Inspired by nature and imagination, Claerhout creates carefully constructed compositions where animals take center stage—fully at home in their habitat, yet carrying a quiet mystery. Each work begins with sketches and studies, evolving into scenes that feel both familiar and otherworldly, somewhere between memory and imagination. She paints in oils with expressive, textured brushstrokes to enhance depth and movement. Light and shadow are not just contrasts but shape the atmosphere, creating a space where darkness allows light to emerge as a magical, almost living presence.