Catamarans Ready to Race, HKZV, South Beach

KustZeilEvenement 2009 # 2, Zuiderstrand, Den Haag
oil on canvas, 40 x 120 cm
painted on location - Sunday 28 June 2009

SOLD

The competitors have been eagerly waiting for this moment. That red and white flag just above the clubhouse will be taken down any moment now, the races are on. What you see depicted on this painting is the last group of cats that are about to join the others already manoeuvreing around the bouys, which form the circuit of this years Coastal Sailing Event. I should have had two easels with me, the cats racing was also a site worthy of painting.

Coast Sail Compition 2009, HKZV, The Hague

KustZeilEvenement 2009, HKZV, Den Haag
oil on canvas, 40 x 120 cm
painted on location, Saturday 27 June 2009

Private Colection, The Hague
Donated for charity, Right To Play


Not your usual catamaran clubhouse paintng. There were about 80 vessels spread out on the beach at the clubhouse this weekend. It was am amazing sight to see. The light was very defused, with mist and fog making it not possible for the races to begin. For me it was a bit of a blessing, as the cats stayed on the beach with their sails out, ready to go. As is evident in the painting, vissibilty at sea was zero. This is the 1st of 2 paintings made at this event.

Strandpaviljoen 'De Fuut', Zuidstrand, Den Haag

Beach pavilion 'The Grebe', South Beach, The Hague
oil on canvas, 60 x 80 cm
painted on location, Tuesday evening 23 June 2009 
SOLD

Fresh back from a week of intensive painting, with some of the finest plien-air painters in Europe, I decided to confront the high winds and bitter cold, coming off the North Sea (it's June, I can't believe it!), and knock off this beach scene after a 3 day abscence from my beloved "cavaletto",( Italian word for painters easel). This cafe is located next to the Catamaran Clubhouse, which I have often painted. Probably the most colorful of all the pavilions on this strip of beach. Why I haven't painted it up to now I have no clue. I really enjoyed getting all those details in, even though they are very loosely handeled. Hey, I'm a painter not an illustrator, thus moving a brush around, loaded with fresh oil paint, on a piece of canvas, is not only my craft, but becomes my way of communicating with you the viewer. I'm telling you a story of a nice situation, here, on this spot of the planet, and if I didn't do it, it would not have got done. And that my dear friends gives me a rewarding feeling.

Sunset at Noordwijk Aan Zee, with cloudy sky.

A peacefull moment at The North Sea
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Monday 15 June 2009

SOLD
private collection, Holland

I am just back from the Noordwijk painters festival, which began on Monday the 15th and ended on Sunday the 21st of June. This was the 2nd of 23 paintings I made in just 6 days! The variation of cool and warm greys in both the sky and water, plus the warm tones of light casted by the setting sun forcing its way through the mass of thick distant clouds, made it irresistable to paint. As is shown by the attached photo, this painting was picked up by some attentive person who placed in a high enough bid, at the auction which was administered by Sotheby's Amsterdam, on the last day of the festival.

In action!

Path from the North Sea, #1 2009

Beach entrance/strandslag # 10, Early evening
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location, Sunday 7 June 2009(finished in studio Thurs 11 June)
SOLD

It has been raining quite alot these days here in Holland. Suddenly, while everything was still very wet, the clouds burst open and wow, the clearest of blue skies and a blinding light. Il pittore wasted no time, within 20 minutes I was sitting up my painting gear on the beach. What interested me most was the effect the now warm light created on the dunes, and more specifically on that newly installed wooden fence. ( Which if you go back 4 postings, 2nd June, on my blog, you will see the effect of the morning light on this very same fence.) It's getting late, just after 8.30pm, time to retire for that little girl.

La Charite sur Loire, France

View from west side of de Loire river.
oil on canvas
50 x 60 cm
painted on location, Thursday 28 May 2009
SOLD

The 7th and final canvas made on my five day sojourn on the France painting trip. This picturesque quaint city came as a surprise with its mix of various colored and shaped roof tops. With the cathedral rising high above the other structures, resting proudly on its designated hill top, this scene was crying out to be painted. The well lit overcast sky made for a dramatic and intriguing backdrop, thus enhancing the river, bridge and buildings.

Anna Maria IV, Menetreol-sous-Sancerre, France

A sunny day on the Loire Canal, France
oil on canvas
30 x 90 cm
painted on location, 26/27 june 2009

SOLD

Along with 11 other plein air painters, I was a participant on a week long painting trip sponsored by Old-Holland Classic Oil Colors, a company that has been producing high quality oils for artists since 1664. This was our 2nd port-of-call, a quaint village, just under Sancerre, which some of you may know, as it is renowned for the famous Sancerre and Poully Fume wine. Two of the best white wines produced in France. I was inspired to make this portrait of the vessel it took place on. Something about the color scheme, that drew my attention. The pale blue of the Anna Maria against the endless orchestration of warm hues of the village, called out to me and my palette. It is mid afternoon, everyone is out painting, the couple that run the boat are taking a rest in that room were the curtains are drawn. Usually this vessel is hired for bike tours, that explains why there are so many fastened on the top. Featured in the close up below is the city hall, in French it is called the "Mairie".

A beautiful day in Leiden.

Op terras aan de Lange Mare, Leiden
oil on canvas
70 x 100 cm
painted on location in 10 sessions,(25 April - 01 June 2009)

private collection, Leiden, Holland

Will here it is, the Leiden commission, finally! Some paintings just take a little longer to make, especially when one has to work more or less in the same lighting conditions. I'm going to miss this location, as it turned out I became rather fond of the place. Friendly people, mostly university students, approached me, one dweller generously offering me coffee on a few occasions. This has to be one of the most picturesque places in all of Holland, just check out that cupola, engulfed by all those slightly tilted 16th century Dutch regal homes. Details have been minimalizing in this somewhat complicated compisition, however enough has been included to liven up this lazy hot Sunday afternoon. For you the viewer three close ups to get a good look.

Path to fun and adventure, on the North Sea

Beach entrance (Strandslag) # 10, South Beach, The Hague.
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location, Sunday 31 may 2009

SOLD

Fresh back from a week long painting trip in France along the Le Loire Canal/River, were I produced 7 paintings which will soon be posted. It was a great experience, to be painting next to some of the top plien air painters from Holland and Germany. Early Sunday morning I took advantage of this interesting play of light, on my way to a favorite painting location. Down the path to the left, one finds the Catamaran sailing club, which is the hottest spot to paint on this beach. The shadow cast by the dunes on the newly constructed fence, and the shadows on the path, made this a must paint situation.