THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Making the Invisible Visible. Today I’m sharing the full film behind the creation of our Soul Portrait. A process that captures not only the image, but also energy, movement, truth, and transformation. This painting emerged in layers: layers of memory, intuition, symbolism, and deep presence. And as I created, it also created me. This video invites you to experience, how art and soul meet, how a portrait becomes a gateway, how you can see yourself in a way you never have befo

Esther Claus

11 dec 20252 minuten om te lezen

FEATURED POST

Welcome friend,

Stay connected , not through algorithms, but through presence.

Let’s inspire each other: share a thought, a feeling, or a little love in the comments.

From the Kite Journal

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Making the Invisible Visible. Today I’m sharing the full film behind the creation of our Soul Portrait. A process that captures not only the image, but also energy, movement, truth, and transformation. This painting emerged in layers: layers of memory, intuition, symbolism, and deep presence. And as I created, it also created me. This video invites you to experience, how art and soul meet, how a portrait becomes a gateway, how you can see yourself in a way you never have befo

11 dec 20252 minuten om te lezen

Don't Dim Me

A manifesto for the unapologetic self Work in progress and so am I. (Nederlands scroll naar beneden) I have now reached my 10th painting and what a journey it has been so far. Through creating this project, I have come to realize that it is deeply rooted within me as well. Each painting, together with its accompanying poem, reveals something to me. I noticed this already while creating the very first piece and even dedicated several blog posts to some of the painted collages

5 dagen geleden13 minuten om te lezen

Written to Remain

What lives on, written by those who love you. The peacock, 1 out of 12 collage paintings for the book. (Dutch language, scroll down) I am currently in the middle of my crowdfunding and I notice how this project is slowly unfolding through the responses I receive. What began as an idea is increasingly becoming something carried by the stories of others. Especially after personal conversations, I receive a lot of enthusiasm, because most people are open to the conscious connect

18 apr8 minuten om te lezen

Mirror

Poetry by Esther Claus I refuse to sit in stories that broke me, to hold up pain like it still owns me.  I will not place the past before my feet,  those old ghosts of shame, anger and defeat. I refuse to be a prisoner  of someone else’s harm. I refuse to let my story  be shaped by their sin.  I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to become. But the body remembers  what the mind cannot bear, the subconscious whispers  what the voice cannot share. There was no way I

18 jan1 minuten om te lezen

Family Soul Portrait,A Journey of Intuition and Connection

Size: 150 x 170 cm The Beginning: The First Family Portrait At the end of 2024, I created my first family portrait. My client gave me complete freedom, and the moment I received the portrait of their family, I felt that I wanted to do something completely different than what I was used to. I normally choose to paint almost no backgrounds, keeping colors minimal, and focused entirely on the subjects. This time, however, the word “zebra” came to me and I felt that I wanted to m

13 dec 20255 minuten om te lezen

Trailer Soul Portraits: Behind the Canvas

A Glimpse into the Art that Remembers your Soul Not all that connects a family can be seen…  Step into the making of a Soul Portrait, where intuition guides the brush, symbols carry meaning, and invisible bonds become visible. Watch the trailer and step inside the world where art meets energy and connection. Full video this Thursday! Stay tuned! Trailer Soul Portraits: behind the Canvas. Een Glimp van de Kunst die je Ziel Herinnert. Niet alles wat een familie verbindt is zich

8 dec 20251 minuten om te lezen

Soul Portraits – Art with Soul and Connection.

Soul Portraits, Art with soul and connection

25 nov 20254 minuten om te lezen

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Making the Invisible Visible. Today I’m sharing the full film behind the creation of our Soul Portrait. A process that captures not only the image, but also energy, movement, truth, and transformation. This painting emerged in layers: layers of memory, intuition, symbolism, and deep presence. And as I created, it also created me. This video invites you to experience, how art and soul meet, how a portrait becomes a gateway, how you can see yourself in a way you never have befo

Welcome.

