Swimming Otter – Delft Blue

Hand-painted Delft Blue ceramic artwork inspired by wildlife, created at the Royal Delft Museum in Delft, the Netherlands.

Year

2024

Medium

Hand-painted ceramic plate

Delft Blue technique

Location

Delft, The Netherlands

Status

Private collection · The Netherlands

This hand-painted ceramic artwork brings together two of my greatest inspirations: wildlife and the centuries-old tradition of Delft Blue ceramics.

While living in the Netherlands, I had the opportunity to learn this painting technique during a workshop at the Royal Delft Museum in Delft, the Netherlands. Rather than reproducing the traditional Dutch motifs that characterize Delft Blue ceramics, I wanted to explore how this artistic language could become a way of celebrating biodiversity.

Sea otters have long been among my favorite animals. Their playful character, graceful movement and close relationship with water made them the perfect subject for this piece. Inspired by a wildlife photograph, this wildlife artwork reinterprets the animal through the flowing brushstrokes and limited cobalt palette that define the Delft Blue tradition.

The plate was painted by hand in Delft and is now part of a private collection.

In 2026, the artwork was featured by the IUCN Otter Specialist Group, introducing it to an international community dedicated to otter conservation. Seeing this piece reach people who care deeply about these animals gave the work a new chapter beyond the studio.

As an artist inspired by biodiversity, I enjoy exploring how traditional artistic techniques can be reimagined to tell contemporary stories about nature. This piece reflects my ongoing practice of creating nature-inspired art that connects science, biodiversity and visual storytelling.

Details: Otter’s face, fur, bubbles

Collection: Marine Life