Ping-Aan

Ping-Aan (1993-2004) was a nice present from my parents. Her name means (according to an acquaintance) "love of God". She was born in Chow Chow Kennel Van de Beerse Haj, of breeder Anne Timmerman-Evers.

Breda, 1993

 Amsterdam, 1993

Amsterdam, 1994

Amsterdam, 1995

Amsterdam 1995: Ping-Aan with my mother. 

My mother was a doctor, homeopath and breeder of Chow-Chows.

Also Amsterdam 1995: Ping-Aan with my father.

My father was an engineer and was a great nature lover (also my mother).

sketch watercolor 

Sketch Elsenburger Forest, 2003: Pause

Amsterdam

Sketch coloured pencils, 2004

Sketch watercolor 2004: Autunn

Snow, Januari, 2004

Amsterdam

 Shall I cross or not? Delftse Hout, 2004

Saturday, 2004: It's still to early to wake up... 

Amserdam

New press for linocut, 2003

During walks with Ping-Aan I have experience how important is the nature for relaxation and as inspiration for my work. Ping-Aan was a nice company! 

Delftse Hout, 1999

sketch, 2004

Delft. 1999

Sketch Delftse Hout, 2004

Scheveningen: My dog loved the sea ...

...but she hated to bathe!

Oktober 4, 2007: World Animal Day

In the Heaven

A new life, 2008

More photos of mij dog, paintings and linocuts see please set Ping-Aan at my Flickr.

Why I love Birds

Nature in all its wonderful forms and colours is an important inspiration for my work. Birds have a special place in my heart: it is not explicable. When I heard or I see a bird I feel happy.
Maybe I'm infected with the 'bird virus'. 

Birds are special, beautiful, surprising. So much variety in so many different kinds. 
But I cannot mention an obvious reason why I love birds. This love for birds is slowly but surely crept in my life. Birds give me always a good mood.

Birds are present everywhere. I love also to know something about birds from other countries. This is why I go to the zoo and read books.  Since 2008 I regularly go to Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp). In that time I was sad and had disappointments: the death of my parents, loss of a temporary but nice job and problems with my health. Zoo Rotterdam had been a great distraction for me, healing and informative.

The name Blijdorp is perfect: happy (Blij) village (dorp).

I learned and experienced a lot in Zoo Rotterdam:
* So many animals and plant species (Zoo Rotterdam is also a Botanical Garden) and in particular so many bird species. My first impressions were often: is this  bird really exists?

* To learn to look good at animals and plants and to draw a lot (I have not done before so many drawings of animals - in my sketchbooks are obviously more drawings of birds than other animals...).

* A lot of inspiration for my artwork and stories.

Also important things I learned:
* To be present at the moment: animals live in the moment, not worrying about the past and future.
*  Life is a miracle.
* To have confidence in the process.

 

Birds from Zoo Rotterdam (Diergaarde Blijdorp)

Tawny Frogmouth

Scarlet and Military Macaw 

Ostrich

Ringed Teal

Southern Crowned Pigeon

Crowned Lapwing

Pied Avocet

Southern Ground Hornbill

Greater Flamingo

Toco Toucan

Golden Pheasant

  

Pied Imperial Pigeon

Darwin's Rhea

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

See also my blogs about birds as inspiration for my art at: A blog Full of Birds