Welcome With this blog, I give words to my experiences as a mother of a special boy, a child who stands with one foot in this world, and the other in the unseen world. This way of perceiving life also flows into my artistic work, where I translate inner experiences into visual art and poetic projects. Where many parents speak effortlessly about upbringing and development, it feels different for me. What my child can do, and what he is developing under my guidance, falls outsi

Don't Dim Me

A manifesto for the unapologetic self Work in progress and so am I. (Nederlands scroll naar beneden) I have now reached my 10th painting and what a journey it has been so far. Through creating this project, I have come to realize that it is deeply rooted within me as well. Each painting, together with its accompanying poem, reveals something to me. I noticed this already while creating the very first piece and even dedicated several blog posts to some of the painted collages

ABOUT ME

My name is Esther. I am an artist, poet, mother and survivor of PTSD. I live in Amsterdam with my son, and for the past 22 years, I’ve worked independently as an artist, weaving emotion, healing, and soul into my creations.

I often say I’ve lived many lives within this one. Each chapter has shaped me, broken me open, and brought me deeper into who I truly am.

I raise my highly sensitive son largely through intuition, not from books or rules, but from deep listening, inner knowing, and a trust in the unseen.

We live with one foot in this world, and the other in the world beyond the subtle, spiritual realm that many feel but few dare to name. That space guides us. It grounds us. It reminds us that healing is not linear, that sensitivity is not weakness, and that art can be a sacred form of remembrance.

I created The Woman with the Kite as a place to share my journey, through trauma, through healing, through motherhood, through soul. Here, I share my art, my poetry, my truths, and the wind that carries me.

Maybe you’ll recognize something of yourself here.  Maybe you, too, are walking between worlds.

FOLLOW ME

Painting no. 10 is finished.
Moving on up to painting no. 11.
For the first and only time, I’m revealing the poem behind the panther collage and the meaning of its symbolism.

Go ahead and read my latest blogpost: Don’t Dim Me.
Link in bio.

I’m entering the final weeks of the crowdfunding campaign. If you’d like to help bring this book into the world, your support is deeply appreciated.

#supportfemaleartist#unapologeticly#wordscarrylove#wordsremain

The thought that, in a few months, at least 23 books will be filled with personal words, memories, and love genuinely makes me so happy.

Also, a warm thank you to the newest donor supporting “What Lives On, Written By Those Who Love You” @noshra . Every contribution helps this project continue to grow.

Tonight I’m finishing the 9th painting, the deer, acorns, and daisies, before moving on to painting number 10 of the modern poetry album.

The crowdfunding campaign will continue until the 12th and final painting has been completed.

What we leave behind lives on in written words.

You can pre-order the book for €45 through the link in bio.

#modernpoetrybook#wordsremain#art#poetry#supportfemaleartist

Painting number 8 is finished and now I’m already moving on to painting number 9.

All of these works are part of “ What lives on, written by those who love you”. A modern poetry album.

A project where 12 poems are paired with 12 collage paintings, with blank pages woven in between them. Pages meant to be filled by yourself or by the people around you, with wishes, memories, reflections, and life lessons.

It’s my way of searching for real connection in a digital age.
And of bringing back a deeply meaningful Dutch tradition, but in a more contemporary and grown-up form.

Something to hold.
Something to leave behind.
Something that keeps living on through the people we love.

You can pre-order the book (45,-E) through the go fund me link in my bio and by doing so, you’re part of bringing it into existence.

Thank you for your support!

#whatliveson#wordscarrylove#memories#art#poetry

New week, fresh energy, let’s go!
The owl with its piercing gaze above the blooming anemones and the delicate branch of berries.
Absolutely flying through this one!

Curious about the book I’m creating?
Pre-order it y’all! (Link in bio).

#modernpoetrybook#wordscarrylove#supportanartist#art#poetry

Leaving behind an old version of yourself often feels bittersweet. Moving through old layers, letting go of what no longer fitst, and welcoming in the new.
Painting no. 7 is almost finished, onto the next one.

