Blind Faith and The North Sea

Blind vetrouw series #4
oil on canvas - 20 x 50 cm - (8 x 20 inches)
painted on location (Wassenaarseslag) - Tues. 4 April 2017

SOLD

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Blind vetrouw series  #5
oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm - (12 x 16 inches)
painted on location (Wassenaarseslag) - Tues. 4 April 2017

SOLD

You can hear the whispering sounds of the gentle rolling waves, and feel the cool freshness of the soft sea breeze. You don't see it, but you trust that it is there, the mighty North Sea. It seems to be resting, after days of hard work. Moving all those tiny particles of sand, that the Dutch trust will reinforce their coastline, thus making the already high stalwart dunes even more higher.....Oh no ladies and gentlemen, the Dutch will not allow the unforgiving North Sea to invade and swallow up their flat and for a good part under sea level self made land. They learned their lesson back in the 16th Century, and will not allow that to take place, ever again!

View of Scheveningen from Wassenaarseslag

Gezicht op Scheveningen vanaf Wassenaarseslag,
oil on canvas - 20 x 50 cm
painted on location - Fri 7 Aug 2015
SOLD

For some reason I didn't post this work back in August. This is actually the study I did for a 80 x 200 cm commission. Characterised by high dunes and a wide beach this is one of the most natural sections of our coastline here in Holland. A stretch of beach and dunes that is frequently used by hikers and bicycle enthusiasts.

A warm summers moment, at the beach

Een warme zomers moment op het strand,
oil on canvas - 18 x 24 cm
reworked in my studio - Nov 2014
SOLD

 A cosy little story being told in this quaint scene of beach life. It is late in the afternoon, on a perfect summers day.  Warm hues reflecting on the water, the tide is coming in and  Jaap's castle is about to be washed away.  He looks on with discontent, the pet Jackie also feeling sympathy for what is about to take place.  Meanwhile happy Koosje with her new pink bathing suit runs gaily into the cool salty waters, all excited to get  Mommies attention.  This is just one of thousands of happy events taking place on Hollands coastline, during a cordial lazy summers afternoon. Brought to you especially on time for that unique gift on paakjes avond.  Here in Holland, on the evening of  Dec 5th,  it is a tradition for Saint Nicholaas to pass by every homestead with his black Piets (assistants) with potato sacks full of gifts and rhymes, for children, big and small, assuring for a  merry family get together. Here below you see the original painting I made, on location, back in July 2014. It would be interesting for me to know what you think of the changes made.

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.

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.

View of Schevenigen from Wassenaarseslag, Large

Gezicht op Schevenigen vanaf Wassenaarseslag, grote
oil on canvas, 60 x 130cm (let op!)
painted on location on 3 occasions, touched up in studio, 11 - 24 August 2012    SOLD



 Do you know anybody serving unfairly a life prison scentence.....maybe you want to purchase this work for him, thus, with a little imagination, that person can take leave of the thick walls and escape mentally onto this vast beach! That is what this painting offers to the onlooker,..... space, fresh salty sea breezes, and the warmth of the rising Sun! What more can one ask for, strolling happily along the North Sea coastline? 

View of Scheveningen from Wassenaarseslag

Gezicht op Scheveningen vanaf Wassenaarseslag
oil on canvas, 20 x 140 cm
Sun. 19 August 2012  SOLD


Still catching up with paintings made, almost 3 wks ago! This work was made on a very crowded beach, same afternoon as the previous posting. On the horizon you get a glimpse of the pier and skyline of Scheveningen. I like to use this format for these scenes. It gives one the impression of being on location, and with a little imagination, invites the viewer to step in and breath the salty vapours of the North Sea.
Below, a close up. Just a reminder, you can click on the images to get a proper look at them.

Summer fun on the Wassenaarseslag beach

Wassenaarseslag, zomers strandgezicht
oil on canvas
20 x 50cm
Sun 19 Aug 2012SOLD

Everyone is having a ball on the beach here in Wassenaar these past days. With a wave of hot sun rays showering down on The Lowlands, the beaches were crowded and busy! In the horizon, the Pier and modest skyline of Scheveningen. On the foreground, loads of kids splashing about the warm waters left behind from the receding tide.  

