Lovers on the beach

Verleifed op het strand,
oil on mdf - 16 x 23.5 cm
painted on location - Monday 9 Dec 2013
SOLD 

Well, what the hell, my favourite painting location, and  why shouldn't it be? Everything a plein air painter needs is at my disposition. The only thing I ask for is a little sunshine now and then. Plenty of people strolling by, thus I can pick and choose, in order to compose a story. Just wish the local municipal government (gemeente den haag) would leave things as they are. This entrance for example, if I were to paint it as is, would bore you to death!  

Autumns Gold Suite

Herfsten Goud Suite, NH
oil on canvas - 30 x 120 cm
painted - Sat 16 Nov 2013
€575

It's the time of the season to make these kind of paintings. With the tree ablaze with warm hues, it is certainly a feast for the eyes. Your heart and soul will certainly be warmed up on these cold damp autumn days! I love painting in Nature were it impossible to see one straight line! Every form curves, twists and bends, sometimes in the oddest shapes.

Autumn Gold melody in our dunes

Herfst gouden melodie in Westduinpark,
oil on linnen - 60 x 90 cm  (23 x 35 in)
painted on location - Wed 13 Nov 2013
SOLD 

I've been searching and searching in nearby forests to make a autumn gold painting. It seems that because of the late summer heat, Nature around here has gone a little out of wank, thus coloration of leafs is taken its sweet time.  Meanwhile right at my doorstep practically, there it was, right before my eyes.  On the path I use, to go paint all those beach scenes I make!  Now I know why Van Gogh loved yellow. It just makes you happy.  But to a painter, it does more than that.  It makes the canvas burst with vitality. Combined with the intense light of a low Sun, casting long shadows,  and an almost cloudless blue sky, you might need sunglasses to view this scene. When you have this painting hanging in your living room, you won't even have to turn the light on!

SPECIAL OFFERS/KOOPJES HOEK (1st posting)

KOOPJESHOEK - FROM THE TOP, (then left to right)

 Breelaan, Bergen NH, met herfst sfeer,  50 X 40cm -  €250 (was €675)SOLD

2. Herfst gezicht en 't bos   Bergen, NH, -   24 x 30 cm -   €75 (was €275)SOLD 

   4.  Mooie zomers herinnering.......... -     60 x 80 cm    -   €150  (was €375) SOLD  

6. Koningenedag 2013, Bergen Centruum - 40 x 30 cm -  €125 (was €475)SOLD

Bringing art into the working class hero's home, that's my motto!

Here is a fine selection of recent and not so recent works made in and around Bergren NH. When I was on the Art market there it came to me to offer these and other works at a special studio clear out sale. I will be making more postings like this so start putting away some pocket money and low and behold, you may have the prestige of starting your own art collection! Have already sold 5 paintings from the koopjeshoekje concept, so don't hesitate, take action now.

Delightful Dutch Sky, No.1 & 2

Twee zeilers in rode en de gele boei, DDS #1
oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm
painted on location - Wed  30 Oct 2013
SOLD 

Thank God we were granted some blue sky this week, with strong yet manageable windy conditions. Also I am grateful for having this window of time in order to get these two paintings done. Positioning myself as close to the shoreline as possible, and with the use of my trustworthy 3m parasol which I lay on its side and use as a wind breaker, I got on my knees and prayed that I might make something of the spectacular display of clouds and waves before me. Well as you can witness on your monitor, I believe my prayers were answered!

clck to see whole paintiing!

Zeilen op de winderige noordzee, DDS #2
oil on linen - 20 x 140 cm
painted on location - Wed 30 Oct 2013
SOLD

I already had this composition on the surface of this linen cloth, only the clouds and relentless wave action was missing. Waiting patiently for just over 3 weeks I finally got the chance to complete the painting to my liking. To appreciate this work you want to double click on it, then you will see it larger.

High Winds at Bergen Aan Zee

hoge wind, op strand bij Bergen Aan Zee
oil on mdf - 15 x 80 cm  (2 panels)
painted on location - Sat 26 Oct 2013
SOLD 

I only had about 90 minutes to get this work created, thus didn't waste any time! Set up next to a beach cafe terras, thus out of the wind. Fortunately the sky cleared up long enough to afford me this spectacular view. All the elements became full with lively colours, the moving shadow on the lower left of the painting added drama to the composition. I realised there was nothing left for me to do besides add a few people here and there, and get the light and shadow effect right on that turquoise beach cafe  I guess the couple watching me create this work from their table on the patio agreed with me as they bought it right off the easel!
 

