Oh were, oh were has the Sun gone to?

Panoramisch Zeegicht # 4 -2013, 

oil on canvas, 20 x 140 cm

painted - Thurs 25 April 2013

                                                                            SOLD

Gezicht op Noordwijk Aan Zee vanaf strand Katwijk

oil on MDF, 16 x 23.5 cm

painted - Thurs 25 April 2013

                                                                          SOLD

Better late than never, as the saying goes! Made almost a month ago, I have decided to post these two works made on a paint out with Sonja Brussen and her mate Ernst. Starting off as overcast day with clouds hovering about, however  the Sun's rays evaporated them gradually as the hours past. Started with the smaller work, then decided it was a charming enough situation to make it worthy of capturing yet another gentle breaking waves at the shoreline scene.

                                               

                  Here I am working on the panoramic seascape from this posting, Thanks Ernst for taking the picture.

At the beach series 1 & 2 - 2013

Jumping for joy, finally summer,
oil on mdf  - 15 x 27 cm
painted at Wassenaarseslag - Tues 7 May 2013
SOLD

Mother and child with childern have fun,
oil on mdf - 12 x 50 cm
painted at Wassenaarseslag - Tues 7 May 2013
SOLD

Most of the time I paint large panaoramic beach views to give the impression of the vastness of the sea. But now since the weather has finally picked up here in The Lowlands, the beaches are starting to get visited by families with childern, making for great subject matter to paint! A challenge which I have decided to take on and develop into a new series. Leker en gezillig, vind je neit!

Path to the Sea, with a Jackie

Paad door de duinen, met een Jackie
oil on canvas, 20 x 40 cm
painted  on location - Tues 23 April 2013
SOLD

Here is a second attempt on this location. If you go back a few postings on my blog you can see the 1st attempt. The path I usually take to the beach, my outdoor studio! You can see a faint sign of the city. What I like about going to the beach is this 5 minute walk through this Nature reserve. It clears my mind of worldly concerns and connects me with Mother Nature, this for me is an important part of my creative expression.

Study for "Sail Center 107", Kijkduin, during sand storm

Studi voor "Sail Center 107", Kijkduin, tijdens storm
oil on MDF, 11.5 x 18.5 cm
painted - Thurs 18 April 2013
SOLD

This little work was made just prior to the work which I posted 4 days ago. A different format, however it still gives a good rendering of the situation at hand. That was the development of the sand storm which was blowing loads of sand by the second past this club house.

Large view of South Beach, The Hague

Grote gezicht op Zuidstrand, DH (met veel Zon)
oil on canvas, 50 x 70 cm
made on location - Sat 20 April 2013
SOLD

Just a beautiful day to be out painting on location, last Saturday. Still windy and cold, but positioned out of the wind, it felt great! This is the new look of our beach here in The Hague, they have widened it considerably, and yes the ZandMotor is working just perfectly. You can actually see it under the smoke staks of Hoek van Holland. Had fun with the sky, resulting in an enormous amount of space offered to the viewers.

"Sail Center 107", Kijkduin

Sail Center 107, Kijkduin, tijdens zandstorm,

oil on canvas, 30 x 120cm

painted on location - Thurs 18 April 2013

SOLD

I was fortunate to be able to work from the terras of the Reddingsbergade (Life Gaurd Station), thus completely out of the wind. As you can see it was an extremely windy day, making it almost impossible to be at the beach. Featured on this canvas is a bike rider on the new path, he had the wind behind him, thus went by in a flash. You can barely make out the Atlantic Hotel and Kijkduin Boulevard, which kept fading in and out of view, depending on the amount of sand was being blown off the 'ZandMotor'! Here below a close up.

Beach Entrance #10, Soutn Beach, The Hague

Strandingang 10 Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on 3 wooden panels, 15 x 30 cm
painted on location - Tues. 16 April 2013
SOLD

The wind was so strong it blew those clouds away from this scene in less than 5 minutes!  Of course I was being protected by my faithful new parasol, (already the wind broke one of  the wooden arms, which I promptly repaired). The beach cafe featured is called Staat. This is the entrance I usually use to go on the beach.

View of Scheveningen from South Beach #1-2013

Gezicht op Scheveningen vanaf Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on MDF, 12 x 60 cm
painted on location - Tues 16 April 2013
SOLD

Sunny yet very windy conditions yesterday on the beach. Just on time to get that opening in the cloud covered sky, later it got totally covered. For a small country we certainly have enormously wide open space on the coast. That is one of the reasons I like to paint at the Sea.

