Sailing the turbulent North Sea

varen op de woelig noordzee
oil on canvas - 40 x 30 cm
painted on location - Monday 21 March 2016
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Not every bodies cup of tea, but for the hard core sailors of this gutsy North Sea, it certainly will put some hairs on your chest! The wave action was so worthy of being painted that day I decided to set up right at the waterfront. Making order out of chaos, that was my task, on this surface of linen. After several repaints of the waves crashing, I finally was satisfied with the result you see.

The Soft Light Series

A SOFT LIGHT FINDS MY BEACH

Westduinpark vanaf strandslag 10
oil on canvas - 30 x 120 cm
painted on location - Thurs 17 March 2016
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On that sign nailed to the blue pole, is written, "verboden toegang", in English, forbidden entrance. Perched on the sign is a black bird. She does have permission to enter the dunes, we humans don't. Thank God not everybody is a Dutch Civil Servant working in The Hague, and in most Natural Reserves around the world, us humans are allowed access. Oh well, your eyes do have access, and so do mine. Thus I paint for you the beauty of these majestic dunes.

Zuiderstrand met Zacht licht
oil on canvas - 40 x 120 cm
painted on location - Thurs 10 March 2016
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The 1st large beach scene I have made thus far for this new season. Personally I love finding myself on location on these days with mist and fog influencing the scenery. Something mystical yet intriguingly inviting about this voluptuous atmosphere.

Homage to the Quiet Beach

Hommage aan het stille strand
oil on canvas - 70 x 210 cm - (27 x 83")
painted on many sessions in the studio - Dec 2015 t/m March 2016
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I am forever being asked to make a huge painting of this beach, so finally here it is. Painted on several sessions in my atelier, from paintings I had made previously, and of course from the way I see this beach, as I have been actively painting here for 9 years now! It is called "het stille strand",  the quiet beach. Most likely in reference to the very busy beach, just due North, and that being the popular Scheveningen  Beach. But also in reference, I think to the Nature Reserve (Westduinpark) one has to walk or bike across, to get at this beach.
I have chosen to show the viewer of this painting a moment in time when the fog lifts. Thus some light bouncing of the dunes to the far left. The seagulls in a playful flight pattern, coming towards the viewer, two persons walking on the beach and further right a barely visible yellow buoy, and finally on the horizon, an oil tanker.
To really appreciate this painting it must be seen in the real. However if you can't make it to one of my markets or a studio visit, I have added  some extra pictures.

On the Path 8 & 9

                                                                   Op Pad 8 - Zusters met de Jackie
                                                                         oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm
                                                                painted on location - Mon 7 March 2016
                                                                                         NTK.

Op Pad 9 - Morning has broken (to quote Cat Stevens)

Oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm

painted on location - Tues 8 March 2016

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The same location 9 times, every painting a little different. I will stop for now, and most likely re-visit this theme in the middle of spring. Sometimes just the silence of this Nature reserve to have for yourself is more than enough, thus have not always painted people in them. The light is never quite the same thus every work is unique and since they were freely painted the elements in the composition vary slightly. 

On the Path 5/6/7

The Encounter (de ontmoeting)
oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm (7 x 9.5")
painted on location - Mon 29 Feb 2016
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On the path, encounters are made. Why, even life long friendships can find their births. In this little scene, you get the feeling that something is going to develop between these two!  

Afternoon ride,  (Middag rid), Westduinpark
oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm (7 x 9.5")
painted on location and studio -  Wed 2 March 2016
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Inspired by the Haagse School painter Anton Mauve's Moring ride on the beach. I decided to add these riders on this painting. Normally you would not see riders on this path, as there are special designated trails for horse riders in these dunes. Hey, but as an artist I am free to express and make up stories in my own creations. Thus this work was born.

The flight of two seagulls and the Rabbit chase.

oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm ( 7 x 9.5")

painted on location - Thurs 3 March 2016

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Sometimes as the saying goes, "less is more". Thus in this painting I decided to keep it simple and put the focus on a few heavenly creatures, that inhabit these dunes. And I did my best to show detail of the flora and fauna in Westduinpark.