Wassenaarseslag/ Hazy spring day

Strand met mist aan Zee
oil on canvas
40 x 50cm
painted on location - Thurs 22 March 2012
donated for charity fund raiser

A little off my beat and track, but always a pleasure to paint at this location. Not yet fully operative, this beach house cafe has set op some windbreakers to accomodate the sunbathers. In the distance you can vaguely see the hotels on the boulevard at Noordwijk Aan Zee. BTW - those are not black pirate flags you see on those masts, but rather the colors and symbol of one of Hollands finest brews, Hertog Jan. 

View of Scheveningen from Wassenaarseslaag

Gezicht op Scheveningen vanaf Wassenaarseslaag
oil on canvas
20 x 50 cm - (8 x 20 inches)
painted on location - Wed. 14 Sept 2011
no longer exists

Yes folks that's sand you see on the surface of this canvas! With a very non hospitable wind force, I still decided to tackled this scene. Setting up my gear about 8 meters from the shoreline, I got down low, thus worked on my knees. This was the 2nd painting made, both excuted as quickly as possible, as the sand found its way into my eye sockets as well. Very irritating let me tell you! When I started painting there was much more blue sky, as you will see in the next posting. I felt confident enough to knock off this little canvas, even though the sky was showing signs of rain. It eventually did start pouring down on me I carried on working for about 7 minutes but had no choice but to pack up.

Looking North from Wassenaarseslag

Wassenaarseslag, op een mooie dag
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - 9 Oct 2010

donated to charity fund raiser

What caught my interest on this scene was those Kart-sail vehicles. At first I thought they were small sail boats, on close inspection I noticed they had wheels and later saw them racing along the watersedge, on the sand. Although this work was made sometime ago, it is representative of the weather we are actually experiencing in these days!

Beach Cafe at Wassenaarseslag

Strandpavilijon te Wassenaarseslag
oil on canvas, 50 x 70 cm
painted on location - Tuesday 12 October 2010
SOLD

I'm having some fun here developing what is working up to be a series of oils made at this location. Yesterday was a bit cool, however, as evident in this painting, worth being on location. That never ending famous Dutch light, together with those beautiful Dutch clouds, which seem to be wanting to get somewhere in a hurry, was more than enough inspiration to get me going. Might be interesting for you, the observer to note just how those flag poles were placed in this work. If you check out the detail below, (make sure to click on it), you will clearly see that they were not painted in, but rather the wet paint was removed off, in order for the white from the canvas to show through. Kunst van weglaten, is what they call it in Dutch, The Art of leaving out, in English.


For all you Saint Thomas's out there, proof that I actually make these paintings on location!

Looking North from Wassenaarseslag

Gezicht van kust vanaf Wassenaarseslag
oil on canvas
60 x 80 cm
painted on location - Sunday 3 Oct 2010       SOLD

Like I mentioned in previous posting, here you have the 2nd painting that was made on that lovely Indian summers day on the beah at Wassenaar. This time the vanishing point takes you to Noordwijk Aaan Zee. I found the pink/rose colour of the windbreakers an attractive accent for the overall composition. The warm tones of the objects on the forefront, combine harmoniously with the cool hues of the sky and sea.

View of Scheveningen from Wassenaar's Beach

Gezicht vanaf Wassenaarseslag
oil on canvas, 30 x 150 cm
painted on location - Sunday 3 October 2010 SOLD

A little off my "beat and track", but not so far. Usually I'm painting on the other side of that small scale skyline and pier, about 3 kilometers done the coast.
I rather enjoyed myself, meeting all sorts of friendly new people. Many 'Expats' live in and around Wassenaar, thus got to speak my native language on a few occasions! The scenery also took me by surprise, somewhat similar to South Beach, The Hague, just a little less built up. Personally I find that attractive, more Nature, less human intervention. Speaking about Nature, I purposely, painted in the horizon quite low, thus affording one to take in and breath all that fresh Sea air, (figuratively speaking of course). Probably the last warm, ideal weather situation this country will experience for a long time. Thus 'il pittore' was rather obligated to pack his gear, and sieze the day! Which I did, getting myself ready the night before, and produced this and another modestly large beach scene.