After Summer view at South Beach, DH

Na Zomers gezicht, Zuidersrand, DH,
oil on canvas - 50 x 120 cm
painted on location - 25 Sept 2013
SOLD 

Private collection Nijmegen, Holland

We are well into the fall now , temperatures are much cooler, the scenery here is transforming rapidly. One- by-one the cafes and buildings on the beach are disappearing,  into their winter storage containers,  to a location somewhere safe. Far away from the tormenting winds of the tempestuous highly masculine North Sea. While on location working on this painting I was gifted with a multitude of those fluffy thick cotton-like clouds to choose from, in order to build up the composition.  One has to work quickly as those pretty masses of condensed  water don't hang around for too long!  The wind effortlessly carry them about,  tell they meet up with inhospitable air torrents that take pleasure in watching the water they hold being dumped on all those unfortunate Dutch citizens going about their daily business!
  

Early spring view of South Beach, The Hague

Voorjaars gezicht van Zuiderstrand, Den Haag
oil on mdf - 13 x 120 cm
painted on location - 5 May 2013 - repainted  4 Sept 2013
SOLD

By now you know this to be a favorite theme for il pittore.  I like to paint subjects and scenery which there is a demand for. In other words, I do my best to produce work which I know there is an audience for such works.I believe Association is the key word to my success, (friendly pricing also helps as well, for sure)......People like to own paintings which they can relate to, and why shouldn't it be like that. Of course there are many other reasons why paintings are bought, but in the case for the Italian/Canadian living and working in Holland, association plays a big factor.

Autumn at the beach

Herfst op het strand
oil on mdf - 15 x 40 x 2 cm
painted - Sun 22 Sept 2013
SOLD

Maybe I'm to cheap (goedkop) with my pricing, I don't know! Colleagues of mine are selling such size paintings for more than 999 euro. Should I be more expensive?  Could ask anything I want, I suppose.  But then my patronage would be limited to only the rich, that's no fun is it? I believe that we should all live with real art. That children especially should be exposed to real art.  That they may see something from the hands of a person, same as themselves. Something like looking through a window at reality, at the truth. And I mean Reality, with a capital R and Truth with a capital T!  No bullshit, no negative subliminal messages, to affect the goodness of your Soul.  Just the honest truth, as God inteneted it to be. And were is the Truth, were is Reality? Open your eyes and heart,  listen with your ears and soul. You'll find it, as it abounds everywhere. For me it is on this stretch of beach, and I filter it for you to experience. That in a nutshell is what I'm doing, and thank God I'm making a living from it.

Waal Bridge, Nijmegen, Holland

click to view full painting

Waal Brug, vanaf Ooipolder Nijmegen 
oil on canvas - 30 x 120 cm
painted on location in 3 sessions -  29/6, 14/7,15/7 - 2013

€595

This monumental bridge also known as the Jan van Hoof Brug, in honour of the courageous young student, Jan van Hoof (1922-1944), a member of the Dutch Resistance (Geheime Dienst Nederland). He secretly gathered information related to the bombing of this bridge and the railway bridge (Spoorbrug) in WWII from the retreating enemy forces, shared it with the Allied Forces, who in turn managed to save the destruction  of these 2 bridges. Today they stand stalwartly proud, which serve an enormously important function,  linking this river delta region together!  In hommage of this natural reserve area, the bridge,  the Waal river and the skyline of Nijmegen, I opted for a panoramic format canvas. Here below a close up for your viewing pleasure.

