Gallery
EXPLORING, CREATING & PAINTING
Between the Lines
98×105 Oil on Linen
Between the Lines is a self-portrait about the space between expectation and authenticity. The striped shirt, reminiscent of my mother’s, symbolizes inherited roles and identity. Through this diptych, I explore what happens when those layers are stripped away, revealing the vulnerability and freedom of becoming your true self.
Merel MAY is developing a new visual language to explore the impact of climate change on younger generations. Through intimate portraits and symbolic imagery, her paintings reflect on rising sea levels, environmental change, consumerism, and the fragile future inherited by today’s children.
Drawn from personal experiences of motherhood, her work balances beauty with unease, inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and confront the realities we often choose to ignore. Rather than offering answers, these paintings ask urgent questions: What kind of world are we leaving behind? And what can we do to turn the tide?
Fingers Crossed!
60×80, oil on linen
Breathtaking
87×56, Oil on linen
Party Pooper
30×60, oil on panel
Do you remember those childhood days, feeling nervous with excitement for an upcoming party? Waking up to grey skies and rain, with that sinking feeling of disappointment. A balloon drawn on a foggy window, the simplest symbol of celebration, meets the miserable weather.
But the true “party pooper” isn’t the rain. It’s what we often overlook: the lasting impact of single-use plastics like balloons. While they might bring joy and convenience for a moment, their environmental cost lingers far beyond the festivities. Party Pooper questions the price of our pleasures and the quiet consequences that follow once the party ends.
Drifted Gift
55×32 Oil on driftwood
This painting is an unique exploration of nature’s gifts, where the ocean and the land converge to create something timeless. I paint directly on driftwood found on the stunning shores of Bunurong Land*/ the Mornington Peninsula.
The texture of the wood, shaped by the elements, underscores that I find my primarily inspiration in nature. The creation of this work enclosed also a reminder: if you have your eyes open, nature will always provide. It’s my intention that this artwork serves as a reflection of the profound beauty around us, an invitation to pause, notice, and cherish the simple, often unnoticed gifts the world offers.
Wave Up Call
60×80 Oil paint on canvas
SOLD
This oil painting captures the quiet beauty of Sandy Point, with mist-covered Wilson’s Promontory beyond. Inspired by early mornings chasing waves, it reflects the awe and humility that nature inspires.
The painting invites you to pause, embrace solitude, and reflect on your connection with the natural world and our responsibility to care for it.
Rhythm of the Ocean
43×59, Oil on canvas
High Quality Prints Available in various sizes
This painting celebrates the healing power of the sea. Waves come and go, yet remain constant. The painting captures the ocean’s ever-changing beauty, inviting viewers to pause and appreciate its simple, magical rhythm. For me, the ocean is a daily reminder to find peace in the natural flow of life.
Circle of Becoming
120×120, Oil on panel
Circle of Becoming is a portrait of my daughter, painted on a round board to symbolize the continuous nature of growth and memory. Inspired by her words, “No matter how big I become, I’ll always carry my younger self,” this work reflects the quiet presence of the child within us all.
With her eyes closed in reflection, she invites us to reconnect with our younger selves. The painting is a tribute to identity, becoming, and the unconditional love we carry for others and for ourselves.
E-Reader (Everywhere Reader)
60×30 Oil on panel
This painting is a heartfelt tribute to the transformative power of reading. It captures the essence of pausing in busy lives to embark journeys of the mind, where stories take shape and imagination flourishes. While the convenience of e-readers is undeniable, nothing compares to the profound magic of a physical book. Luckily the ease of an e-reader attracts also the younger generation with endless books waiting as an invitation to explore boundless worlds.
Books empower us, opening doors to new insights and fostering empathy in a way that other media often cannot. Books breathe life into our dreams and ignite our imaginations. In a time where digital distractions dominate our attention, this work embrace the joy and depth that only a book can provide. Everywhere Reader.
Find your light
64×80 Oil on canvas
This diptych explores the interplay between darkness and light, inspired by my recovery after a serious bicycle accident. Forced into complete dependence, I discovered that while darkness can feel overwhelming, it can also reveal the light we cultivate within ourselves.
The work reflects resilience, self-discovery, and the memories that carried me through. It is an invitation to consider where your own light comes from, even in the darkest moments.
Love me free
40×50 Oil paint on canvas
Private Collection
As a Thalassophile, I am deeply in love with the ocean and magnetically attracted to it. I also see this in the way the ocean captivates my children. My son is walking along the Dutch coastline on my favourite Island Terschelling. Not only the clouds are reflected on the beach, it is also a metaphorical reflection. Whereby I see my younger self walking for hours along the beach, seeking for freedom.
Wispering Wisdom
60×80 Oil paint on canvas
SOLD
Giant Friends
They are your silent Friends
Friendly whispering Giants
Giantly rising up High
Higher till wisdom touches the Sky
Shy in their Nature
Naturally standing Strong
Stronger as any super Power
Powerful in Giving
Give giant time to Yourself
You will be uplifted by your Friends.
Senses
40×60 Oil on wooden panel
Since migrating to Australia from The Netherlands, I have undergone a profound transformation in how I connect with the world and engage with nature on a deeper level. The breathtaking landscapes of Bunurong Land have changed my perceptions and enriched my understanding of sensory experiences. This painting is my first attempt to evoke more than just the viewer’s eye; it is an immersive exploration of how my migration has expanded my world, both literally and metaphorically. The aroma of eucalyptus, the fresh taste of limoncello (my personal favourite), the vibrant colours of native plants, and the simple joy of blowing a dandelion all contribute to a multi-sensory experience of this still life.
Showing Shadows
60×80 Oil paint on canvas
SOLD
Showing Shadows captures a quiet moment where time slows. As light dances across the water, my attention shifts from the water striders to their shadows.
More than the absence of light, shadows reveal the unseen. This painting is an invitation to slow down, notice the overlooked, and find meaning in the smallest details.
In my grandfather’s footsteps
30×40 oil on canvas
Private Collection
In my grandfathers’ footsteps
Walking in your footsteps
Dizzying in timeless threads
Connected through branches of a tree
Everlasting rooted as a family
Without knowing you in-person
I’m time cycling for a reason
Making a spiral in another dimension
finding that deeper connection
Anchored in a helix of generations
Intertwingled with contemporary relations
I’m an accumulation of now and then
while living my own life within
Timeless Echoes
41×58 Oil on canvas
This painting aims to capture the enchanting experience of time travel found in the quiet moments of parenthood. When I observe my child sleeping, time feels suspended; the present blends seamlessly with the past. During the day, I am in awe of the remarkable growth and new discoveries my child makes. Yet, in their peaceful slumber, I’m transported back to the tender memories of new born life. This interplay between vibrant progression of their development alongside with the echoes of early childhood, invites viewers to reflect on the fleeting yet timeless nature of these precious moments.
SOLD
Small artworks and commissioned paintings who found their new home!
Picture by @yannicreative