The Minerva, Scheveningen

Het driemaster gaffelschoener "de Minerva,  Tweede Haven, Scheveningen
oil on linen - 50 x 70 cm 
painted on location - April 26 - May 2/3  2018  

 SOLD

Here is an example of  a work I decide to repaint after giving considerable thought to the original composition. An artist has the freedom to do what he or she wishes, thus I exercised that freedom and came up with this imaginary scene. 

text from original posting;

Originally built in 1935 in Brake, Germany, over the years she has been fully restored and made seaworthy. This is the second time I paint this charming three master Tall ship, a true classic.  As a plein air painter she is a lovely subject to work from. The light was perfect, casting shadows here and there, allowing me to observe all those juicy details, like the reflections on the calm water.   

Promises of Spring with the Rolling Waves

beloften van de lente met de rollende golven
oil on canvas - 20 x 140 cm
painted on location - Friday 1 April 2016
SOLD

Yes ladies and gentlemen, promises of spring. The water slowly warms up as the Sun now stays with us much longer. Activity begins to increase both on and off shore, as you can see on the horizon line of the above panoramic painting. Below a picture taken the very moment the work was completed.

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
SOLD

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.

Race of The Classics, View off South Beach, The Hague

Race of The Classics, Gezicht vanaf Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas, 30 x 150 cm
painted on location, Friday 16 October 2015
SOLD

 As if I was lead there by some unseen force, it was my destiny to be at the right place at the right time, to immortalise this very rare view, off the coast of Scheveningen, Holland.  I was not planning to be painting that morning, Actually I went to collect my parasol, at the beach, and low and behold, this happening was just getting started, they were still leaving the harbour.  I immediately ran back to my car, drove as quickly as possible to my studio, grabbed my gear and was back on location. I couldn't believe my eyes, there must have been what seemed like 30 or more of these babies, circling, manoeuvring in all directions.  Everybody on the beach was mesmerised, all making films on their mobiles. I'm pretty sure I was the only painter making a painting, and that my dear friends is what makes this work truly unique. Does anybody know someone who works for archival department, city of The Hague, am sure they would be interested!

A beautiful late winters day

Een mooie late winters dag,
oil on mdf panel - 17 x 24 cm
painted ion location - Thurs 12 March 2015
SOLD

Yes a beautiful late winters day and am so grateful I had the opprtunity to be on location on the "Stille strand" in Den Haag. Still a bit chilly, but thanks to the Sun shine and little wind, it made it a pleasure. Everything was looking very ordinary, not much action yet on the beach, thus it took a few minutes for me to finally decide to paint this view. I stayed on and did another painting, as the light was getting warm and the Golden hour was just beginning. Thus I set up another canvas and made the painting here below.

Symphony of color finds Scheveningen #4

Een symfonie van kleur vindt Scheveningen # 4
oil on canvas - 20 x 60 cm
painted on location - Wed. 25 Feb. 2015 -  Repainted in studio Wed 29 June 2016
SOLD


Again I found myself attracted to this harbour. I rather enjoy the challenge of having to simplify and leave out as much detail as possible in order to make this view visually digestible to the human eye. This then results in creating a certain mood which, of course is subjective to the viewer.

The Sea and nothing but The Sea, #1,2 &3

Het Zee en niks anders #1,
oil on mdf - 10 x 17.5 cm
painted on location - Tuesday 17 Feb 2015
SOLD

Het Zee en niks anders #2
oil on mdf - 10 x 17.5 cm
painted on location - Tuesday 17 Feb 2015
SOLD

Het Zee en niks anders #3
oil on mdf - 10 x 17.5 cm
painted on location - Tuesday 17 Feb 2015

SOLD

Here I have decided to paint the movement of the waves on such a beautiful sunny day, only still very cold but with little wind it was manageable to be on location. The panels represent what it must look like when you are out on the Sea. even though I painted these at the waters edge, on a beach. These works are ready to hang, and they don't need a frame.

AtBS #2,3,4-2014

Pad naar Zee, Westduinpark, DH, (AtBS #2 -2014)
oil on canvas - 30 x 80 cm
painted on location - Tues  20 May 2014
SOLD

The most recent painting of my last creative outburst. Here you see the sea from  high op in the dunes. These people are on their way to enjoy the beach with the warm sunny weather we have been experiencing lately.

Dagje op strand, (AtBS #3- 2014)
oil on canvas - 40 x 120 cm
painted on location - Wed 16 July 2014
SOLD

Here you have a scene showing kids and families having fun or just chilling out on the beach. I was positioned near the beach cafe De Staat, and the view is looking North. Was lucky the Minerva was sailing by in all its majesty. In fact I was so inspired I decided to knock off the little study you see below.

                                                                      De Eendracht
                                                               oil on canvas - 13 x 18 cm
                                               painted on location - Sat. 17 May 2014  -   SOLD

Moeder en kind op strand -(AtBS#4-2014)
oil on canvas - 60 x 90 cm
painted on location - Fri 16 May 2014
SOLD

With the warm temperatures rising,  it didn't take long before the beaches started filling up. However this is an enormous beach, thus there is still lots of space for everybody and their dogs. Still quite early in the day, when the light is just right for such views to paint.

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!

Van Oord in action, South Beach, Netherlands

Gezicht op 'de zandmotor', Zuiderstrand, DH, bij Strandsnslag #10
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Wed 16 Feb. and Thurs 17 Feb. 2011


SOLD


Not usually my choice of subject matter, but like all the other curious people passing by, il pittores interest for what was going on, was enough to inspire the making of this painting. A scene which is hardly ever visible, as these are once in a lifetime type of projects. Well, for better or for worse, I tackled the scene at hand. What might be of interest for you the viewer of this work to know is exactly what's going on here! You see that ship, not far away, it is actually discharging tons and tons of sand mixed with water, via that object attached on the front of the ship. This sand and water is then transported by a series of complex pumps, tubes, plastic and metal I imagine. This sand finally gets discharged on the beach. You can see it, gushing(flowing) out of a large iron tube, which is just behind the bull dozer featured on the beach. Thus all that water and sand which is being used to widen the beach, is stemming from that ship! The ship has just sucked all that sand from the bottom of the sea about 6 or 7 kilometers away from the shore. The thousands of seagulls are having a feast, because of course all sorts of delicious sea life is mixed up in the sand/water. By the way, Van Oord is the name of one of the companies that is carrying out this complex operation.