Haven’t logged in here in months! As Instagram feels very much ‘meh’ right now, I thought to pop on here and see what people are up to. I miss daily bits and bobs :) I’m unpacking 15 Pith sketchbooks for a retreat I’m hosting in the mean time. Absolute favourite sketchbook!

This original is now hanging in someone’s bedroom. The buyer picked it up yesterday and she was so lovely!

Kept this painting for a few years, until I felt ready to sell it. It has just gone to its new owner, who was so happy with it. So, I’m happy too :)

Finding pleasure in drawing again ❤️

Loved the moon a few evenings ago ❤️

Enjoyed a stroll and painting the wonderful colours on the botanical gardens in Bath.

A quick drawing of a pub in Bourton-on-the-water (UK). There was a woman making a video of me, I wonder where she posted it 😊

Not a city person but Oxford has changed my mind. Perfect place to draw beautiful architecture!

Zo, dit schilderij is klaar! Ik merk dat ik heel hard mijn best doe om mijn focus te houden en niet afgeleid te raken van het nieuws. Hoe doen jullie dat?

Vanaf 12 april t/m 25 mei kun je zo’n 20 nieuwe werken van mij in Willem Twee in Den Bosch bekijken. De werken gaan over niet (goed) passen in de maatschappij en daarin mijn weg vinden. Op 19 april ben ik er ook en dan loop ik graag een rondje met je. gadenbosch.nl/expositie/ex...

When young dumb tech guys told Miyazaki that they wanted to make a machine that draws pictures, he had the most succinctly perfect response: “I feel we are nearing the end of times. Humans are losing faith in themselves.” Get his beautiful name out of your AI garbage’s mouth.

Wie tekent/schildert graag in opdracht een hond en zijn baasje (van de achterkant gezien)? Ik stuur graag je naam door aan een potentiële opdrachtgever.

I’ve discovered I really enjoy painting big. At least 1.50 x 1.50 m. Ik ben erachter gekomen dat ik heel erg houd van groot werken. Minstens 1,50 x 1,50 m

Vaak doe ik maanden over een schilderij. Maar nu ik een expositie heb over een paar weken, moet ik rap doorwerken. En nu merk ik dat het helemaal geen maanden (soms jaren) hoeft te kosten.

🇬🇧 Dear artist, Why do you make art? 🇳🇱 Beste kunstenaar, Waarom maak jij kunst?

A pink sky in Helston, Cornwall (UK).

After 1.5 years of not being able to properly paint: see what’s on my easel! My body and brain are starting to reboot after being ill for what seemed like a decade ❤️

Just a little note that I’m sending out a (almost) monthly newsletters with personal stories, creative tips and advice. Find it here: marloesdevries.com/newsletter

Got an email from two 11-year olds, with questions about illustration and how much it pays to illustrate a book (in the Netherlands). I answered. Their reply: “we’re both shocked that you earn so little.” It’s very telling that 11-year olds are saying this 😅

It’s been ages since I painted. When I scroll past my photos, I see how happy painting makes me! It heals little parts inside of me. It’s a form of therapy ❤️

I need a break.

What’s fun about looking for people to follow on a new platform (like here) is seeing all the people I know from back in the day. The blogspot days, the early Twitter days, those days. I just realised I’ve been on social media for about 17 years and posting online for 26 years. I am THAT old.

I love sketching while watching tv series. Teaches me a lot about lighting and composition. And how carefully the colours were picked in this episode of All Creatures Great and Small.

Unpopular opinion: It doesn’t motivate me to read how much other people earn. It lets me drift away from my values. Thoughts?

My first post on Bluesky! Let’s make it memorable in case all these things will be archived one day and hangs in museums: I’ve started cleaning out my studio and thought it would take an entire weekend… I’m in week two now and I’m about half way through.