Beach Cafe scene, North Zee

Op terras bij strandpavilijon 'De Kust', Wijk Aan Zee
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Tues 24 May 2011


Well here I am back on the coast, and let me tell you,...what a windy coast line it has been, here in The Lowlands! Finding myself at Wijk Aan Zee as a participant of the annual painters festival,"Ezels&Kwasten", this is the 1st of 7 paintings made in 4 days! The light was fantastic and as you can see plays a major role in the formation of this colorful terrace scene. Proteced by those glass panels, guests of the cafe and myself were able to enjoy the fresh sea air, without being hendered by the wind. If you look at the red banner flag, just behind the glass panel, (extreme right side of painting), you will get an indication of the force of the wind.

Here below you have the scene of the continuation of this terrace. Painted a couple of days later, with more or less the same windy atmospheric conditions. This painting was sold within a matter of hours, to a local couple who frequent this cafe, and usually occupy this corner table of the terrace, while having drinks.
(Just a reminder....by klicking on the paintings,You can have a more detailed look at them.)

Den Bosch, On a sunny day

Gezicht op Lepelstraat, Den Bosch
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Sat. 21 May 2011


Last week I participated in a plein air painters festival in this well maintained old city, here in the Lowlands. Normally this scene would be not interesting to paint, but with the high contrasts afforded by the shadows, thanks to the sunlight, it becomes a feast for the painters eyes. I cleverly sit up under a parasol, thus on the shadey side. Only problem was, the terrace was going to open up to the public in 1hr and 20 minutes! I took the challenge, and don't know what you think, but I am pleased with the result. (tip..... never start painting on a completely white canvas, this canvas already had the dark background)

St. Joris Café, The Hague, (Postcard size #1)

Cafe Sint Joris, Den Haag, Kleine
oil on wood panel
10 x 15 cm
painted on location - Wed 11 May 2011


Just keeping busy with small format city scenery, prepairing myself for a plein air painting festival in Den Bosch starting today, until next Sunday 22 May. The theme of this festival will be City life, and what better way to pass away a good time with friends than sitting at a quaint terrace with a cold pint of your favorie brew.

Pulling the Cat to Sea, South Beach, DH, #2/2011

Naar zee met 't 'Cat'
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Sunday 8 May 2011  SOLD

The day is off to a fabulous start. Just enough wind to make these two sailors effort of towing their cat worthwhile! Me, I'm more concerned about the light, thus getting on location well before the Sun reaches its zeinth, is vital, otherwise all those nice colours and shadows will get far too illuminated.

Path to the Sea, Westduinpark, The Hague

Nieuwe Pad naar Zee, Westduinpark, DH
oil on canvas - 60 x 90 cm
Fri 29 April and Sun 01 May 2011

painted over, no longer exists

What a difference a day makes! If you look at the painting on the bottom of this post, you will see just what I am talking about! Today, I present to you a repainting of the same scene, as depicted on the bottom picture, (which btw was paintied on 29 July 2010). Something about that painting made last summer, just didn't sit right with me. I finally decided to re-work it, opting for a more serene situation of the same view. Thus no clouds, and less growth in the flora, to calm things down. The municipality has taken away one of the paths, allowing for nature to fill in vacant space. Incidentally, this path leads to the sailing club and the strecht of beach that I so often paint.

Sailing Clubhouse, The Hague #1/2011

't Catamaran, Zuiderstrand, Den Haag, 1/2011
oil on canvas, 50 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sat 23 April 2011 
SOLD

With the great weather we have been having lately, the new season is off to an early start here at South Beach. A well groomed beach, looks orderly, clean and most importantly, spacious. It is still early as I set up for this painting. The morning moisture is evaporting, with the heat and Sunlight, a Sea vapor predominates the atmosphere. It is going to be a busy day on the beach, and here at the clubhouse, gearing up for the seasons 1st race.