Biltstraat 208, Utrecht

Painting for Felix
oil on canvas,
50 x 60 cm
painted on location 2x, (finished in studio from photos)

Private collection, Utrecht

Here you have an example of a comission work. It was rather challenging to give this work a fresh summers look, with a dominant play of light, as both times I went on location, it was anything but a summers day. Very grey on the 1st setting, then on the 2nd attempt, the sun did generously make a 45 minute appearance, however I had to deal with scaffolds(steigers) that were built up covering the whole front and side of the subject. The person who gave me the comission was born and grew up in this house, him and 14 other brothers and sisters. I had only a three week period to complete it, however have promised to paint in some family members, when they could come up with a photo from that time, we are talking approx. 50 years ago. Here you have a picture of the scene and a very early stage of the painting.

Regentesseplein, The Hague #1, Sunny winters day

Monument to Queen Emma, Regentesseplein, Den Haag
oil on canvas mounted on board,
30 x 19 cm
painted on location in 5 settings, 21 Jan 2009 - 6 Feb 2009,

SOLD

Well, here it is, the final product. When you go to my blog, (link at bottom of this posting), and scroll down 4 postings you could see the result of the 1st setting of this painting. An inviting scene, however before you step into it, you better put on a warm coat, because it is bitterly cold. Queen Emma, her head is represented on the bronze medalion just above the statue, is the great grandmother if the present day Queen Beatrix of Holland. (I hope I got that right!) This scene is just around the corner from where I live, figured it is worthy of making a painting of. The old timers and locals of this neighbourhood call this the obelisk, 'de naald', which translates to the needle.

Winter Seascape # 2/2009, Misty and raining

Peaceful flight of two seagulls in the rain
oil on canvas
20 x 40 cm
painted on location, (thus in the rain), Tues 3 Feb. 2009

SOLD

Finally back at the sea! My health is restored, I have enough strength to pull my cart across the wet sands, allowing me to set up my easel just 10 metres from the breaking waves of the modestly agitated North Sea. Here I am, facing, who knows, 45 billion litres of bitterly cold salty water. Beneath the surface one could imagine at least 25 schools, thus thousands of various fishes swirling about, looking for some nourishment, in these hospitable murky waters. And me, almost alone, on this beach, being showered by a multitude of ever so gentle droplets of cold water, that the celestial gases, hovering not so far above me, can't seem to hold onto any longer. Do I mind? Yes I do. But then again, when will I ever get a chance to see those varicoloured subtle hues of that almost magical saturated greenish blue? When else will I get to have almost exclusive reign over this empire of stillness and peacefullness? The rest of the world is cought up worried about a finacial crisis. Me, I worry about, how will I ever get those ephemeral hues of earthly tints of greys on my canvas? Does that make the front page of the local newspaper? No, of course not. But it will make the front pages of your heart, when your eyes just have that need to make contact with something real and true. So really, what matters more, what some finacial expert has to say, or what your very essence craves for? You may not know, but, il pittore does, and in certain aspects, il pittore is out there for you. But then again, if I think about it, really, I'm out there for myself, otherwise my life would be too unbearable.