnifying it makes us more happy and better people. 

Not closing our eyes for 'reality' but focus on the good stuff at the same time. Every moment of every day of every week is about making choices, but this week in the Netherlands it's more than ever about choosing wisely.

Look for the good!

Enjoy your week!

With Love Lies

'Train your mind 
to see the beauty 
in everything'

 'Joyful Bouquet'
acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

no.1084

This weekend was bird-counting-day in the Netherlands.

I must admit I did not count any of them, but I am fond of looking at birds all the time. 

Some time ago I had the flu and from my bed I could see 5 little tomtits flying by my window back and forth. It looked as if they were playing 'tag, you're it'. It made my time in bed much more fun. They reminded me to live my life as playful as possible even if it is with intense fever. So I just enjoyed my extra 'time off'.

Another thing I never will get enough of is the magnolia flower. I've painted them in so many ways and for me they symbolize that 'the new' is coming. The first sign that spring is on its way. So these two combined, the tomtit and magnolias celebrates life in a beautiful way.

Hope you can enjoy nature this week.

With Love Lies

"In Order To See Birds
It Is Necessary
To Become 
A Part Of The Silence."

Robert Lynd

 'TomTit With Magnolias'
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. 1061

As you might see I took the fussy pale pink carnation home with me. Together with some favorite other flowers I painted an impressionistic composition. It’s not about reality it’s making my own reality.

Something I can highly recommend especially if you add lot’s of colour.

Create your own reality,

and make sure it is one 

that you like.

(This is no. 02 in a series of three interiors)

-2- 'Impression Of A Flowersetting'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

you can BUY this miniaturepainting HERE

no. 1060

Carnations, personally I’m not that fond of them. I find it a bit of a fussy type flower. But amazingly enough I loved this combination seen at Antoesa Flowers in Amsterdam.

This strangely kind of pale pink carnation, put in a semi-transparent pale pink French vase. This is in a way double out-dated and therefore rather fresh again.

So you see, the best combinations are the ones that make three out of two

something to look for in today

it takes teamwork to tango

1-'Pale-Pink Carnation'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

(This is no. 1 by a series of 3)

you can buy this miniaturepainting HERE

no.1035

Look at you, parrot tulips in various colours. The way you are still standing strong. Some of you already lost your petals and most of you are on the verge of being totally overblown. But to me you look stunningly beautiful.

"Overblown Tulips In The Sun'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

If you like to buy this miniature look HERE

no.1017

Some of you might remember why I like to send you a miniature with flowers on the first of july, it’s to remember a very special person and of course to celebrate life at the same time. This is an impression of a cornfield with flowers in France. Hope we all have a great summer!

'Fieldtrip To Remember'

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.998

'Clematis on an Old Wall'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

no.994

'Hollyhocks Flowers'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE  if you like to buy this painting

no.993

'Lilies In The Mud'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm 2x2"inch

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

no.988

'Beauty in Decay'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

no.984

Today it has exactly been two years since Lisette passed away. She is the reason why I started the project Happy-Mini-Mail. To support her with little moments of joy during her illness. Two years is a long time, but in a way, shorter for people who have to miss a loved one I guess.

Lisette loved flowers. Peonies, lilies of the valley and Lathyrus were some of her favorites. That's why on 1 July of this year it's Lathyrus to honor her. As long as I keep on painting these mini's I'd like to keep this day as a symbol for those who are currently fighting for their health...

'Sweet Pea's to Remember'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

no.982

Could be a whole...

'Field of Foxgloves'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting

no.977

'Light & Wild Pink Roses'

acrylic on canvas 5x5cm (2x2"inch)

click HERE if you like to buy this painting