#075 - B.D. Graft
#075 - B.D. Graft
Destination: National Park Sallandse Heuvelrug, The Netherlands
Date: 5 - 8 July, 2021
About B.D. Graft
The work of B.D. Graft is a continuous exploration between life and the representation of that life. Through vivid drawings and paintings of flowers, landscapes and interiors, B.D. is stepping in the footsteps of the tradition of still life paintings, like so many who have gone before him in art history. With his distinctive freehand lines he is able to capture his subjects in a way that accentuates movement. Maybe this is a reminiscence of his days studying film and English literature, or maybe a testament to his pursuit of happiness.
You can find more work of B.D on his website: www.bdgraft.com
About the destination:
Typically, as a densely populated country, The Netherlands wouldn't be described as a place where you can enjoy serenity in nature, but there are actually quite a few National Parks throughout the country which are filled with beautiful nature. In some of these parks you can find unique cabins. These cabins are placed in wilderness locations which are only accessible by foot and can be hard to find without a map. The cabins are completely off-grid and isolated, meaning that the visitor has the experience of enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of the forest all to themselves.
Details about the print
Dimensions: ± 50 x 70 cm
Colours: one colour
Edition: 50 prints, signed and numbered by the artist
A little word by B.D.
"I generally try not to have any expectations before embarking on a trip, because usually the reality is different from expectations anyway. Beside that, I like to be surprised. I knew we’d be in the middle of nature, though, so I was really excited for that. It turned out that we were actually completely immersed in nature and we loved it. No matter in which direction we looked from our cabin, we couldn’t see or hear anything apart from nature.
The cabin we stayed in was well equipped but contained no luxuries. For example, we had to pump and heat our own water. We loved how this reduced our lives to the basics and kept us busy with rudimentary things. This was satisfying and almost meditative, coming from a city house where so much is automated (washing machine, heater, dishwasher, copious kitchen appliances, etc.).
For my artwork, I’ve created a white bouquet on a green background. We were surrounded by green throughout our trip, so naturally I felt compelled to use that as the artwork’s main colour. Our lifestyle during the trip felt very simple and pure; we ate healthy, went for walks, and meditated on the porch. So white for the bouquet seemed like a good fit. Plus it looks good on the green! I incorporated some wild flowers and foliage that I spotted during the hikes. So the artwork is a representation of what we saw, and how we felt, during our trip."
Travel diary
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Monday, July 5, 2021
Made it! Just before it’s dark. We ran into some difficulties of our own, so we arrived late at the cabin. But it’s so cool here already. Super tired, and we still have to eat. More tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Away from the city; the noise; the computer; the TV. It’s so nice to be immersed in nature for a change, and live a life reduced to the basics. A beautiful cabin in the woods, with only the bare necessities. Especially now that Marloes and I have Adam, our six month old son, escaping the city feels like a breath of fresh air. A chance to bond, slow down, and soak up the beautiful surroundings.
We walked through the forest for a few hours today, and I immediately became inspired by the flora and fauna of the Sallandse Heuvelrug. The photos that I took will help me in creating the final artwork for my print (an idea is already manifesting in my mind).
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Had a relaxed day in and around the cabin today; the perfect chance to draw some of the things that we saw during yesterday’s hike.
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Hiking to a cabin in the middle of nowhere with our six month old son felt like a challenge and, honestly, we were a bit nervous. After all, we had never done anything like this before. But as soon as we arrived at our Cabiner we knew that we had nothing to worry about. Little Adam loved it and so did we.
We spent the next few days hiking, cooking, reading, drawing, talking; living a slow life in nature, away from the bustling city. It gave us time to connect with each other, and our surroundings, which felt like an extremely natural way of existing; like this lifestyle is programmed into our DNA and we tapped into it.
It’s crazy how quickly a day passes when you have to pump your own water, start a fire, and cook your meals with only the bare necessities. We loved it, and didn’t want to leave. Our batteries recharged and I now feel more inspired than ever to produce nature-related artworks.
