About Marjolein
From an early age Marjolein has been fascinated with nature, breathing in the sights, sounds and smells of the natural world around her. As a young child growing up in the Netherlands she began collecting treasures such as pinecones, feathers, shells and flowers. As soon as Marjolein was able to hold a brush she began to lovingly capture the beauty of nature in her sketches and paintings. “It was my way of holding forever the impression I loved so much in nature,” Marjolein says. The paintbrush has been a constant companion for Marjolein throughout her life, and it has allowed her to create an extensive body of work that reflects her passion for nature. Beautiful meadows filled with wildflowers and butterflies, birds crowding around the feeder, insects exploring the forest floor, Marjolein finds inspiration anywhere.
Marjolein and her husband Gaston call the Netherlands home and their frequent travels allow Marjolein to draw inspiration from many different places, including the USA, Switzerland as well as the Caribbean. Walking through the woods, across sand dunes, along a beach or through alpine meadows certainly provides inspiration for Marjolein’s next painting but more than anything a leisurely stroll through her own garden triggers the impulse to put her brush to paper. “You will be amazed at all the wonders you see when you slow down, just stand still for a few minutes and really observe what is happening around you.”
A typical workday for Marjolein begins early and often extends into the evening, as she sits at her worktable, which is inevitably crowned with flowers or other finds from the day’s walk. Brush in hand, she brings her special relationship with the world full-circle: nature captivates her and she captures it to share it with others. Her detailed snapshots of nature often include her personal written observations, providing context and meaning to the artwork.
Marjolein’s passion for the natural world is of a universal character that appeals to people all over the world. Her work has appeared in the Dutch magazine Libelle every week for almost forty years and her paintings can be found on greeting cards, calendars, prints, bedding, dishware and a variety of gift products. But for Marjolein only one thing is important: the ability to paint the beauty of nature around her.