  

Late summer views from South Beach, The Hague

Na zomers gezicht op Kijkduin, Zuiderstrand, DH 
oil on canvas, 50 x 120 cm
painted - 5 Sept 2013
SOLD

vroege ochtend plezier op het strand,
oil on canvas - 50 x 100 cm
painted -  5 Sept 2013
SOLD


Seems now, today Wed 11 September, that summer is definitely passed us by.  Last week a burst of heat, sent thousands of  Sun worshippers to this wide clean sandy beach. With sea water temperature still mild and no wind to speak of, it was really a delight to be on location this day! In fact I hung on long enough to make a second painting!  Benelux grey clouds full with moisture are gathering for to water the dry earth and bring in the colorful autumn here in The Lowlands, scenes like the ones painted here will remind  you that indeed it can be really beautiful here, het kan hier zo mooi zijn!
 

View of the 'ZandMotor'- Kijkduin, Holland

Gezicht op de ZandMotor, Kijkduin
oil on canvas - 30 x 80 cm
painted - august 2013
SOLD

It's a lovely warm summers day, what better thing to do than go cool off by the water edge. Just what the people featured in this scene are doing! Here you have a repaint of a work I made in Nov 2011, when the Zandmotor was still in fabrication! Yes in fabrication, as this is a man made phenomenon! More precisely, a Dutch man made phenomenon. The intention is that the waves will bring sand to the beach, in a natural way, thus insuring that the beach will remain wide enough to protect the coast against from eventual rising sea levels, and also from tidal storm waves which can cause untold damage to the dunes. Featured below the original painting, which I have painted over.

"Mommy my duckie is gone" (AtBS # 16-2013)

"Mama mijn eendje is verdwenen"
oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm
painted - July 2013
SOLD

Usually when I am on location working I always have some extra canvas's with me. In this case I was working on one of the recent XXL paintings,  had to stop as the tide rushed in, thus  decided to make this intimate little painting of a child playing at the waters edge. The beach was packed with people, unbelievably busy, however in my mind I had this vision to make something simple, yet with emotional impact. Not overly painted, suggestion of the wind as seen in the waves, but also more importantly in the child's hair.  Btw...the duck was recovered by a nearby adult bathing in the refreshing water!

At the Beach Series #15 - 2013 (Panoramic Seascape)

Panoramisch Zeegezicht #5 -2013
oil on canvas - 20 x 140 cm
painted - Thurs 8 Aug 2013
SOLD

Here you have the latest version of this format painting. It seems to be a favorite, its popularity,.... most likely because it gives a true representation of the beach/sea situation. Note that this was made some weeks ago, thus was still a very hot summers day, early in the morning, if I am correct, this painting was made just prior to the one posted below of 'de staat'. I placed attention on the few persons shown, thus making this part of the recent, at the beach series.

  

Beach Cafe/Restaurant "De Staat", South Beach.

Strandpaviljoen "DE STAAT", Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas - 50 x 120 cm
painted - Thurs 8 Aug 2013
SOLD

The sky was so beautiful with those thick fluffy clouds whizzing by. The lighting was just perfect on the object being painted, couldn't resist getting this on a large size canvas. Must admit the contrast of the dark beach cafe against the sunlit sand and dry dune grass together with the mass of clouds and sharp blue sky, make this composition an eye catcher.

Summer at the beach, South Beach, The Hague.

Zomer op strand, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas - 30 x 75 cm
painted on location - Fri 2 August 2013
SOLD

With beautiful scenery like this, is it any wonder why the Germans come here to the beach, and most of the people living in The Hague, for that matter! Most beach goers had the comfort of a parasol, if they were wise!..... Finally I got to use my 3M parasol, for the purpose it is made, and not as a wind breaker, but a shade maker!  I must admit, at times I feel me very lucky to work on location, can you not blame me.

XXL View of South Beach, The Hague #2

XXL Gezicht op Zuiderstrand, DH

oil on MDF - 35 x 185 cm

painted on location - Tues  23 July 2013

SOLD

The heat wave is back!  This could have been made this morning, it would have looked like this at about 09.45hrs, just before the mass crowds arrive. Today I was on location, but not here, rather at Kijkduin boulevard, making a painting of the Zandmotor. Was on location at 9am, packed it up with a finished canvas at 12.30pm.  We here in The Hague are lucky to have such a beautiful beach at our doorstep! And yes I do agree that maybe the beach by you is nicer, because it is so, but nothing wrong with this scene. What a little sunshine can do to make us Dutchies in The Lowlands happy, is very much appreciated. Below 2 close ups for your viewing pleasure.

