052: How Consistency Shapes a Meaningful Art Career: The Steady Journey of Realist Artist Rob de Vries

When I first met Dutch realist artist Rob de Vries, I was immediately struck by the quiet steadiness of his approach to art. Nothing about his practice depends on sudden inspiration or dramatic leaps. Instead, his entire career has been built on something far more reliable: a grounded, consistent commitment to his craft.

Rob’s journey began like many artists’ journeys do, drawing as a child, experimenting with different materials, and discovering early sources of fascination. For him, one of those early fascinations was Elvis Presley. As a young boy, he drew Elvis repeatedly, filling sketchbooks with portraits. Those early drawings eventually disappeared into family drawers and cupboards, only to reappear years later when he inherited them after his mother’s passing. The drawings, surviving quietly across decades, became a symbol of continuity in his creative life.

But like many artists, Rob didn’t take a straight path into a professional art career. For years, he stepped away from drawing and painting entirely. There was no internet then, no online courses, no streaming tutorials, just a few books in the library that didn’t quite give him what he needed. He shifted into photography, then into computer graphics for his job, leaving traditional materials behind for a long period.

It wasn’t until much later, when he felt the pull to make something with his hands again, that he returned to drawing. This time, however, he didn’t wait for inspiration. He simply began.

 

Returning to the Work

When Rob speaks about his practice now, there is a refreshing clarity in the way he describes it. He gets up in the morning and starts working. There is no ritualistic search for motivation and no waiting for the “right moment.” He draws Elvis in the morning, he paints his fine art pieces in the afternoon, and he maintains a simple weekly rhythm: posting progress on Monday, admin and online sharing on Wednesday, and finishing his weekly Elvis drawing by Friday, often before it’s even done, someone has already bought it.

Listening to him, you realise that this kind of routine isn’t restrictive; it’s freeing. His consistency creates momentum. His structure gives him ease. The act of showing up each day removes the pressure to feel inspired. As he said during our conversation, “Inspiration comes when you start working.”

So many artists wrestle with discipline, often wondering why their creative process feels scattered or inconsistent. Rob reminds us that those scattered feelings are not a sign of failure, they are a sign that we need structure, not motivation.

 

The Slow Building of Momentum

Rob did not begin with a large following or a built-in audience. He shared his Elvis drawings in a handful of Facebook groups, connected with fans, and slowly built a community around his work. Eventually, collectors began reaching out regularly. A waiting list formed. People around the world now look forward to his weekly Elvis piece, some with a good-natured rivalry over who gets to buy it first.

His fine art followed a similar path. What began as an interest in American photorealism gradually transformed into his now-recognised series, Memories of a Happy Childhood. The objects he paints carry a quiet nostalgia: old toys, childhood shoes, vintage games, chocolate sprinkles from Dutch breakfasts. The work resonates deeply because it is personal, familiar, and honest.

 

Looking at Rob’s journey, it becomes clear that momentum doesn’t appear in dramatic leaps. It gathers over time. It grows through small, steady acts, posting once a week, engaging with people who appreciate your work, teaching a class, accepting an invitation to exhibit, applying to a collective, or joining a community of fellow artists.

Rob’s career today, with its international reach and steady sales, is not the result of one big opportunity but the accumulation of countless small ones.

 

The Gift of Structure

One of the most striking things Rob shared was his deep appreciation for a calm, structured life. He plans his weeks every Sunday. He shifts between drawings and paintings when his energy dips. He works on multiple pieces at once so that he can keep momentum without feeling stuck. There is no glamour in this approach, but there is definitely wisdom in it.

In a world that often feels rushed and chaotic, Rob has built a studio life defined by calm. He enjoys the quiet of working alone. He paints objects that hold stillness and memory. Even his limited colour palette reflects this sensibility, with soft blues and gentle tones, a careful harmony of light and shadow.

It is a reminder that focus isn’t about intensity. It’s about intention. When you create a routine that supports your energy, your creativity begins to unfold naturally.

 

Evidence of Progress

Every artist faces moments of doubt, and Rob is no exception. When those moments come, he turns to something very simple: an Excel sheet listing every artwork he has made and every piece he has sold. The sold works are marked in yellow. On days when he questions his progress, he looks at the long row of yellow cells—evidence of commitment, growth, and connection.

It’s an unpretentious reflection that many artists could benefit from. Often, we forget how far we’ve come. We forget the work we’ve finished, the people we’ve reached, the improvements we’ve made. A record of our progress reminds us that our creative life is bigger than today’s challenges.

 

Your Own Rhythm

You don’t need to adopt Rob’s schedule to experience the same stability. What you need is a rhythm that fits your own life, one that helps you show up with more clarity and less overwhelm.

If you’re looking for a place to begin, I’ve created a free Focused Artist Planner that can help you map out your time and bring more intention into your practice. You can download it at: www.sonjasmalheer.com/planner  It’s a simple tool, but sometimes the simplest tools create the biggest shift.

 

Keep Going

Rob’s journey is proof that your creative life doesn’t need dramatic inspiration or perfect circumstances. It needs presence. It needs repetition. It needs a willingness to begin, even when you don’t feel ready.

Every drawing he made, every painting he completed, every connection he nurtured; all of it has built the life he is living now. Your own small steps have the same potential. Keep going. Keep showing up. The momentum is building, even if you can’t always see it.

 

Make sure to connect and follow Rob on his website & socials: www.robdevries.com and https://elvis-art.com/