A touch of France in Dordrecht

Street musicians, summer 2008
oil on canvas
40 x 30 cm
painted on location, Sat 16 Aug 2008

SOLD

Picture yourself in southern France, in a small hillside village, it's early in the evening, a comfortable warm breeze refreshing your skin, a cloudless king's blue light(koningsblau licht) colored sky, a glass of cool chardenney and some cheeses and bread on the table. Ahh the memories of that lovely summer vaction. Now here you are, back at home, working in the office. Outside it is grey and very green, clouds everywhere. That never ending wall of clouds, blocking that vital sunlight that wants nothing else but to sustain life and make you feel warm and happy. Yes friends welcome back to life in The Lowlands. This painting was made in Dordrecht, but as I had just returned from a 10 day stay in Italy, and was about to set off for southern Spain, I guess I was in a Mediterranean mood when this scene inspired me to paint it.

De Mark, Breda (Ginneken), Nature reserve

Nature reserve, de Mark, Breda, Holland
oil on canvas
40 x 120 cm
painted on location - Sunday, 17 Aug 2008

destroyed (painted over)

Although I like painting the sea, once in a while it is good to go inland, and paint the gentle flat nature scenes, like this one for example. The sky was very active, with sun breaking through the swiftly moving voluminous water bearing clouds. And yes indeed, I got caught in the rain! I saw it coming, but I just had to give it some final touches. Actually am glad that it did pour down, otherwise I would have lost the freshness and spontaniety of this painting. You know it is said that a work or art is never complete, it just stops at an interesting place. I am rather satisfied were this work ended, thus am sharing it with you.

Het Dordste Schefferplein #2

Scheffers Square, Dordrecht,#2
oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm
painted on location, Saturday 16 August 2008

SOLD

Here I am back in Dordrecht, were I am participating with a couple of other plein - air painters in this local art manifestation. Again I chose to paint the staute which has been erected in honor of one of this cities most famous citizens, the 17th century artist, Ary Scheffer. Interesting in this scene is the size difference between the statue of the painter, as compared to the small female ceramic artist. This was done with intention, as I value the painter much more than the ceramic artisan.

Ponte Rialto, Venezia # 2

The most beautiful city in the world

oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location 27 july 2007
Reworked in studio 14 aug 2008

SOLD

The weather here in Holland has been somewhat to hostile for a plein-air painter. High winds, raining on and off most of the day, grey cloudy skies. Guess my recent visit to Italy awoken my senses to the estetic beauty of that land. Last summer I found myself in Venice, with an art colleague, to visit the Biennalle, made 2 oils and a watercolor. This was the 2nd oil painting which has been shelfed for most of the time. I feel I have done justice to it, and now I wish to share it with you all.

Beach entrance, Terracina, Italy

Path to the Sea, Made in Italy
watercolour on 200g/m Fabriano watercolour pad (rough)
18 x 12 cm  -  2 August 2008


Welcoming you to this sun laiden beach on the Medeterrainean Sea, at Terracina, approx. 150 klm. N of Naples is this conveniently shaded path. I was a guest at my cousin Claudia's seaside residence. There are homes aligned along both sides of this road for about 100 meters. I was inspired to create this scene, because of the exotic flaura casting this welcomed shade, which contrasts with the area lit up by the sun. Still early, not too crowded, two childern in the water, a sailboat heading out, summer is in full swing.