If you’d like to support this project and help bring the poetry album to life, you can still pre-order the book…
(Link in bio)

#leavingwordsbehind#whatliveson#modernpoetrybook
#supportartists

Sometimes it feels a little lonely building something meaningful on platforms made for speed and distraction.
But this week, two people chose to support “What lives on, written by those who love you”

And that means more than you know.

What lives on is an analogue project about slowing down, real human connection, memory and the stories we leave behind.
A small counter movement against the increasing individualisation and digitalisation of the world around us and a reminder of how deeply we still long to truly connect.

I’m currently building it independently while also applying for funding and subsidies, flyering and doing the analogue approach, everything to help bring the full vision to life.

If this project resonates with you, you can support it by becoming a donor or simply by sharing the story.

Show your girl some love y’all. I’ll be offline now, focussing on creating and getting things done.

Thank you @sarodamitrasing and Maureen, for your contribution!

#modernpoetrybook#legacy#whatliveson#supportartists

A diamond in the rough
polishing her edges
with saltwater truth…..

Grief is one of the 5 themes of this book.
An emotion to move through.
A process of letting go of what was and slowly making space for what is still to come.

If this work speaks to you, you can support it through a pre-order.
Every pre-order helps bring this book into its final form.

Choose your reward (slide 2) and find the go fund me link in the bio.
Thank you!

#whatliveson#lifelessons#poetrybook#supportlivingartists

Inspired by a nearly forgotten Dutch tradition, rebuilt in a grown-up, unapologetic form.
A book where we don’t just pretend to value meaning, but actually write it down, sharing love, truth, and life lessons that will outlive us.
Because in the end, your words are what lives on.

Here I am with my fifth painting, paired with a poem, created especially for this book.
Today I’m finishing the details and stepping on the gas! Let’s speed up the process. 7 More to go.

We love to romanticize artistry, talk about it like we understand it. But living it is something else entirely.
This is month six without an income and still, I choose to create, because I believe this should exist.

If you feel that too, this is your moment to step in.
Don’t just watch it happen be part of what lives on.

The project is live and happening.
Pre-order your copy for E45,-. Or buy two for E80,-, one to give and one to keep.
Link in bio.
#whatliveson#modernpoetrybook#supportlivingartists

Thank you Artflow Alliance for the feature!
A Book Meant to Be Written Together.
Esther Claus shares a deeply personal and poetic project, What Lives On, Written by Those Who Love You, an exploration of memory, legacy, and the quiet imprint we leave behind. This body of work brings together twelve original poems and collage paintings, unfolding across five themes that reflect the core of human experience. At its heart is the belief that our greatest challenges often carry our deepest wisdom, inviting reflection, connection, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be remembered.

What makes this project especially meaningful is its invitation for others to become part of it. Interwoven blank pages encourage loved ones to add their own handwritten words, transforming the book into a living archive of memory, presence, and connection. In a time shaped by digitalization, Esther’s work offers a tangible and intimate alternative, something to hold, revisit, and pass on. Currently in crowdfunding, the project is seeking community support to bring this vision fully to life.
-
(Go fund me link in bio, pre-order 45,- E)
#supportlivingartist#legacy#humanconnection

(English below)
Hoe gebruik je het nieuwe poëziealbum: What lives on, written by those who love you.

Schrijf je mooiste wensen voor je kinderen, wat je ze toewenst in het leven, de lessen die jij hebt geleerd. Want aan het einde van de dag krijgen deze woorden een speciale plek in de harten van je zonen en dochters.

Geef het boek door aan de mensen die van grote betekenis zijn in het leven van je kinderen.

Of lieve mensen, geef het cadeau aan je partner, maar voordat je het inpakt, schrijf eerst je gevoelens voor hem/haar erin. En kijk hoe de magie zich verder ontvouwt.

Geef het cadeau aan jezelf en nodig vervolgens je kinderen, vrienden, familie of andere dierbaren uit om iets voor jou te schrijven, misschien een herinnering aan jullie band, een foto, tekening, collage of een ander waardevol aandenken.

