Promises of Spring

Beloften van de Lente, Westduinpark, Den Haag

oil on linen - 90 x 120 cm

painted in studio - Jan 2025

SOLD

Hey, hey, I'm finally happy with the way this scene has worked out on this large format canvas. Working largely from memory, reference photos and paintings already made of simular subject matter, I came to create this painting. Clouds casting shadows on the agitated waters of the North Sea, one should and hopefully feels the cool windy breeze, just by gazing at this painting. On the bottom right  a young flowering bush, showing promises of spring!    

 

Sailing, sunbathing and chilling at The North Sea

Strandslag 11, Westduinpark, Den Haag

oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm

painted on location -  5 June 2024

SOLD

I totally forgot to post this work when it was made back in June this year.  I was quite pleased with the situation at hand,  lovely typical Dutch sky, the clouds were continually casting dark shadows on the sea of green. It made for an interesting composition.  Also I liked the way the wind blew the sand covering most of the cement blocks used to pave the beach entrance.

Walking the dog on Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas - 40 x 100 cm

painted on location - 19 Sept 2024

SOLD

Here you have the last beach scene painting made on location for this warm weather season, which is coming to an end. Made during the early evening, in time to capture all those warm tones being casted by the descending Sun.

Resting Seagulls

oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm

painted on location - 30 April 2024

€ 275

An intimate scene of a vast area, captured during low tide at The North Sea. Coloration of the Sea is always in flux, depending on the atmospheric conditions for the most part. 

 

 

The Sea and the beach, The Hague's top location.

Sailing in the Sunset

oil on canvas - 50 x 40 cm

painted on location - 6 June 2024

SOLD

Here you have an example of a painting I had made about two years earlier, but was not content with the overall look of that work. So the canvas was just shelved until I took it off the shelve and on to the easel at the same location. The result of the 2nd attempt is what you see in this posting.

The Quite Beach, The Hague

oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm

painted on location - 15 July 2024

SOLD

Arrived at the beach nice and early to create this scene. Actually I was on location to further develop the painting shown just below this one. The crowds still not at the beach, so whilst waiting, I was lucky enough to have this canvas ready to be painted on. . 

Cool fun on a hot day at the beach,

oil on canvas - 40 x 120 cm

painted on location - on 3 occasions 29 April /15 July/18 July 2024

SOLD

Summer is finally here, people have dropped whatever it is they were doing, packed up their beach gear, and off they went to enjoy the overwhelming warm temperatures at the beach. The cool breezes coming off the fresh cold North Sea water is actually much appreciated. Today at this location, next painting I'll be set up with my feet in the water! 

 

Beach Entrance #10, Westduinpark, The Hague

Strandslag 10, Westduinpark, DH

oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm

painted on location - Sun 28 April 2024

SOLD

A bit too windy for me to be making a painting on the beach, so the next best thing to do was make a painting leading to the beach! The colors were fantastic thanks to the sunlight and shadows created on the water of partially cloudy sky. While I was working, a wild dune rabbit dashed across the road leading to the beach, right in front of me,  thus that inspired me to paint him in, checking me out in his still stance. 

Inner Harbour Scheveningen

Tweede Haven, Scheveningen voorjaar 2024

oil on canvas - 40 x 100 cm

painted on location -  9  times ( 06/07/23 - 09/8/25)

€1450.

This was a mega project to undertake, however as it's not the first time I am painting this scenery, I had some advantage. The thing about this composition is that it is so busy with all those yachts and sailboats with there masts climbing to enormous heights. However not only what's happening on the water but what takes place on the land. All those buildings, man, all that detail to consider. For the most part I choose to merely suggest the details such as the balconies and windows. It would have been just too much for the human eye to digest. Lastly let's not overlook what's happening in the sky. Those luscious Dutch clouds, of which Holland is renowned for, is most likely what inspired me to render this view in such a manner. Winter has just slipped away, promises of warm delightful summer days are guaranteed, this is merely a sign of what is to come! Enjoy the view.   

  

 

Beach Entrance in the winter & a windy Sea

 

Strandslag #10 s'winters

oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm

painted on location - 06 Jan 2024

SOLD

First seascape painting of the beach for 2024! I was inspired by the untidy natural entrance to the beach. Normally it is clean of the sand, thus cars and trucks could drive down the concrete plates to the beach  to delivery goods and such.  We have been having stormy weather lately, so you can see for yourself that the sand gets blown around and starts to form dunes in a matter of days. Of course the seagulls love to be tossed around by the wind, thus had to include them blowing about.

