Wednesday 30 May 2012

Sea Mist, Noordwijk Aan Zee

     Father and Son with pet 'Jackie', oil on canvas, 24 x 30cm, painted on location, Monday 28 May 2012,  
SOLD



Family outing on a misty beach, oil on canvas, 25 x 35cm, painted on location, Monday 28 May 2012,
SOLD


Here you have 2 scenes of the very same beach from my last posting, what a difference! As Constable once said the sky governs everything, when it comes to painting plein air. The atmospheric conditions were such that visibility was 'nada'. There was so much moisture in the air that my sight glasses kept getting damp to the point were i couldn't see through them! I was all set up and decided to paint the scene at hand, regardless. Must admit, wish this would happen more often, as a delicate mood is created, making very fine subject matter to paint.



detail of  Father and Son with 'Jackie'

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Let the good times roll, Noordwijk Aan Zee!

Strandgezicht Noordwijk Aan Zee
oil on canvas, 20 x 50 cm
painted on location - Sat 26 May 2012    SOLD

Summer is in the air, and you know what, it came and went, in the period of 48 hrs! Will I'm almost positive we will get it back again, before September rolls around. Spent last holiday weekend again at Noordwijk Aan Zee, were I was guest painter at the Opera Aan Zee 2012. Here you have 1 of 4 seascapes made in that period. Also knocked off 7 opera scene paintings! Thus while for most of you a holiday weekend, not for il pittore. However I did chill out between painting.



                                               family shot taken by the photographer Johan Westra

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Morning Mist, Noordwijk Aan Zee beach scene

Het begin van een mooie dag, strand Noordwijk Aan Zee #1-2012
oil on canvas, 20 x 50cm
painted on location - Sunday 20 May 2012
SOLD

Finding myself staying at hotel, de Baak, not far away from Huis ter Duin, thus right on the boulevard, I took the opportunity to go paint on the beach during my Artist in Residency stay at Opera Aan Zee 2012. A sudden burst of heat has created this hazy scenario, which of course cleared up later on that day.

Monday 21 May 2012

Opera Aan Zee 2012, Noordwijk Aan Zee, Holland






Three scenes of the Opera Aan Zee,
oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm  each
painted on location  -  Fri 18 - Sun 20 May 2012

SOLD

Last year at the Noordwijkschildersfestival I was awarded the price Artist in Residence at this event. The price includes lodging at a hotel in Noordwijk Aan Zee, and the chance to make and sell paintings of the shows. Thus the audience get to see the performance, (which take place on the terraces and patios of selected residences), of both the musicians and an artist painting the scene. Of course the pressure is on,... well I did my best, here you have the results. These works are made during the performance, which last less than one hour, in most cases!  Back on location next Friday thru to Monday, 25 - 28th.




Friday 18 May 2012

Come on child, let's go now....



Schiet op kind,
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - Wijk Aan Zee, Mon 8 May2012
SOLD

The mother of this child seems quite concerned to relocate to some other location. The scene seems non threatening, but then again we don't see what is not included on the surface of this canvas. Most likely, the winds have picked up, and a storm is brewing up somewhere in the distance, as they both seem to be observing something, to the right.  But then again maybe the mother just wants to get the childs attention. I have used the motive of a previous posting, however with many changes.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Beach Pavilion 'De Kust', Wijk Aan Zee,NH

Strandpaviljoen De KUSt, met s'avonds licht,
oil on wooden panel
35 x 22cm  -  14" x 8.5"
painted on location -  Sat 12 May 2012

SOLD

The Netherlands flag, proudly displayed, gives you some indication of the weather these days here in The Lowlands.  The evening Sun casts a warm glow and gives a soft delicate look to the beach entrance of this cafe along the coast here in Wijk Aan Zee. I was being hosted by the owners of this establishment in a beach house just to the right of this cafe. The mixture of warm and cool colours create harmony and balance while doing great service to define the space in this composition.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Oil study Wijk aan Zee

Beach houses at Wijk Aan Zee
oil on wooden panel
10 x 15cm
painted on location -  Sunday 6 May 2012 SOLD

Just a quick study of the situation that afternoon.  Clouds racing by at speeds that made it impossible to work any larger than this. I don't believe in taking pictures,  and then working from them. You will most likely loose the essence of the subject at hand. And besides, after all is said and done, I am a painter not a photographer.

Monday 7 May 2012

Wijk Aan Zee, Beach scene #1-2012



Strandgezicht WAZ, NH, met twee kinderen
oil on canvas
24 x 30cm  -  6.5" x 12"
paintd on location  -  Sunday 6 May 2012
SOLD

Am busy these days painting in Wijk Aan Zee, (just north of Haarlem), during the art manifesation, Ezels En Kwasten 2012. Yesterday, the sky finally broke open after many days of overcast dismal weather,  these lovely thick clouds were being blown in from the land, affording me the oppurtunity to represent them on this piece of linen. Characteristic of this beach are the many beach houses privately owned, lined up against these spectacular high dunes. The next few postings will be of paintings from this location.

Friday 4 May 2012

Big Band Jazz in De Fuut, South Beach, DH

Jazz en, Strandpavilijoen De Fuut, Zuiderstrand, Den Haag
oil on canvas, 24 x 30cm
painted on location - Sunday 29 Apirl 2012
SOLD

A female singer, adds a spark of colour to this Big Band ensemble all dressed in black. The drummer keeping the beat, while the director (with his back to us) pulls it all together,...what a scene to be able to paint! A first for il pittore, to actually make a painting of the interior of a beach cafe! Every Sunday Leo, owner of this establishment, brings Live Jazz music for the ardent jazz fan. Just as colourful inside as it is on the outside, a pleasure and indeed a gift  for me to be able to work in and around this beach cafe.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Beach Entrance # 10, South Beach, The Hague


Zuiiderstrand Den Haag, Aanslag #10 
oil on canvas
60 x 30 cm
painted on location  -  Wed. 25 April 2012 SOLD

Painted almost one week ago, I'm now posting this work which depicts the entrance I use for almost all of my seascape paintings. To the left is the Catamaran clubhouse HKZV, then follows beach cafe/restaurant De Fuut. To the right one is afforded the view of Scheveningen, to the left, Kijkduin and Hoek van Holland. As one can see by looking closely at this canvas, it was a rather windy day, as sand covers the whole area of the canvas. Being the middle of the week and still rather early in the morning, not much traffic walking down that paved path, however was glad with the two bicycles locked up to the wooden fence, bringing this scene unmistakeably to The Lowlands