Van der Wal was born in March 1946 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. His interest in painting developed at a very young age. In fact, he almost immediately gravitated towards the field of oil painting and began exploring the freedom of color infusion and texture allowed in its properties. Van der Wal is known for his perfectionist drive when creating strikingly realistic portrayals of still life. Immense clarity and the delicate spirit of romanticism mark each work he completes. His work conveys the same realism of the beloved Northern European Baroque masters. There is harmony found in each composition, which he achieves through the carefully designed placement of detailed subjects. In each still life, there is a devout attention to the color palette, as well as exquisite light and shadow.