The story behind the illustrations - part 2
I thought it would be fun to share the stories behind my illustrations again. I am always very reluctant to do this because I want you to feel for yourself what an illustration evokes in you and can do for you. If you want to keep doing that, don't read any further. If you're curious about my feelings, thoughts, ideas and motives, then read on!
If you have been following me for a while, or have read previous blogs, you know that I draw and paint mainly as a kind of therapy. I paint what I need, or what helps me. I paint what I feel or to explore my feelings and desires. Today I take you on a behind-the-scenes look at some illustrations!
Cosy shelter
Taking a safe shelter from the bad weather outside. That's what you see, but I feel much more than that! I often feel unsafe, especially now that I am somewhat uprooted by the renovation of our house. Animals are safe for me, people are often scary. That's why you rarely see me painting anything with lots of people. When I'm feeling really good, I suddenly understand why everyone enjoys being together so much, but my PTSD quickly finds it scary. So my ideal moment of recharging, feeling safe and relaxing is often with animals, alone, in a safe place. No matter what happens outside, I'm safe inside, I can relax!
St Nicholas Eve
My childhood was hectic and often felt unsafe. But St Nicholas Eve is a good memory! For the first time, I painted a childhood memory. I did change things up a bit to make it a bit easier for myself emotionally. For instance, I don't have a brother and sister AND there were two grandmothers instead of a grandfather. But it was a good development to allow this positive feeling, work on it and now I look at it with a smile. How cosy it was! That comes to mind first now, instead of unpleasantness. A win for me!
Fetching wood
And after this therapeutic painting, I quickly painted some self-care again. Exactly what I like. Walking with the dogs, fantasising about all the animals in the forest and enjoying the beautiful surroundings I live in. And that wood? Well sometimes it's just really simple too, we were at that point deciding whether to keep a wood stove or not... haha! It doesn't always have to be therapeutic, philosophical or complicated of course!
OK, that's it for this time. Please let me know in the comments if you enjoyed reading this? Then I'll know if I will make another blog with behing the illustration stories!
With love,
Esther
ps. Of course you can also find them in the shop 😉
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sheet st Niclas celebration€7,95 incl. VAT -
Puzzle cosy shelter€27,50 incl. VAT -
Card fetching wood - fetching wood€1,95 incl. VAT
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How nice and recognisable what you share. I thankfully don't have PTSD but I totally recognise the feeling of insecurity. And your illustrations evoke for me exactly what it apparently does for you. A place to shelter and find peace. That's exactly why I started following you.
Hey Marieke, thanks for your incredibly nice comment! I always find it the biggest compliment when I can convey feelings with my work, so thank you! Kind regards, Esther
I really enjoy reading this! I often find being with people not so pleasant either. I also find animals nicer and safer!
Hey Marjolein, how nice to hear that this appealed to you! I was also worried that people would find the bit about 'people often being less nice than animals' strange or wouldn't understand, thank you so much for sharing your experience in this, means a lot to me! Love!
Hi Esther,
I enjoy reading! I sometimes experience the world as a lot. Like my twelve-year-old daughter both dream away at your illustrations. On I do think in a similar way .
Thank you! 😊
How lovely that you and your daughter can dream away at my work, and I totally feel you, the world often feels like 'a lot' to me too. Sweet greetings!
Very fun and beautiful to read and also relatable.... And the wonderfully cozy images, so inviting.
Especially keep going 😉
Thanx! And I'll definitely keep going, I can't stop making cosy pictures after all 😉
How nice to read that your drawings really are your life. I've been following you for some time so already knew some of course. i recognise myself in you. I was supposed to move into my "new house" a year ago on 2 January, unfortunately that turned out differently due to water damage and now I won't be moving until the end of January 2024. All this time, my contents are in storage and I am living in with my boyfriend. I will be happy when I can put your calendar and lamp in my tiny house.
Hey Helene, wow what an 'uprooting' you go through too! At least, I experience it that way myself with moving, storage, remodelling etc, but of course it's different for everyone. Anyway, I wish you a smashing 'end of January'! Finally in your new home and safe place!
Lovely to read these stories behind your works. Gives them a deeper meaning, making me appreciate them even more.
And I still have my own feelings about it just as much, nice that that can coexist!
So I love your St Nicholas Eve, and this image is so recognisable! We always celebrated it with our grandparents. A while back, grandpa passed away, we celebrated it only with grandma the last few years. This year is the first time we will celebrate it completely without, grandma is also sadly no longer around. But it will always be fond memories, and your image helps with that!
How beautifully expressed, that my story behind the illustrations can coexist with your own experience, thank you! Kind regards, Esther
Hello Ether,
A while ago, I discovered your website and beautiful work. (partly because of the little shop around the corner)
The peace and love for drawing radiates from it. I love looking at your drawings, seeing every little detail and feeling what it does to me. And nice to read where your inspiration comes from. Recognisable too. I had already ordered some pretty little things from you before, including the washi tape I love to use in my writing books and the notepads I only use for pretty messages. I am very frugal with them (very old-fashioned huh) I would love to read your story with the illustrations again, but that's how I enjoy them too.
I wish you very happy holidays and wish you many more cosy moments...as cosy as can be...Warm Greetings, Jesse
Hey Jesse, thanks for your sweet comment. Great to read that you can relate to my work so much, I always find that the biggest compliment anyone can give me (conveying the feelings). Enjoy the washi tape! Love, Esther
I can look at the images for a really long time. That cosy feeling you are trying to convey succeeds tremendously! My daughter and I are fans!
Greetings Tjitske
Aaaahh how incredibly nice to hear! Makes me happy 🙂 Thank you Tjitske!
The images you create are fantastic. When I see these, I get a very warm feeling thinking back to the old days, to my childhood, when everything seemed so nice and safe. My life is good now too, but the carefree days of youth, are not there anymore, it seems like there are more and more worries as you get older. So the images of yours give a very soothing and good feeling, this is how it should always be.
I recognise that too yes! And thanks for your sweet note.
Bye Esther, keep writing, please, I enjoy your stories and it gives me courage.
How sweet! And special to hear, I always wanted to write, but previous attempts always stranded. And now I seem to have found my niche, nice if it can bring something to others too! Love!
All your work makes me very happy and it is also incredibly fun to read the background of your work ! Had the same childhood here and so I feel your work very well, come on with all those cosines ! Thanks for your work and keep it up!
Hey Sanne, what a sweet note, thank you! I wish you lots of (helping) cosiness too! Love!