A red-bellied apple, two ripe pears, a bouquet of white marguerites – a colourful still life painting by Gerard Hendriks decorates the Hahnemühle box filled with 30 watercolour postcards. It is the 9th edition of the postcard box, which is launched annually in a limited edition. The small metal boxes with the changing cover motifs have become a collectors’ item. So, if you want to have your own little treasure chest with Gerard Hendrik´s painting filled with watercolour postcards be quick: we are selling 20,000 boxes worldwide.

Every year we ask a new artist to design the cover of the small metal box. The Dutch artist Gerard Hendriks paints a lot on Hahnemühle papers – such as the watercolour board Andalucia. He was thrilled by our request to paint the motive for the edition´s box 2016/2017. In a short interview he tells us why he also likes to paint in miniature on the 10 x 15 cm postcards (4.0 x 5.9 “) and to whom he would give the tiny box as a present.

How do you like Hahnemühles watercolour postcards in the small metal box?
The box has a nice size and it looks very attractive. The content consists of 30 postcards of a beautiful quality paper for painting. And of course, I am very proud that my watercolour appears on the cover.

In which technique did you paint the motif for the 9th edition of the limited box?
It´s a still life painting with flowers and fruits painted in a light, airy expressionistic style and with vivid colours. In the marguerites the paper white comes into life.

Whom would you give a watercolour postcard box as present?
I have many painter friends who like to use them as an urban sketcher or plein air painter. They can send me a selfmade postcard from all over the world. Everyone can paint the cards first and then use the small metal box as a practical holder for painting utensils. I give my grandchildren a box of watercolour postcards. They are great to teach them to be creative in a playful way.

Peruvian artist Antonio Valiente shows the watercolour postcard box of the 8th edition in his video. Get yourself inspired!