In deze tijd wordt het steeds belangrijker om te vertragen en onze gevoelens naar elkaar uit te spreken. Want woorden blijven bestaan, zelfs als wij er niet meer zijn.

Bestel jouw exemplaar nu en laten we dit samen werkelijkheid maken.
Early bird pre-order E 45,- (go fund me link in bio).

How do you use the new poetry album: What lives on, written by those who love you.

Write your most heartfelt wishes for your children, what you hope for them in life, the lessons you’ve learned. Because at the end of the day, these words will find a special place in the hearts of your sons and daughters.

Pass the book on to the people who hold deep meaning in your children’s lives.

Or dear ones, gift it to your partner, but before you wrap it, fill it with your feelings first. Then watch how the magic unfolds.

Gift it to yourself, and invite your children, friends, family, or loved ones to write something for you, perhaps a memory of your bond, a photo, a drawing, a collage, or another meaningful memento.

In times like these, it becomes more and more important to slow down and express what we feel to one another. Because words remain, even when we are no longer here.

Grab your copy now and let’s make this happen.
Early bird pre-order E45,- (go fund me link in bio)

#meaningfulgift
#suportlivingartists
#sharingiscaring

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Go Fund Me
A Modern Poetry book

The modern poetry album "What lives on, written by those who love you" revives a forgotten tradition in a new form: a book in which art, poetry, personal stories, and memories come together and are passed on.

The project consists of 12 poems, each paired with a painted collage. These works explore personal development, inner growth, and the layers of being human.

In addition to these visual and poetic works, the book intentionally includes blank pages. These are meant to be filled in by loved ones with life lessons, memories, and personal messages. In this way, a shared object is created in which not only the maker, but also the user and their surroundings play a role.

The project serves as an analogue counterbalance in a time of digitalization and individualization. It invites slowness, attention, and genuine connection.

This creates a tangible artwork that is not static, but grows with you, a treasure chest of personal and collective memories that becomes richer over time.

The contributions through this crowdfunding campaign will be used for the realization and production of the book, including printing and finishing. This will make the first edition possible and allow the project to be carried out and shared with a wider audience.

Every contribution, big or small, is appreciated and helps bring this project to life.

Choose a reward:

E45,- Early bird edition (first edition of the modern poetry book).

E55,- Signed edition (Signed copy of the book)

E80,- Share and give edition (Two copies: one for you and one to give away)

E95,- Personal poem (Signed book + a personal poem, written by me especially for you).

E5000,- Original artwork (An original piece from the collage serie).

Thank you very much for your support!

Love,

Esther

Contact

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

FEATURED POST

Welcome friend,

Stay connected , not through algorithms, but through presence.

Let’s inspire each other: share a thought, a feeling, or a little love in the comments.

From the Kite Journal

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Don't Dim Me

Written to Remain

Mirror

Family Soul Portrait,A Journey of Intuition and Connection

Trailer Soul Portraits: Behind the Canvas

Soul Portraits – Art with Soul and Connection.

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Welcome.

Don't Dim Me

ABOUT ME

FOLLOW ME

Go Fund Me
A Modern Poetry book

Support with love

"Your presence and generosity keep this creative flow alive. Every bit of love helps me keep creating and sharing from the heart.”

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

FEATURED POST

Welcome friend,

​

Stay connected , not through algorithms, but through presence.

​

Let’s inspire each other: share a thought, a feeling, or a little love in the comments.

From the Kite Journal

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Don't Dim Me

Written to Remain

Mirror

Family Soul Portrait,A Journey of Intuition and Connection

Trailer Soul Portraits: Behind the Canvas

Soul Portraits – Art with Soul and Connection.

THE FULL STORY, Soul Portraits

Welcome.

Don't Dim Me

ABOUT ME

FOLLOW ME

​

Go Fund Me A Modern Poetry book

Support with love

"Your presence and generosity keep this creative flow alive. Every bit of love helps me keep creating and sharing from the heart.”

Go Fund Me
A Modern Poetry book