Hello, and welcome.
I'm Sandra, an artist based in the Netherlands. I create original paintings in Watercolor, Gouache, Acrylic, and Oil, with a focus on realism. My work includes landscapes, waterscapes, botanical and food illustrations, as well as human and pet portraits. In addition to original paintings, a selection of my work is available as fine art prints, allowing these pieces to find homes in different corners of the world.
Why realism?
People often ask why I choose realism when a photograph can capture a scene instantly. For me, the answer lies in the process.
A painting asks for something that a photograph doesn't. It asks for time. It asks for careful observation, patience, and hundreds of deliberate brushstrokes. When I paint, I spend hours with a subject — studying the light, the colours, the textures, and the feeling it evokes. In many ways, realism is my way of slowing down and paying attention.
I'm interested in preserving the emotions of a moment and not just recreating the photograph. The time spent painting becomes part of the artwork itself. Every brushstroke is a small act of noticing, and every finished piece is my attempt to hold on to a feeling that might otherwise pass by unnoticed.
Whether I am painting a quiet landscape, a beloved pet, a bowl of fresh fruit, or a portrait of someone special, my goal remains the same: to create work that feels honest, timeless, and deeply personal.
Fragments of Life
Alongside my painting practice, I create Fragments of Life, an ongoing series inspired by the details, textures, colours, and emotions that shape everyday life.
Many of the ideas, observations, and moments that inspire this series are shared through Fragments by Post, my monthly snail mail club. Through it, I send artwork, sketches, handwritten notes, and reflections from my studio to a community of fellow art lovers and kindred spirits who appreciate a slower, more intentional way of connecting with art.
I hope you find something here that speaks to you.