Pilot
29 september 2025
'Pilot' was no ordinary chimpanzee.
With his old aviator's helmet, jacket, and goggles, he dreamed of crossing the horizon, not as a passenger, but as the pilot of his own hot air balloon.
The villagers laughed at him: 'A monkey can't fly.'
But Pilot merely smiled.
Every evening he sat by the river, gazing at the sky as the setting sun painted his face orange.
He imagined what it would be like to soar above the clouds, past the stars and moon, free from the earth.
His eyes would shine like liquid amber—the eyes of a dreamer who knew his time would come.
For years he had been collecting and building parts, until one evening his balloon found the strength to take off.
As the sun set, he slowly rose, higher and higher, toward the clouds.
And so Pilot became a legend—not because he flew, but because he dared to dream.
Pilot
25 x 25 cm
Oil on panel
Available
* Private Collection The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Mister Chimp's Magical Mini
3 September 2025
When I make a painting, a story often arises in my head while I am painting.
Sometimes viewers see something different in it, and that's totally fine.
Anyway, this is my (extensive) story behind this painting ‘Mister Chimp's Magical Mini'.
In a forgotten barn, far from civilization, sat an old, rusty Mini Cooper.
But this was no ordinary car, and this barn was no ordinary place.
This was the refuge of Mister Chimp, an eccentric chimpanzee with a top hat, always stylishly dressed, and a passion for magic.
Every evening, when the last sunlight fell just through a crack in the barn, the Mini came to life.
Not as a vehicle, but as a magical meeting place for a diverse collection of creatures from around the world—and perhaps even beyond.
On the left side of the car leaned Milo, a timid goat with a heart of gold and always a straw in his mouth.
He was the protector of the group and could fix just about anything you could imagine.
Beside him sat Ophelia the Owl, a wise bird with a bottle of magical potion on her chest.
In her headdress, you could make out the shape of a bat. She rarely spoke, but when she did, even the stars were silent.
On top of the car lay Bengal, a white tiger cub with blue eyes who could freeze anything she touched—except hearts, which she thawed.
On the hood of the car sat Jax, her little brother, always curious and playful, and always accompanied by John the cheerful, drumming prairie dog.
Then there was Pixie the sun conure, who had the ability to speak any language—human, animal, or magical.
She gave advice like an oracle with wings.
Balancing on Mister Chimp's scepter was a Titicaca frog.
No one knew where he came from or what his name was.
He never spoke, but always appeared exactly when he was needed.
The Mini itself was once owned by a forgotten wizard.
Mister Chimp had rediscovered it, patched it up (magically, that is), and ever since, it had been a portal to other worlds.
One day, so the animals in the forest whisper, the Mini will start again.
Its engine will roar like a dragon, and Mister Chimp will get behind the wheel, with his magical crew on board.
Where are they going?
Nobody knows exactly.
But one thing is certain: anyone who ever comes face to face with Mister Chimp's Magical Mini Cooper will never forget it.
Mister Chimp's Magical Mini
27 x 40 cm
Oil on panel
* Private Collection Portugal 🇵🇹
Goodbye Social Media
22 August 2025
This time a different message than usual.
You may have already noticed that you no longer find new posts from me on social media such as Facebook and Instagram.
The main reasons are:
- The changed algorithms of social media, that mean followers only see 5 to 10% of the posts from the accounts they follow.
- Facebook and Instagram train their artificial intelligence models with photos of artworks (but also with your everyday photos...). I don't want to contribute to this.
- The platforms encourage rapid consumption: scrolling, liking, passing on. Art, which often requires slowness and attention, disappears in this context.
- Social media reduces the quality of photos (compression), resulting in artworks being displayed in low quality.
- Hashtags have no function anymore.
- The algorithm often favors short videos (Reels) and commercial content over slow, visual art.
- …
Adding up everything above, it seems much better to put my energy into art, maintaining my website, and maintaining contact with collectors of my work.
To stay informed about new work, it is best to keep an eye on my website.
But even better, sign up for the newsletter!
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Happy Landing
2 August 2025
‘Happy Landing’ means a successful arrival or landing, but also, by extension, a successful outcome.
This painting tells the story of animals landing with a 'parachute' on a soft bed of roses.
The dark background makes the colours of the subject stand out and make them pop forward.
Each animal also shows its own expression and character, which is why they acquire human traits.
There are clumsy, curious and also tough figures to be seen.
As always, there are humorous and surreal elements, such as the shape of the parachutes I transformed into petits fours, the Leica camera, the first-aid dragonfly with a doctor's bag...
Happy Landing
41 x 61 cm
Oil on panel
* Private Collection Belgium 🇧🇪
Summertime
17 June 2025
This summery set features a 'hippopotamus' on a vintage Vespa.
Loaded with fresh fruit and a parrot on his shoulder, he heads home.
The details such as the summery sunglasses, the heart tattoo, the grape bracelet, and the Batman emblem on the singlet give the whole artwork an extra twist.
Summery, warm, funny and a holiday feeling is what I wanted to create with 'Summertime'.
Summertime
25 x 25 cm
Oil on panel
* Private Collection The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Bed & Breakfast
4 June 2025
A tulip that functions as a Bed & Breakfast, this is the idea behind this painting.
This way you can see the newly awakened and still yawning hamsters as guests in this soft yellow double tulip.
A cup of coffee and breakfast are brought to these guests just in time, because don't forget, tulips close in the evening to protect their precious pollen.
These smart flowers respond to temperature and light.
Bed & Breakfast
25 x 25 cm
Oil on panel
* Private Collection United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Want to own a painting?
⎯ Are you interested in a specific painting? Please contact me.
Within Belgium and the Netherlands, I usually take care of the transport of
the paintings myself, or the gallery.
Worldwide shipping is done by a professional partner in art transport.
All-risk insurance is standard with the (possible) shipment of your painting, so that your new painting
will arrive without any worries.
Prefer to pick up the painting yourself?
That is also possible, coffee is ready.
Paintings from Singapore to Dubai.
⎯ You're in good company, the Wim Bals paintings are spread around the world
collected by private owners as well as companies. Would you like to expand your art collection or maybe
it's your first art purchase?
If you buy a painting of me then you know that I only make one unique copy of each painting and that
there are no reproductions on the market.
That makes the artwork even more exclusive.
You can always contact me by e-mail
or phone about the availability and price of one or more
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