Lemmer Inner Harbor, Winter Scene

Binnen Haven, Lemmer, Friesland
oil on canvas
60 x 70 cm
painted on location - Wed. 23 Feb 2011

donated to Canadian Fund raising charity, Oct 2015

Whilst visiting with friends and art collectors living in this quaint village in Friesland, I managed to find the time to make this painting, on one hell of a cold winters day! A few hours after this painting was finished, there lay about 4cm of fresh moist snow on the ground. Although there are a few modern buildings in this village centre, it still retains a charm of the original architecture, thus making it a popular toutist attraction, in the summer season.

Van Oord in action, South Beach, Netherlands

Gezicht op 'de zandmotor', Zuiderstrand, DH, bij Strandsnslag #10
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Wed 16 Feb. and Thurs 17 Feb. 2011


SOLD


Not usually my choice of subject matter, but like all the other curious people passing by, il pittores interest for what was going on, was enough to inspire the making of this painting. A scene which is hardly ever visible, as these are once in a lifetime type of projects. Well, for better or for worse, I tackled the scene at hand. What might be of interest for you the viewer of this work to know is exactly what's going on here! You see that ship, not far away, it is actually discharging tons and tons of sand mixed with water, via that object attached on the front of the ship. This sand and water is then transported by a series of complex pumps, tubes, plastic and metal I imagine. This sand finally gets discharged on the beach. You can see it, gushing(flowing) out of a large iron tube, which is just behind the bull dozer featured on the beach. Thus all that water and sand which is being used to widen the beach, is stemming from that ship! The ship has just sucked all that sand from the bottom of the sea about 6 or 7 kilometers away from the shore. The thousands of seagulls are having a feast, because of course all sorts of delicious sea life is mixed up in the sand/water. By the way, Van Oord is the name of one of the companies that is carrying out this complex operation.

Panoramic Sea scape with working Ship

Winters zeegezicht
oil on canvas, 30 x 150
painted on location - Thurs 3 Feb 2011
SOLD

Painted the day before the storm arrived here in Holland. We have had four days of very high winds, and life threatening conditions at sea.

!

Winter Canal Scene, Den Bosch

Gezicht op Brede Haven, s'-Hertogenbosch
oil on canvas
40 x 60 cm
painted on location - Tues 01 Feb 2011
SOLD

Indeed a most picturesque corner of this outstanding medieval city. Joining 4 other plein - air painters I/we had a fine day in the citys center. This scene is so pretty that it even withstands the sombre Benelux greys, and still manages to inspire il pittore to give it a go!

Cold Sea mist with snow, South Beach

Koude Zee mist met sneeuwe, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas
30 x 80 cm
painted on location - Sat 29 Jan 2011


This painting was made on the same session, directly after the painting of the previous posting. Thus by the time this work was complete, my bones were chilled! Here is a little poem that I find works well with this image.

Just stepping out to get some air
That is not the wind beneath my feet
Just a breeze so crispy and sweet

Fresh air is all I ask
A moment alone is all I need.

This beach offers just the remedy, for those moments when one needs to be alone.