I always have wanted to build worlds. Worlds full of wonder, fantasy settings, dark woods with dangerous creatures, grass plains with mysterious standing stones, cozy inns where fragrant tea is served with a bit of buttered bread and of course worlds inhabited by animals.
I love drawing animals. They are by far my favourite topic to draw. That is because I have loved animals since I was a child, and although being allergic to most pets, I had loads of stuffed plush toys. I always imagined them to become alive when I was sleeping, I always thought they would have great adventures when I was away. Sometimes I still want to believe that.
I want to believe there is a world somewhere, where mice, birds and other small mammals have adventures. A world where small creatures ride large furry friends: a squirrel with a badger steed or a weasel riding a pine marten. A world where there are treasures to be found, where there is danger if you venture too deep into the ruins of the old world that once was. A world where the traces of magic still linger.
I also want it to be a place where warmth, friendship and cozyness can be found. A friend helping out, hot soup served in an underground burrow, a sleeping bag next to a small campfire. Those are the things I love.
So I invented the Faraway Ruins. A beautiful, but sometimes quite dangerous place. The Ruins are the remains of a lost civilisation. Animals explore the forests and grasslands, the first settlers have made it their home. Treasures, magic and artefacts can be found if you search well. Bravery is rewarded and friendship can be found in the darkest places.
There were loads of things that inspired this world: other artists, books, board games and videogames. If I have to name a few:
Artist inspiration: Andrew Bosley, Aaron Blaise and Lily Seika Jones. Their animal art is just fantastic and has been an inspiration for me for years now.
Book inspiration: of course I have to say Red Wall. Although I only read the first book, I really loved the vibe and kind of cozyness it had. The classic Watership Down also inspired me to make a whole unique animal civilisation. Next to that, the Hobbit is one of my favorite books, and some Hobbit-and-Shire-vibes can be found in my world.
Board games: Definitely Everdell. I have the art book (with all illustrations from Andrew Bosley), but I like the game as well. Also the digital board game Armello, which has a bit more dark vibes and quite serious looking animals, but I like a bit of that too in my own world. 
Video games: weirdly enough my favorite game is not a cozy game, although it somehow always makes me feel cozy. It is called The Flame in the Flood, and it is a rogue survival game where you go with your dog on a river rafting adventure. I like the part that you always travel, searching for food and items to move on, avoiding crows and wolfs and sheltering from the rain. I am definitly not good at this game, but I love the whole vibe. For me, post-apocalyptic settings, offer an opportunity to make a small, warm scene that contrasts with the environment and makes it even more cozy.
The world, the animals, the lore: everthing I write and imagine for the Faraway Ruins is bit by bit revealed through my monthly snail mail club, with illustrations, crafts and a short story. And from September 2026 onwards, I am even adding little extra's that make the whole experience even more immersive.
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