View from Ary Scheffers square, Dordrecht

Gezicht vanaf Scheffersplein, Dordrecht
oil on canvas
18 x 24 cm
painted on location - Sunday 26 July 2009

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On the same day that I painted the last posting, I also made this charming little piece. Just what makes it charming, I really can't explain it, and I believe therein lies the answer, not being able to exlpain it. I was sit up on the left side of the bridge you see depicted on the previous posting.

View from South Beach, The Hague, #7/09

The warm glow of the setting sun
oil on canvas
50 x 70 cm
painted on location - Friday 24 July 2009

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We have been having a lot of windy days here lately in The Lowlands. I makes for lovely cloud formations, and with the added warm hues from the sun, just a great combination to paint. I had to find myself a spot out of the wind, otherwise the canvas would have certainly taken flight. Depicted here is the entrance to the inner harbor at Scheveningen.

Panoramic view of The North Sea

"The brilliance of the silvery wave"
oil on canvas, 20 x 140 cm
painted on location - Saturday 18 July 2009
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Back to a theme which most sea lovers, love, to admire, The Sea. Going to use a quote, on this subject, by the great French painter, Odilon Redon (1840 - 1916), written July 3rd 1875;

You hear it nearby and it attracts you. The sea is here, magnificent, imposing and superb with its obstinate clamor. Imperious and terrible clamor, it makes strange remarks. The voices of the infinite are before you. Nothing of human life. On the horizon not a vessel. Here, the immense beach, undefined, of which the edges are mingling with the sea itself, with the day and the light, with the moving brilliance of the silvery wave.
Painters, go look at the sea. There you will see the marvels of color and light, the sparkling sky. You will feel the poetry of the sands, the charms of the air, of the imperceptible hue. You will return from there stronger and full of great accents.
Poets, go and see this beach. You will have to sing the mystery of infinity. On these shores you will discover intense solitude.
Musicians go listen to its harmony. All of you, finally, who are tired of wordly life, all of you who are oppressed by the weight of days, all of you who work unceasingly in the womb of our miseries, all you men of the fields and humble people-go and breathe in the strength and faith of fertile nature, our mother and friend.

What can you say to that?..., but that he knows exactly what he is taking about.

Again a close up for your viewing pleasure.

Beach pavilion South, S. Beach, The Hague

Strandpavilijoen Zuid, Den Haag
oil on canvas, 30 x 85 cm
painted on location - Thurs 16 July 2009
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Yes folks, it's summer in the city, and this is one of the best places to be. A cool breeze, coming off the salty scented sea, water is fresh and healthy, resaonably warmed up by the suns gratuitous heat. And isn't that what lounging on the beach is all about, heat and comfort? Just like that couple on the forground of this painting, are enjoying each others company and a light dinner (it is 7pm), il pittore, is on location sharing this strech of beach with you, in this virtual manner. I've had this painting on my mind for sometime now, quite often I'm sit up somewhere next to that beach house, painting the views it has to offer. Guess how many people are shown on this painting and I'll give you 10% off the asking price!

View of South Beach, The Hague, #6/09

Windy yet sunny day at the beach
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sat 11 July 2009

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Kite surfers love these conditions, as you can see on the horizon, the beach at Scheveningen is just loaded with them. The sand on the painting is prove that I do make these paintings on location, luckily most of it will come off, once the paint is dry. Again so that you may have a close look at the details, a couple of close ups, for your veiwing pleasure.

View of Scheveningen from The beach at Katwijk.

High winds at Katwijk Beach
oil n canvas
50 x 70 cm
oil on canvas
painted on location - Thurs 9 July 2009

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Decided to go visit some plein-air friends who are participating on the Katwijk Schildersweek. While their I set myself up on this most extreme windy beach, (thank God I have a parasol of more than 2 meters diameter, which I attached to a pole, thus protecting the painting/easel). As you can see on the last 2 paintings we have been having these wild cloudy skies, which are great to paint, but not really what one wants on a summers day! The water was also fun to paint, with almost everytone of Benelux grey possible. A close up for your viewing pleasure.

The Oude Mare Bridge, Leiden

Gezicht van de Oude Vest, Leiden
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Monday 6 July 2009

Back in Leiden, with my Italian/American friend Mariano Zucchi, who had a two day stop over en route to Croatia. Here I am revisiting a wonderfull picturesque location. This time the cupola plays a minor yet significant role in blogging off the scene and helps define the lighting situation.

The end of a lovely summers day, at the beach

View of South Beach, The Hague, # 5 2009
oil on canvas
30 x 130 cm
painted on location, Thurs 2/Sat 4 July 2009
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Just a great situation for me to paint near the cool waters edge, on these steamy hot summer days. Included in this scene is the entrance to the 2nd inner harbour, the Pier, and lighthouse of Scheveningen. Closer up you have the beach pavillions staring with, La Cantina in the distance, then Zuid, followed by South Beach, next to that, the Life guard hut (reddingsbirgade), then the well known, Catamaran Clubhouse (HDZV), closing off with the colorfull stairs leading to De Fuut. Not an easy painting for me to take a quality picture of, thus I have attached 2 close ups for your viewing pleasure.