Welcome

I began professional painting in 1996, driven by a growing fascination with the quiet stories animals seem to carry within them. Over the years, my work has evolved into a blend of animal portraiture and surreal or magic realistic compositions in which creatures take on symbolic or dreamlike roles. Painting is, for me, a way of observing the world with curiosity and patience. Each piece is an exploration — of character, atmosphere, and the subtle emotions that emerge when reality and imagination meet. I’m glad you’re here, and I hope you enjoy discovering my work as much as I enjoy creating it.

I've gone through several phases: From 1996 to 2018, I painted almost exclusively commissioned animal portraits. Before that, I experimented with surrealism using various techniques. After 2018, I started the surrealism series with animals and experimented with realism and hyperrealism. I'm still in this phase.

Thanks for visiting my website:
Ruud van Unen,
Puttershoek, the Netherlands