Monday 29 August 2011

A Calming Sea view with yellow bouy


Rustgevend zee met gele boui
oil on canvas
20 x 140 cm
painted on location - Thurs 25 August 2011



You come home from a rough day at the office. You battle your way through heavy traffic on the motorway. You turn on the tube, and all you see is violence and mostly disturbing situations. What the hell, is it all coming to, you ask......Well, the good news is, there is still hope, there is still sanity, if all you will do, is look for it...... Il pittore makes it his business to look for it. But not only that..... to record it and to bring it into your home, is what il pittores mission in life has proven to be. Is there some value in this? I certainly think so, and if only you will allow yourself the luxury of re-experiencing that perfect moment, in time and space, that il pittore experienced, on location, with his paints and canvas, you might find that your own being would benefit from his efforts.



Thursday 25 August 2011

A very pretty Dutch boat, Markdal, Breda


Eve pauze, aan de water, Markdal, Ginneken, Breda
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Sun. 21 Aug 2011

SOLD

Here we are, back in Holland! The scene depicted is of a very pretty Dutch boat, secured on the banks of an iner city water-way, part of the nature reserve, Markdal near Breda. I was invited to paint, along with others, as part of Zomersfestival Breda 2011. Upon arrival on this Nature reserve my eyes were immediately drawn to this serene and tranquil scene. I liked most of all the reflections on the water, but that boat......., Is that not a work of craftmanship or what? The flag and the couple seated next to it, add nice accents to an already picture perfect scene. Couldn't pass it up, thus, gave it my best shot!

Tuesday 23 August 2011

The Charm of France # 1


De betoveren van Frankrijk # 1, Ainay-le-Chateau, Cher
oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm
painted on location - Thurs 4 Aug 2011
SOLD

Not far from the fields were I painted those grazing cattle, on my 8 day sorjourn in France, is located this quaint Medieval village called, Ainay-le-Chateau. It is late in the morning, the Sunlight is just making its presence on the scene, thus bringing to life the gay colors on the buildings facade. A most picturesque clock tower, which at one time had the function of protecting the dwellers of this village from intruding vagrants and other unwanted guests! Although they don't have a dominant role in my paintings, I always like to include people. Thus a close-up, uncase you missed them!

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Limousin cattle grazing, Cher, France


Limousin Vee graast, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - thurs 4 August 2011
SOLD

The boy in the blue shirt, most likely the farmers son, is slightly bent over, having a few words of consulation with his pet Labrador puppy. The cattle still taking advantage of the wet due engulfed around every single blade of grass, on this will maintained field of emerald green. Here, on this small piece of rural earth, Life is unfolding the way it should be. Located in the department of Cher, France, almost in the middle of this country of gentle rolling hills. Il pittore, on target, doing his thing, captures a moment of sublime tranquility, a moment of innocent beauty. The lighting conditions are exceptionally perfect, at this hour of the day. The cattle are by now used to me, as this field is directly across the dirt road, were I painted the lovely Charolais cattle, in the previous 2 mornings.

Thursday 11 August 2011

Charolais Cattle Grazing 2 , Central France


Charolais Vee graast 2, Bessais le Fromental, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - 2 Aug 2011
SOLD

Same field as the last posting, yet some differences. It was painted more or less at the same time of day, yet the cattle are arranged differently, and the view of the feild is slightly seen from further away. It was not easy for me to capture the correct porportions of the cattle. As I refuse to work from pictures, I had to quickly paint them in, and beleive you me, more cows were erased or reworked than you actually see on the finished work.

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Charolais Cattle, Bessais le Fromental, France


Charolais Vee graast, Bessais le Fromental, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sun 31 July 2011
SOLD


Finding myself amidst these lovely gentle creatures, whilst they went about their business of grazing the green grasses of these unspoiled rolling hills here in the pristine countryside of Cher, France, (about 3 hrs drive s. of Paris). I felt moved to apply the colors of my palet on canvases, I had taken with me, from my studio in The Hague. I was taking part in an Art week held at a Buddhist retreat centre called, AmidaFrance. To capture those shadows I was on location at about 0745hrs. It felt good to show up for breakfast with already a canvas completed! Here below a detail of this breed of cattle. As I don't work from pictures, you can see that the paint is applied rather swiflty.