The painting studio is not an ideal workspace for Nils Verkaeren (1980). As a contemporary plein air painter, he considers direct contact with nature essential. Between painting and reality he seeks a continuous dialogue with his surroundings. He attempts to identify with the landscape while maintaining enough distance to keep his own vision sharp.

Verkaeren is fascinated by the constant transformation of nature. He seeks to capture this dynamism in both monumental canvases and small wooden panels. By combining pathos with an intense sensory experience, his work transcends the traditional landscape. The result is a personal interpretation of reality in which the time Verkaeren spends in the landscape becomes condensed.

To deepen this emotional charge, Verkaeren regularly withdraws from society. He deliberately travels to remote areas, preferably as rural and untouched as possible. These are landscapes where painting becomes almost impossible. It is precisely these circumstances that influence his working method and leave their traces in the final image.

Verkaeren does not simply paint what he sees, but what he experiences. This creates a tension that moves his oeuvre far beyond a purely impressionistic approach. His method literally forces him to keep moving. During the painting process, he moves through the landscape with his canvases, allowing the work to emerge in direct confrontation with the environment.