Regentesse Plien, Den Haag (The Hague)

Pastel/Charcoal on brown paper
24 x 60 cm
painted on location, Nov 2007
SOLD

A scene from the neighborhood I live in. This time of year is rather difficult for me to get out and make paintings on location, so rather than not post anything I've decided to show a selection of plien - air works from the past. Here you have an early evening view of this monument dedicated to the Grand Mother of the present day Queen of Holland. Bicycles are very common in this country, thus the rider shown here is more than likely making his way home to a warm meal, after a day at the office.

Cozy Cafe Scene # 1

soft pastel on sand paper
25 x 30 cm
made on location, Thurs 6 Dec 2007

SOLD


The Dutch have a beautiful sounding word for cozy, and that is gezellig. Outside it is raining, has been pretty will everyday, since the last two weeks. Starting to get depressing for an outdoor painter such as myself. Don't like and refuse to work from pictures. The solution? Get warm and comfortable in a cafe that has a welcoming atmosphere. Just like that group, sitting around that table. The location is, Cafe The Wijnhaven in Delft.
I've been thinking about what subject to paint on these dull Benelux winter days. Doing cafe interiors has crossed my mind. So when a colleague, Albert Dolmans, suggested that we meet for a coffee and chat in Delft, I accepted. He took along his sketch pad, I took my pastels. I'm grateful that he did, otherwise this work would not have happened.
By the way, to clarify materials used, pastel sand paper, is a very grainy type thick carton paper, it is made specially for soft pastel. Expensive but worth it, as it permanently keeps the pigments from the pastel on the surface of the support.