Sunday 29 June 2008

View of the dunes, with wild horses.


View from Zwolsestraat 259, Scheveningen

oil on canvas
40 x 120 cm
painted on location - 26/27/28/29 june 2008

Private collection, Den Haag
SOLD

Mr. and Mrs Johansson had no doubt that they had a most beautiful view from their living room. As they are about to give up this house and go live elsewhere, they certainly did not want to leave this view behind. So, they commissioned me to bring it to their new home, streched out on a piece of canvas, 40 x 120. You don't notice it on the computer screne, however this painting is comfortably a large size. It took some crafty manoeuvres to bring about a sense of depth in this painting, and getting those pretty horses in the right perspective was challenging, however I believe I did ok. I'm including a detail of the view, in this posting.

Tuesday 24 June 2008

Path in the dunes, Westduinpark # 12/08


Path in the dunes, under windy conditions
oil on canvas, 30 x 90 cm
painted on location, 23/24 June 2008

SOLD

Again one of the best views you will get here on the coast in Holland. The play of light has a rather pleasant effect on the colors of the sea. On the most valuble advise of the famous Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh, I limited myself to a warm hue on the vegetation and forground of this art work. It was great to be back on my own turf after an intense week in Noordwijk.

Monday 23 June 2008

The burnt pole



Path to the Sea, (near Noordwijk Aan Zee)
oil on canvas
30 x 60 cm
painted on location, Tues. 17 june 2008

SOLD
private collection, Noordwijk, Holland.

As some of you know, I was a participant of the Noordwijkschildersfestifal, a painters festival held once a year, in Noordwijk, Holland. This is a well known Sea resort here in The Lowlands. I've choosen to blog this piece, as I feel it is most likely, the best work I made, during this week long festival. I made 17 paintings in 5 days, sold all but one. This work has a great sense of depth, the colors blend in harmoniously, and the shadows on the sand are a welcome contrast to the bright light, created by the warm sunlight bathing the whole scene.

Sunday 15 June 2008

Path in the dunes, Westduinpark # 11/08


Path in the dunes, leading to the North Sea,(summer look)
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm

SOLD

Back to my favorite theme of this year. And actually back to a location which I've painted already for the 3rd time. Yet with the changing of the season one could, on close observation, notice many differences. To begin with the light is not as clear and sharp as the early versions. This has an enormous affect on the color of the sea, for example that turquoise color is unusual, but at this time of year, it happens, ( mind you for only seconds at a time). Then the vegetation is fuller and those cadium yellow spots are representing those lovely wild flowers which grow abundantly, in the our much valued natural dunes. I'm off to Noordwijk tommorrow, to attend the painters festival, (schildersfestival), which will last the whole week. It is a great event for me, I stay there the whole week, and paint at least 3 paintings per day. Wish me luck, thanks.

Tuesday 10 June 2008

2nd Harbor Scheveningen, Early morning


Scheveningen Harbor with mist lifting
oil on canvas
60 x 60 cm
painted on location, Mon 2nd - Mon 9th June 2008

SOLD

If you were to go down to the harbor at 6am in the morning, in the summer, on a cloudy morning, with mist, this is more than likely what you would see. Don't worry, you don't have to get out of your comfortable bed to enjoy this view, as I have taken the trouble to do that for you. With hardly any wind, the boats and yachts being fastly moored, not yet making there way out to sea, thus the water is almost comletely still. This was a difficult composition to work out. The art of leaving out, (kunst van weg laten), plays a major role on this canvas. I positioned myself on a location which affords the eye a great sense of depth. It took about 45 minutes to find that spot. I'm in the habit of starting and finishing a painting in one go, in this occasion, not a chance. With all those details to work out, and remember, although tied to there moorings the vessels are always slightly in motion.