XXL View of Scheveningen pier from South Beach.

 XXL Gezicht op Scheveningen vanaf Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on linen - 40 x 210 cm
painted on location on 3 occasions-  finished 6 July 2013
SOLD

Not the easiest thing to paint this size on location! However I managed it, with the help of my trustworthy 3 meter diameter parasol, used as a wind breaker. You could tell by the waves that the wind is still blowing quite strong, but the summer temperatures are with us now, so a pleasure to be at this location. It is well after dinner hour, thus crowds have thinned out. Just the way I like to paint these beach scenes. When you look at this painting carefully, you will see a lot going on, thus the 3 close ups below.  Take care and enjoy the summer.

Summer fun, Kijkduin - (At the Beach Series # 14 - 2013)

Gezicht op deel van de Zandmotor, Kijkduin,
oil on canvas - 30 x 150 cm
painted on location - Sun  14 July 2013
SOLD

Here I have sit up my easel at the most Northerly point of the ZandMotor, at Kijkduin. You can see the natural effect the water erosion is causing on the beach at this area. The river like sea water plaas, extends for almost 2 kilometres (from bottom left of painting), thus forming an island like peninsula. A man made pilot project extension of beach sand to insure a natural build up of the beach at Kijkduin and The Hague. The scene was much more crowded than what you see here, but I have the freedom of making the compositions of this body of paintings I call, At the Beach Series. Below a close up of the action taking place. Kids mostly having fun, lots of fun, and it is all for free. Now that's really Dutch!

At the Beach Series #11-2013, with Kite surfer

3 Kindren met Kite surfer, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas, 50 x 50 cm
painted on location - Tues. 9 July 2013
SOLD

Made this painting just before AtBS#12, on the sane afternoon. As you can see the hot summer temperatures were still not with us, as the wind was still blowin' hard. However it didn't stop these kids from having a blast at the waters edge, as they were enjoying jumping about at the incoming waves. The little sister looks on and keeps guard of the soccer ball. In the distance a kite surfer blasting through the waves, man do those guys move fast!

Fun Times/South Beach DH, At the Beach Series #12-2013

Kindren met hond spelen op strand

oil on canvas - 30 x 120 cm

painted Tues 9 July 2013

SOLD

Continuing on this series and I'm loving it! Having real fun composing these young people enjoying the nice summer weather here at the beach in The Lowlands. Scheveningen, well known beach resort, on the horizon to the right. Then the south arm of pier ushering yachts and ships to the Inner harbour characterised by the green and red striped light houses. On the foreground fun times for all, The Scottish terrier happens to notice me and looks on in curiosity while others just doing their own thing. Below a close up.

Summer at South Beach, DH / (AtBS #10-2013)

Dagje uit Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on MDF - 24.5 x 48.5cm - (10 x 19 inches)
painted - Sat  6 July 2013
SOLD

Yeah, yeah summer at last, temperatures have finally climbed up to Sun bathing conditions. A slight breeze sets the conditions right to manoeuvre these cats. Not a great challenge, but maybe time to take the kids along, so they could learn about sailing. Meanwhile hundreds of Haagenaars are enjoying this quite strip of beach, situated between busy Scheveningen and Kijkduin.

Fun At the Beach - AtBS # 9 - 2013

Kindren spelen op het strand,
oil on canvas - 50 x 120 cm
painted - Tues 11 June 2013
SOLD

Painted at Wassenaarseslag not so long ago, on this fine stretch of beach. Promises of summer in the air, however still rather cool temperature. The sudden warmth caused for the hazy atmospheric conditions, which  now that I look back at this painting resulted in a pleasurable scene.

Looking S from Katwijk beach.

Gezicht op Katwijk strand met grote wolken,
oil on canvas - 50 x 120 cm
painted on location - Tues. 2 July 2013
SOLD

Those clouds are moving fast, let me tell you! Had to use my 3m parasol as a wind breaker on this occasion. Katwijk is an old fishers village, that church, St. Andrea's Kerk, is one of Hollands oldest standing church's. The locals are very proud of it, and lucky they are to have such a welcoming beach on their doorstep. The details deserves a better look, thus the close up. Remember to click on the images to get a better look.

