"Yvonne, how long did you need for this painting?"

I get asked that so often and that's why I'd like to tell you a bit more about the creation of a painting!

This is how it begins...

...first I have an idea, for example through conversations or stories from people who...

• had an incredibly great dive
• simply strolled along the sparkling sea
• or had an incredible surfing moment

These stories often give me goosebumps. I see it in front of me and I can feel into these situations as if I was there by myself...

Or through my own adventures and experiences, which I find beautiful and unique...

• the peaceful nature, the waves or a secluded sandy beach
• being one with the ocean
• magical moments with sea creatures
• "Elements" that are of significant importance
• or I have an inspiration from a documentary, a book or an intuition
• and of course from the sea itself: colorful coral reefs, incredibly beautiful seascapes, bright turquoise salt water, gentle or rough waves, fascinating underwater world, magical animals, tall coconut trees, the finest beach, ...

So there it is: this IDEA...

The research begins...

Sometimes I make a quick sketch of my idea and/or write down all the feelings and experiences so that I can incorporate them into the painting.

I then start to research and I inform myself on the theme. For example, when I paint a sea turtle, I inform myself: what is it like, I read the zoological background, the characteristics, what is the anatomy like, how does it move, what is the life of a sea turtle, sea protection grounds, etc.

Or how exactly do the palm trees look like, what flora and fauna is still in this place, which plants or animals are endemic, i.e. they only exist in this area, what does the landscape look like, what does the sand look like, which color has the sea? And so forth...

I create a painting from many different elements that I find important and beautiful... And that you find important and beautiful. Our similarities. Because I love making art for YOU! Our same values & ideals and our love for the sea and its inhabitants...

My artworks are an interplay of reality and fantasy!

I would like to be a little more specific with this example...

"Secret Place"

75x60cm

My vision, idea & inspiration for this picture:

Big and old palm trees are telling stories in the wind, the little birds chirp and the sky shows its most beautiful colors. When I think of the sea, I dream of great adventures and secret places. Feeling the warm wind on my skin, hearing the unmistakably beautiful sound of the waves & inhaling the salty aerosols... On the way to be one with the ocean...

The idea is brought to the canvas...

When I have my concept, I choose the canvas accordingly, whether square or rectangular, you can hardly believe it, but this shape also has an influence on the overall work of art. Everything has an effect.

Now I select the size of the image.

And then, after intensive preparatory work and research, the painting begins.

First, I sketch my ideas on the canvas with a pencil.

Then the color comes into play...

A primer, where I approximately determine the colors, which later change again and again and are adapted to the overall work.

This is how the colors, shapes and structures are applied layer by layer to the canvas.

I think to myself: Which sky do I would like to paint? What time of day is my scenery? Sunrise? Sunset? Bright blue sky? Clouds? Which colors go well? Which colors make the picture shine?

I think of all that first, as I usually start with the sky...

Until the painting looks like the one above...

... many, many hours and weeks have already passed.

I always paint over each elements and adjust them. I paint very precisely and clearly. I would love that the beautiful and bright colors and creations come out. Many layers of paint are needed to achieve this result. I work with thin layers of paint, so I don't apply thick paint like I do with a spatula technique.

Sometimes I sit for hours and think about the painting...

What do I like? What do I not like yet?

I scan the painting very carefully to see whether it is coherent and whether what I want to say comes across. Sometimes I cut out - quickly sketched elements - on paper, paint them a little bit and hold them up to the picture or fix them briefly to see whether that was missing there or whether it's nicer without it.

The way of the creation process...

Sometimes I don't like the color, for example, so it's about finding the right color... mix it up, apply color, do I like it? Yes/No? Then possibly start all over again: mix the color and apply it to the picture again, etc.

Or is something still missing? Is the picture harmonious and balanced? Yes/No?

This is how a work of art is created... I never know in advance what the finished painting will look like!

It's a process...

And that's exactly what I love!

It's just so nice to see how a painting arise from a white canvas and comes to life!

A short video about the individual phases...

Here you can watch the painting phases in a small video! Just click on the picture (below) and off you go! (To watch the video you have to accept all cookies)

The black lines around the individual elements...

... at the end I paint everything again nicely with a very thin brush. Sometimes I make these lines thinner, sometimes thicker, in order to get liveliness. I think it makes the picture even more expressive! Throughout the making of the painting, I paint these lines about 3-4 times. Again and again during the process and then again at the end. So that everything is beautiful!

However, I don't always do the lines in black, in the style of "pop art" or "comic" style. I also very often use other colours, mix them up in the way that best suits the overall picture.

When the painting is done...

... then I take a very close look at everything again! Take a look at the sides to see if everything is also painted nicely and optimize!

At the very end I sign my painting and - after a few days of drying time - apply a protective varnish.

And now scan professionally...

When the painting is finished, I drive to a small family business that I trust. They do great work with outstanding quality. There the painting is digitized in a professional painting scanner. They also support me in the production of my art prints in a mat and limited art prints on canvas. In this small manufactory, everything is made by hand with a lot of passion and love.

"Yvonne, how long did you need for this painting?"

To come back to the original question: I worked on this picture for 210 hours of pure 'painting time'. In addition, there is the previous intensive research, ideas, thoughts about it, etc. I spent a total of 3 months on this work.

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