The farms, mountain landscapes, animals and sprawling alpine meadows that Werner Haertl paints come across as old sepia photographs from a century ago.
But the secret to the special effect of his artworks is that he does not use oil paints or watercolours like any other artist. Mr Haertl uses cow dung instead.
A stable helper by profession, he got the idea of using this surprising material to create art during a shift at work eight years ago. He has been using manure to paint ever since.
"Once, when routinely cleaning a stable, I noticed how well the dung actually clings and sticks to a surface, making it ideal to use as paint."
He initially used clear varnish coats over cow dung to protect his paintings, but later realised that varnish took away the natural feel and uniqueness of the material.
Source: Werner Haertl
Mr Haertl, who lives near Lake Tegernsee in Bavaria, Germany, has refined his technique in recent years and uses only water to dilute fresh manure.
"It bonds to almost all surfaces and is extremely versatile - between glaze and thick, pasty application, the boundaries are fluid, although a little practice is required to get the coarse stuff in the desired position," he explains.
Today his works are exhibited in cafes and galleries of his native Lake Tegernsee.
There's a particular time when he likes to gather the natural paint for his paintings.
It's all about the timing: Collecting cow dung can be tricky. Source: Daniel Salg
"I like to pick up cow dung myself from neighbours and friends," he says. "Ideally, after the cows have been milked, so they are nice and relaxed when they lift their tail, allowing me to collect the dung with my funnel and canister comfortably," he told SBS German.
Image'No, they don't smell.'
But what do his neighbours say about his hobby?
Martina Bittner from the nearby Strobelhof farm recalls the day Mr Haertl called her for the first time to ask about cow dung to paint.
"The idea was really strange. Well, you know, cow dung stinks! So it's pretty special to think that you can paint with it," she chuckles.
But Mr Haertl insists that his paintings don't stink. At least, not after the cow dung has dried.
And his paintings are starting to make waves. He sells them all around Germany and has even sold a few to buyers abroad.
"My customers come from all walks of life," he says.
"Many just want me to paint their home, pet or a family member. But I also get corporate clients who want to stand out from the crowd."