Three recent paintings - Zuiderstrand, DH

Rough  Sea with Mother and Child

 oil on canvas - 13 x 18 cm

Thurs 27 June 2013

SOLD

Clouds with a rough sea

oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm

Thurs 27 June 2013

SOLD

Mild sea with clouds and Yellow Buoy

oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm

Thurs 27 June 2013

SOLD

As Constable once said, "The sky governs everything," Of course he was referring to light and values of colour on a given landscape, or in my case, a seascape. With the sunlight breaking through the scattered voluminous clouds, the sea was giving off an intense deep hue of greenish blue. Not too many people on the beach, however kite surfers enough! I decided to keep it simple, thus providing a generic seascape with the least of elements to give it a reference. 

At the beach series # 6, # 7, # 8 - 2013

Moeders en kindern met Van Oord schip,(AtBS #6)
oil on mdf - 22 x 40 cm
painted on location - Noordwijk Aan Zee - Tues 18 June 2013
SOLD

1st painting made at the 15de editie NoordwijkSchilderfestival. I decided to carry on with this theme of people at he beach. The ship is busy dredging sand from the sea to buid up the volume of sand on the beach. The children are all excited about getting their feet wet on that hot muggy day here in The Lowlands, while the mother is pointing out what is going on to her little girl.

Boys aan het "skimboarding" te Noordwijk Aan Zee, (AtBS #7)
oil on mdf - 22 x 40 cm
painted on location - Wed 18 June 2013
SOLD

Not the easiest thing to capture figures in action on an oil painting, but the years of model drawing/painting sessions I have done help out very much in this regard. I payed very special attention to the detail of the swim gear of these kids, as it they had identical swim shorts on.

Kindren aan het speelen met windsurfer, (AtBS #8)
oil on mdf - 15 x 25 cm
painted on location - Wed 19 June 2013
SOLD

The girl on the far left is about to do a cartwheel (radslag), while the boy in the light blue shorts is running to make the way clear for her, the little brother just sitting, looking on while taking a break on their personal little adventure here at the beach on the coast of The Lowlands. In the distance an amateur wind surfer taking advantage of developing his balancing skills on this calm almost windless day.


          Here you see me working on the AtBS#6, that mother withe her 2 childern are on the painting!

View of Schevenigen from Wassenaarseslag, (Large)

Gezicht op Schevenigen vanaf Wassenaarseslag, grote
oil on canvas, 60 x 130cm
painted on location on 5 occasions
27 May - 12 June 2013
SOLD


The weather lately has not been supporting me that much to get this work done. A large size canvas to be working on outdoors, and especially that I am rather close to the shoreline in order to get this perspective, it has been somewhat of a challenge. However the days that I did get out there, on location, was such a pleasure, with the Sun warming everything, hopefully it is finally here to stay for a few weeks at least! I do my best to get an accurate as possible picture, below 2 images to give you a closer look at the details. If you look carefully you can see the turquoise copula of the famous Kuirhuis in Scheveningen, a little to the right of that is the red lighthouse also a landmark. Then even further to the right you can get a close look at the 3 mast sail ship 'de Eendracht'.

At the beach series # 4 & # 5

AtBS #5 - Family outing at Wassenaarseslag 

triptych of 3 panels, oil on wood, 10 x 15 cm each
painted on location - Tues 11 June 2013
SOLD

Am myself very happy with these little paintings, which depict family situations at the beach here in The Lowlands. A mothers love for her son is as endless as the Sea and Sky itself. The child seems to be pointing at something just out view, in the far distance. The tenderness of the mood, is reflected in the atmosphere of an almost windless breeze, and gentle rolling waves. Then a young father tenderly grasping his daughter who is full of excitement and joy from the pleasure of splashing about in the cool waters, the pet Jackie looks on rather curiously! Finally two mothers interested in something in the distance while there toddlers having fun at the shoreline.

AtBS #4 - Mother and child and two boys building a sand castle

oil on canvas, 24 x 30 cm

painted on location -  Tues 4 June 2013

SOLD

Last week, sunny yet very windy conditions at the beach. It didn't stop these young boys from having fun building castles in the sand. A mother leading her son away from the somewhat dangerous breaking waves, while that sailor in the catamaran taking full advantage of the situation.