My series of amphibian and reptile drawings is gradually expanding each year, as I create artwork for several monograph covers. The series began many years ago when I worked primarily in black and white. As new editions are published and older ones are updated with fresh information, I have the opportunity to rework my earlier illustrations in colour, breathing new life into the artwork.
Amphibians, reptiles, and fish are among my favorite animals. Many species exhibit striking colors and can often be observed up close, which adds to their appeal. These creatures are also excellent ambassadors for nature education: not only can they be showcased in their natural habitats, but they also have highly specific requirements for their surroundings. Their presence serves as a valuable indicator of the health of the natural environment.
After years of hard work, the “Veldgids Kustvissen” (fieldguide to the fishes of the Dutch coastal waters) is finally available! The book features over 500 of my drawings that vary from scetches which clarify identification characters to full-colour drawings depicting entire fishes in various life-stages. I truely believe that this has become the book that many of us were waiting for!
Over the years, my drawings have become progressively more detailed. After experimenting with various techniques, I discovered an effective method for illustrating reptile scales in vector images. The key is to incorporate an additional layer specifically for the scales. However, this approach does come at a cost: creating such a detailed drawing requires twice the time to complete. Nonetheless, I believe the final result is well worth the extra effort and time invested.
I feel fortunate to have my amphibian, reptile, and fish artwork featured in a wide variety of publications over the years. Below is a selection of some of my favorites:
Field Guides to the Amphibians and Freshwater Fish of Slovenia: Created in collaboration with Jana and published through the Institute Symbiosis. These guides can also be ordered directly from us (available in Slovene).
Identification Keys to the Amphibians, Reptiles, and Freshwater Fish: Produced for Society RAVON (in Dutch).
Handbook of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe: This comprehensive resource consists of three parts on Frogs and Toads, with one additional part in preparation. Published by Aula Verlag (in German).
The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Netherlands: This publication serves as the Dutch Herpetofauna Atlas and is available online on ResearchGate (in Dutch).
Monographs on Amphibians and Reptiles of Germany: Mostly published as Beihefte der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie by Laurenti Verlag (in German, with some titles also available in English).
