Olive tree grove with picker, Abruzzo, Italy

Olijfbomen met plukker, Abruzzo, Italie
oil on canvas
40 x 30 cm
painted on location -
San Vincenzo Vecchio, Valle Roveto, Aq. Abruzzo, 17 11 2011

Not for sale

Here you have yet another painting from my recent sojourn in Italy. The person shown happens to be the woman with whom I'm having a wonderful relationship these days! She accopmanied me on this trip, had a great time admist the spectacular natural setting, housing these highly productive olive trees. Of course we also had the privilege of sampling the fine foods that were prepared with the freshly pressed olives.

As you can see from this photo, I paint what lies before me, however the model is not visible as she was the one who took this picture! It was indeed a pleasure to have a lot of Sunlight, it really lit up the autumn colors, in the valley.

Olive tree wih pickers, Abruzzi, Italy

Olijfboom met plukkers, Abruzzi, Italie
oil on canvas
20 x 20 cm - (8 x 8 inches)
painted on location - Fri 18 Nov 2011
Near San Vincenzo Vecchio, Valle Roveto, Abruzzo)
SOLD

One of four paintings made on my recent sojourn to visit family, paint in this lush natural environment and help out with the olive harvest. Here you have featured three workers, two on the tree, and the third on the ground with only his legs visible. A traditional method of raking(yellow objects held in hand) the olives off the branches is employed, this results in no damage to the olive, thus a better quality olive oil! The olives fall onto the emarld green net which is spread generously under the tree. They are then gathered, by hand, and placed into heavy linen sacks, which are then taken for further sortation. The rest of the trees in the valley are in full autumn colors, thus the hints of warm hues in the background.

View of the 'ZANDMOTOR' Project, from Kijkduin

Gezicht op de 'ZANDMOTOR', Kijkduin, NL
oil on canvas
30 x 80 cm
painted on location - Thurs 10 Oct 2011 


Dear Readers, Here you have a view of the latest extension to our small yet powerfull country, here in The Lowlands! This man made peninsula, has been created to further continue the growth of South Beach, The Hague. The natural erosion of the peninsula, due to the waves, will transport the sand to the beach, thus preventing it (South Beach), from being washed away, due to threatening future storms! That, my friends, is the theory, now I guess we'll get to see if it actually works. I'm sure it will, as Dutch Landscape Engineering, is superb! It is still not ready for beach goers to walk out on the Zandmotor, as the works still continue to this day, however, just like that elderly couple are taking in the view, one can get a good look at it from Kijkduin. On the horizon a cargo ship approaching the harbour of Rotterdam.

Autumn splendor in Bergen, NH #1

Herfst gezicht en 't bos Bergen, NH
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Tues 25 Oct 2011
SOLD

As I don't want to flood your mail box with my postings, (like to keep it at an average of 2.5 per week), am taking my time with this series made in Bergen, during the Kunst10Daagse. This is actually the 1st painting of that body of work. Setting up my gear in the rain, at a location I was familiar with (made a 30 x 80cm ptg of same scene last year), this natural canal scene was created. Orderly rows of mature Hazelnut trees, in autumn colours, walking paths carpeted with fallen leafs of warm hues, enough inspiration to get my creative juices flowing.

Autumn splendor in Bergen, NH #2

Herftse Sfeer in Bergen, NH #2
oil on canvas
50 x 70 cm
painted on location - Wed 26 Oct 2011
€ 700

You might recognize that this is the same view as last posting, only painted from about 25 meters further away. The sky was much more dramatic as you can see, and at times, sunlight did burst through the thick layer of the volumous clouds. This is probably the best time of the year to be making these village scenes. I especially like the coloration of the leafs, as they are making their last attempt to get some recognition of their unique beauty, before they detach themselves from their life hosting source, Mother Nature!