Water, A Source of Life – The Story Behind My New Diary and Calendar Collection
While writing the recent series of blog posts about our journey through Switzerland, I began to realise just how much that trip had influenced my work. Some connections were obvious, while others only became clear as I looked back and started writing.
In the previous three posts, I described how crystal-clear mountain water, light and quartz crystals changed the way I looked at nature. My fascination with water only grew stronger, especially after I started experimenting with Veda Austin's water-freezing method. It was as if I had begun seeing water through new eyes. Not only did I appreciate its beauty even more, but I also became increasingly aware of the importance of clean, clear and healthy water, both physically and energetically.
After returning home, that new perspective stayed with me. I found myself looking at water everywhere. Not only in the mountains, but here in the Netherlands as well. This renewed focus on the role of water in nature gradually found its way into my artwork. Water began to play an increasingly important role in my watercolour paintings.
I live alongside a canal in the city, so water is always close by. Unfortunately, it isn't always clean. It saddens me to see how much litter eventually ends up in the water. I often feel like grabbing a net and cleaning it myself. I hope more people will become aware of the importance of clean, flowing water. Fortunately, the birds and fish seem far less concerned. My neighbourhood is home to many different species of waterbirds, and over the past few years I have painted a number of them.
Over the years, Bekking & Blitz has published a variety of diaries and calendars featuring my illustrations, each centred around a different theme. For the 2027 collection, that theme became Water, A Source of Life.
The collection features many new illustrations inspired by the vital role of water in nature. My aim was to give the entire series the same fresh, clear feeling that clean water evokes in me.
Switzerland and my own surroundings were not my only sources of inspiration. Another special place in the Netherlands that inspired several illustrations was the Dwingelderveld National Park.
I visited the area last May to see the famous sheepfold. Water wasn't on my mind at all; I was looking for sheep. Near the visitor centre, however, I discovered a unique footpath that crosses a pond. Thanks to glass walls beneath the walkway, you can literally look beneath the surface of the water. As you'll see and hear in the video below, the pond was alive with frogs, tadpoles and their loud chorus of croaking. Behind the glass, I could quietly observe frogspawn, tiny fish and tadpoles swimming through the water.
It was fascinating to discover how much life exists beneath the surface. I could have watched it for hours. The frogs and tadpoles eventually found their way onto one of the pages in the new collection.
Below I'd like to introduce the first products in the Water, A Source of Life collection: the pocket diary, the ring-bound diary and the weekly calendar for 2027. Although each product has its own layout and format, they all share the same collection of illustrations, carefully adapted to suit each design. The family planner will be released later this year.
The ring-bound diary includes something extra. On the opening page you'll find a short introduction about the inspiration behind the collection. For the first time, I also added a few handwritten words and notes in English, giving the diary an even more personal touch.
The diaries and calendars will be available through a variety of stationery shops, museum shops and gift stores throughout the Netherlands, and in some cases abroad. Retail information is available through Bekking & Blitz. If you'd like to order directly, you can also find the complete collection in my own webshop.
Click on the images below to view each product, its specifications and ordering information.
Ring-bound diary
Pocket diary
Weekly calendar
