Animals as subject, pointillism as technique. This collection of paintings of animals brings together original works by Marcel Straver: from cows in the polder and deer among flowers to doves on a branch and a duck in the grass, all painted in his distinctive bold pointillist style. Would you like to buy an animal painting, or have you spotted a work you would like to see in person first? Use the ‘take an option’ button and Marcel will get in touch as soon as possible. Interested in commissioning a unique or personal work? Call or email for the possibilities (see Contact).
See also: Info Paintings.
Animals appear in Marcel Straver’s work always within their natural surroundings. No studio setups or isolated portraits, but animals in the field, at the water’s edge, on a branch or in a flower meadow. That context gives his animal paintings a vitality and authenticity that feels immediate.
This collection includes works such as Double Dutch, Dear Deer, Perfect Peace and Trio. Every work is an original and available directly through the website. Commissioned paintings are also possible.
Animal paintings have a long tradition in art. From early hunting scenes to romantic equestrian portraits and contemporary wildlife art: animals captivate because they are both familiar and elusive. They share our landscape but live entirely on their own terms.
In Marcel Straver’s work the focus is not on anatomical precision but on capturing a moment. A cow catching her own reflection in the water. A lamb drinking beside its mother. Two doves pressed close together on a bare branch. These are observations drawn from life, translated into paintings full of atmosphere and feeling.
Marcel Straver’s bold pointillist technique works remarkably well for painting animals. Fur, feathers, skin and shadow are not built up with fine lines but with short, expressive brushstrokes that together capture the character of the animal. Up close you see the individual marks; from a distance they resolve into a clear and recognisable image.
Dead Duck is a striking example: a duck lying in the grass, its colourful plumage rendered in a rich mix of green, brown and blue. In Drinking/Drowning, a cow drinks from a puddle while a duck floats along on its back, a humorous but keenly observed scene. And Thirst shows a lamb drinking beside its mother, an intimate moment full of calm and warmth.
A significant part of the animal paintings in this collection features cows, and that is no coincidence. The cow is an icon of the Dutch landscape. In the polders, along the ditches, out in the meadow: cows are everywhere, yet through familiarity they have become almost invisible.
Marcel brings them back into focus. In Double Dutch, a black-and-white cow stands in a green meadow, her reflection visible in the water below. Trio shows three cows beneath a vivid sky, painted with the rhythm and colour that defines Marcel’s work. And Shade plays with light and shadow in the grass, the presence of the animal almost tangible without it taking centre stage.
Paintings of animals are versatile as interior pieces. They bring nature and life into a room, but in a way that carries more depth than a decorative print. A good animal painting tells a story and invites you to keep looking, time and again.
Marcel Straver’s works do that without sentimentality. The animals are present, true to life and carefully observed, but the painting goes beyond illustration. Colour, texture and composition make it a work of art that continues to engage long after it is first seen.
An original animal painting makes an exceptional gift, especially for someone with a connection to nature, the countryside or a particular animal. Because every work is unique, you give something no one else has.
It is also possible to commission a painting: a personal animal painting tailored to your wishes, a favourite animal or a specific place. Please get in touch via the contact page for the possibilities.
