Art with a Story: Discover the Worlds of db Waterman's Paintings
- dbwaterman
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
Sometimes an image touches you so deeply that words fail you
A vast, empty beach. A little girl runs from left to right across the deserted beach. The air is still, gray, and slowly merges with the sea; the sand seems endless. You can almost feel the wind in your hair.
For a couple from Amsterdam, it was this painting that touched them. Not because of technique, color, or size—but because of memories. Memories of childhood vacations by the sea. Of a simplicity that seems lost to many people today. They couldn't let it go. And they bought it. Because it awakened something they had almost forgotten.
Welcome to my world.
Art doesn't have to shout. It can whisper what you yourself had forgotten.
I am db Waterman — visual mixed media artist. My paintings are more than composition and color. They are stories.
My artworks often depict people in empty, almost desolate landscapes. There is loneliness, but also hope. Something is happening, but what exactly? That is up to you, the viewer, to decide.
I also paint children in my works because I want to tell the story of the freedom and space that children used to have. There were no screens. With my works, I want to show the contrast between the past and the present.
Sometimes I also give a direction. About how the landscape is changing due to climate change. Then I want to make it clear to people that something is really happening to our nature. But I don't tell the whole story. Because that only emerges when you see it.
Why art with a story touches you more deeply
We currently live in a world of constant stimulation, speed, and superficiality. Scrolling, watching, clicking. But looking at art is different. Especially looking at a painting with a story. It takes time and tranquility. It also brings tranquility.
A painting with a story stays with you. It raises questions. It makes you quiet. It makes you think. Not just because it is beautiful—but because it triggers something.
My works are often slightly surreal. You recognize the shapes, but something is just not quite right. That makes you think. It probably raises questions. And that is exactly the intention. I can answer the questions and explain what I want to say with the painting. But I think it's very important that the viewer answers them too. That it becomes his or her story.
The image resonates. Not on your retina, but in your memory.
Frequently asked questions from collectors and viewers
1. How do I know if a painting really suits me?
A painting suits you if it feels right. If you can't look away and you want to examine it, if it moves you, if it evokes something in you — then it's right. Art is not a matter of reason. Art is a matter of feeling.
2. What is the difference between an original and a print?
An original breathes. It has texture, layers, depth. You want to touch and feel the painting. You can see the hand of the artist. A painting with layers and textures also casts its own shadow due to the relief. Something that is completely absent in a print.
Prints are reproductions—often very beautiful, of course, but without soul.
They look flat and structureless. Especially when you place an original work of art next to a reproduction of the same work, you can clearly see the difference between the colors and textures.
3. I am not a “real connoisseur”—can I still buy art?
Of course! Art is not elitist. It is precisely those who follow their feelings who choose the right work. You don't have to be an art connoisseur or have studied art history. You just have to be moved. It's about how you feel about a painting. Certainly not about what others say about a work of art.
Do you choose beauty, or meaning with art with a story?
Of course, a painting should be beautiful in your interior. But wouldn't it be much more beautiful if a painting also says something about you?
In this way, a work of art also becomes a conversation starter for everyone who visits your home. Family, friends and even your children can ask questions about your chosen painting and you have a story to tell. A story that helps them get to know you even better.
Art that touches always fits. Not because of the color of your sofa and the curtains - but because it becomes part of your life. And was actually already a hidden part of your life.
And if you buy work that touches you, it will continue to have value. Because it continues to touch you.
Practical tips: how to choose a work that sticks
Take your time. Look, feel. Ask questions if necessary
Ask yourself: what happens to me when I see this?
Does it make me happy. Does it evoke a memory? Does the painting let me dream away?
Imagine: How would my living space feel with this work of art on the wall? If necessary, take a photo of the wall where you would like to hang the painting. And then ask to see the painting digitally on your wall.
Let it sink in for a few days.
Create a place for reflection in your home
Don't just hang a painting 'because there's still room there'. Choose a wall where you walk past or sit still every day. Art has an impact if you give it the space.
Let yourself be guided. I'm happy to tell you the story behind the work. I'm happy to help you place your work of art virtually, so that you can have a preview.
Want to make sure it's an original work? Each of my paintings comes with a certificate of authenticity. And safe transport — worldwide — I personally arrange.
Why people buy my work
Sometimes for the atmosphere. Sometimes as an investment. But mostly because it does something to them.
Art with a story is more than decoration. It is a mirror, a conversation partner, a memory. The paintings of db Waterman invite you to stop and feel.
A man from Paris once bought a work of art with a city in the rain — he said: “This is me. This is my loneliness in a beautiful coat.”
An expat in London chose a painting of a lost landscape. It reminded him of his childhood in the countryside.
People don’t buy my work because it’s trendy. They buy it because they can dream away with it, or because it represents a desire.
My works are created from wonder, concern and nostalgia — and are intended to awaken your memories.
Discover my collection, read the stories behind the works or plan a personal visit to my studio. Search for the work that moves you and tells your story.
What you can do now
Do you want art on your wall that moves you — every day?
Discover my mixed media artworks and see if there are paintings with a story that can touch you.
db Waterman works in a large studio gallery in the Klokgebouw on strijp-S in Eindhoven, This is a former Philips building on the old Philips industrial estate where mainly small start-ups and artists are now located. A beautiful area and a beautiful building to work in.
You can view all available artworks as if you were in a gallery. And at the same time see the production process because it is also a studio.
I like to think along with you about which work best suits your feeling, space and story. Ask me all your questions.And let me know your wishes.
I can also make a work of art on request, adapted to your wishes, provided that it meets my image and work style.
Even if a work of art that suits you completely has already been sold, it is possible to recreate it. Please take into account the fact that it will never be a 100% copy of the previously sold work.
In conclusion
Art with a story is not a luxury. It is a form of coming home.
In a world full of images that you forget as soon as you scroll past them, my mission is to create images that stay with you. That touch you. That become yours.
Let yourself be touched. Discover your story — in my work.