A windy seascape

oil on canvas - 20 x 30 cm

painted on location - 16 Sept 2023

SOLD

Made this near the end of the summer last year, for some reason forgot to publish it on my blog. Anyway a quick warm up small format painting, as later on that afternoon I tackled a large format 50 x 120 cm painting. A simple composition, sky and water, with the details showing some variation in movement, of the clouds for example. A large three mast sailboat on the horizon, indicates high wind conditions, perfect for sailing.

Beach entrance #11, South Beach, The Hague

Strandslag 11, bij Zuid

oil on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

painted on location - 26 Sept 2023

SOLD

A theme I have worked on many times over the years. And why not, who doesn't find this view of the North Sea, inviting and welcoming? Keeping the composition simple and not too crowded, a nice sky, partially open, very little wind, perfect lighting, just makes one want to stop and enjoy the view if nothing else.

The sitting Sun over the quite beach

 

Zonondergang over de stillestrand,

oil on canvas - 50 x 100cm

painted on location - 28 Aug 2023

SOLD

Ir's amazing what one actually sees when one takes the time to really observe the North Sea.  The colors in the sky, the reflections on the water, and the hovering clouds. Summer is coming to an end, this shows up in my painting by the ever present spectacular cloud formations. Which was indeed my inspiration for creating this painting. Everything changes so fast at this time of the evening, there really is no time to waste, and working from memory is necessary.

South Beach, the quite beach, the nicest beach 5 times

Zuiderstrand op een mooie nazomersdag

oil on canvas - 30 x 150 cm

painted on location -  31 Aug 2023

SOLD

Zuiderstrand op een mooie nazomersdag avond #1

oil on canvas - 30 x 150 cm

painted on location -  23 Aug 2023

SOLD

Zuiderstrand op een mooie zomersdag in de ochtend

oil on canvas - 30 x 150 cm

painted on location -  17  Aug 2023

SOLD

Zuiderstrand op een mooie zomersdag in de avond

oil on canvas - 30 x 150 cm

painted on location -  17  Aug 2023

SOLD 

Zuiderstrand op een mooie nazomersdag avond #2

oil on canvas - 30 x 150 cm

painted on location -  7 Sept 2023

SOLD

Have embarked on a series of works from this beach scenery. Always fun to do, especially when there are so many people coming by to have a look and strike up a conversation. Most painters don't like that but I rather welcome it, as one never knows  i might be talking with a potential customer. 

The Sea, #1,2,3 and 4

de zee eindelijk vrijheid en ruimte, #4

The perfect day for sailing waves

oil on linen - 20 x 140 cm

painted on location - 24 Sept. 2023

SOLD

de zee eindelijk vrijheid en ruimte, #3

The Roaring Wave

oil on linen - 20 x 140 cm

painted on location - 8 August 2023

SOLD

de zee eindelijk vrijheid en ruimte, #2

The Whispering wave

oil on linen - 20 x 140 cm

painted on location - 6 May 2023

€ 975

de zee eindelijk vrijheid en ruimte, #1

The rolling wave

oil on canvas - 20 x 140 cm

painted on location - 26 April 2023

€ 975

I decided to embark on this subject and format once again, after several years of not working on this subject/format. Characterized by a high horizon line, and the waves breaking at the foreground. I will be making  paintings of this view, of course all of them will be different, as that is also a quality of the Sea, never the same view twice. Could be simular, but never the exact view twice! 

 

 

Kites, surfers and clouds at South Beach, DH

Kites, bathers and clouds at South Beach, DH

oil on canvas - 40 x 80 cm

painted on location - 22 July 2023

SOLD

Kites, surfers and clouds at South Beach, DH

oil on canvas - 40 x 120 cm

painted on location -  25 July 2023 

SOLD

These paintings were made in the same week, thus decided to post them together. Lovely clouds worthy of painting, thus that is probably the reason I was out there! I always like to include a bit of beach life on these scenes, not too much mind you, as it gives the viewer an indication of the season.  

South Beach looking towards Scheveningen

 

South Beach looking towards Scheveningen

 oil on canvas - 30 x 120 cm

painted on location - 11 July 2023

SOLD

Made this painting under very windy conditions, thus you can well imagine I was located on a spot protected by strong winds. The white caps on the water and those cloud formations show you what I am talking about.

South Beach, after the storm.

 Zuiderstrand, na de storm

oil on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

painted on location - July 1 2023

SOLD

private collection Rome, Italy

I'm usually known for my panoramic format seascapes, but as you can see, to my delight,  this format works quite well. Choosing to place the horizon line high up on the canvas the beach becomes dominant in the composition. I like the effects the waves of the recent storm has on this wide beach, sculpting the sands in various shapes and forms, creating all sorts of unexpected heights.  

Free at last

Eindelijk vrij

oil on canvas - 40 x 50 cm

painted on location - Fri 17 March 2023

SOLD

"Free at last!" So is this Golden retriever probably saying to himself! After having the leash around his neck, not being able to wonder at will, finally from this point on he will be not restrained to move about, as long as he stay out of troubles way, and that one would assume, is the owners responsibility. A perfect location to let your pet dog blow off his or her energy. I'm so happy with this painting that I've decided to make a series of works with only dog at the beach.

Beach entrance #10, Westduinpark, The Hague

 

Strandslag 10, Westduinpark, DH

oil on canvas - 40 x 100 cm

painted on location -  Thurs 6 Oct 2022

SOLD

Just a wonderful day to be on location. As you can see lovely clouds floating by, creating a amazing play of light and dark tones on the Earthy colored Sea water. The flora in the dunes is also rich with colors, again thanks to the Sunlight. I also picked and chose which of the many sign poles are at this location, basically I eliminated about half of them. 

Sailing on The North Sea

Zeilen op de Noordzee

oil on canvas - 18 x 115 cm

painted on location & in the studio - Sept 2022

SOLD

I decided to freshen up, in the studio, a painting I made on location in Aug 2018. Am much happier with the outcome of the changes. Hopefully now it will attract a potential buyer. 

South Beach, The new look.

Zuiderstrand, de nieuwe look

oil on canvas - 40 x 120 cm

painted on location - Sat 4 June 2022

SOLD

An overall view of the so called quiet beach (stillestrand) from about the middle point between Scheveningen and Kijkduin. As obvious the sky is playing a major role in this composition. Not as easy as it looks, but getting those clouds to look convincing is a major task of most plein air painters. My advice, work quickly and don't lay in the paint too thick, remember what you are painting are vaporous gases lingering in the air, being swished around by the force of the wind. 

The gentle wave of the North Sea.

Het zachte golf van de Noord Zee,

oil on linen -  60 x 120 cm

painted on location - Sat. 14 May 2022

SOLD

Often when I get to the beach and don't get inspired immediately, for a subject to paint. I often just go to the waters edge and meditate on the waves and the  grandeur of the sea. Then if something strikes me about what I'm looking at, then the creative juices begin to flow. Such was the case with this painting. Things just pulled together, the clouds, the colors of the water, and most importantly, in this case the beauty of the gentle rolling waves.  

Surfs Up at South Beach

Zuiderstrand DH

oil on canvas - 40 x 120 cm

painted on location - Tues 31 Aug. 2021

SOLD

Again decided to paint a view of the whole of Zuiderstrand, the real beach of The Hague. On the horizon you can see a smoke stak from one of the many oil refineries located at the harbor entrance to Rotterdam. Wild clouds, strong waves, and lots of Sun make this scenery enjoyable to digest, at least that's my thought.

 

Scheveningen Beach and Boulevard summer 2021 & 2015 - original canvas print

Scheveningen Strand / Boulevard zomer 2021,

Ink on canvas - 30 x 200 cm

€ 375

 

Scheveningen Strand / Boulevard zomer 2015,

Ink on canvas - 30 x 200 cm

€ 375

Here you have the latest painting of this subject which i have been tackling for years now. Believe me it is a struggle to get in all those details, on such a massive size canvas and especially that I make it on location! Thus the elements of the outdoors are either for me or against me. Usually I choose to be on location when they are working for me, (I have no choice really). I'm standing on a wide open space, a pier made of huge cement elements topped with a road wide enough, for emergency vehicles to travel on.   

I enjoyed every minute of the making of this painting. Meeting all kinds of friendly nice people, who made several enquiries as to the technique and equipment I use.  I was getting a lot of compliments, thus I knew then that I was on to something good.  For your viewing pleasure 3 close ups.