Stromy Seascape Studies/South Beach

Voorjaars gezichten op strand met hooge wind
oil on wooden panel, 10 x 15cm
painted on location - Tues  2 April 2013
SOLD

Found myself on the beach for longer than I had planned. The top and the middle works had to be totally repainted as had an incident of the wind blowing the whole panel off my easel and flat on its face on the sand! Speaking of sand, the wind also contributed to these works by transporting fine particales onto the surface of these studies. Luckily most of it will brush off when the paint drys! Top work shows a woman who provides a dog walking service, this area of the beach is great for that, as they are free to run about without a leash. Crashing wave in the middle study. A jogger and dog owner against the light, as it became late afternoon thus figures get reduced to dark shadows against the bright light reflected on the waters surface.

Panoramic view of the North Sea #3 -2013

Panoramische uitzicht op de Noord Zee #3 - 2013, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas, 20 x 140cm
painted on location - Wed 27 March 2013
SOLD

Hard to believe it is Spring here in The Lowlands. Plenty of Sun, yet low temperatures and a fierce wind, probably directly out of some obscure corner of Siberia,  has been making getting out somewhat uncomfortable for most of us. With the protection of my trustworthy 3m diameter parasol, used as a windbreaker, it was possible for me to tackle this size canvas, en Plein Air. Have a good look at the detail below (by clicking on image you get a better look),  you will see evidence of on location painting!

The Yellow Buoy, South Beach, DH

de Gele Buoy, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas, 50 x 100 cm
painted on location - Mon 25 March 2013

"As we live a life of ease, Everyone of us has all we need.  Sky of blue, and sea of green, in our yellow submarine"! (The Beatles).   Had to think of these lyrics as I was making this painting, which features a  yellow buoy and I was next to a yellow beach cafe (De Fuute) ha, ha,....  Extremely cold temperatures due to high winds, most unusual this time of year, thus had to find some shelter in order to get this painting made. Was grateful for the clouds, that add an interesting dimension to this scenery, and gives an indication of the wind.  .

Stormy beach scene at South Beach

Zuiderstrand met hooge wind en naderende regen val,
oil on canvas, 40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Wed 20 March 2013

painted over

The situation yesterday on the beach! Had my parasol with me, using it as a windbreaker, otherwise would have been not possible to be on location! The rain down pour was heading inland thus not a threat to me and the many workers busy with building up the seasonal beach pavilions.

The whispering waves of The North Sea

de fluisterende golven van de Noordzee
oil on canvas, 40 x 60 cm
painted on location - Sun 03 March 2013, and worked on in studio  March 2013
SOLD

On the beach on a cold winters day, not so long ago, this work was made. The light was well defused, hardly no wind to speak of, creating these soft greenish/turquoise tones on the sea surface. Opted to paint in these visiting ducks, rather than the usual seagulls.

Homeward Bound

Gezicht op Nijmegen vanaf  de Waalhaven,
oil on canvas, 50 x 50 cm
painted on location-Mon 11 March 2013
SOLD

Some folks on that Intercity are Homeward bound.  Some may be going to visit friends and family, and still some are going away from home, only to return, soon. This painting was made just prior to the small street scene of the last posting. On a bitter cold morning, with the wind factor just high enough to make being outside uncomfortable, I finally found a spot, next to a parked Nissan.  Getting down as low as possible, thus on my knees,  I managed to lock in this view, and keep the wind  to a minimal. As the cold was too unbearable, after approx. 2hrs my colleague, Rene PleinAir and I decided to call it quits, thus I took a snap shot and finished the detail work on those boats in the comfort of my studio!

Boogie Woogy with Benelux Greys in Nijmegen

Lange Hezelstraat te Nijmegen
oil on canvas, 18 x 13cm
painted on location - Monday 11 March 2013
SOLD

It's a winters day, extremely cold, Sun light is struggling to get through those thick creamy Dutch clouds. Rene PleinAir and I just finished freezing our toes off,  painting at the Waalhaven,  just 5 minutes walk from this location.  We decided to sneak into a cafe for a warm cup of coffee before setting up once again for this quaint Montmarte type scenery.  Thanks to the unfavourable weather conditions this painting was made as fast as possible, thus retaining a freshness that can often get lost when working too long on a painting. 

Rower's, Reeuwijkse Ponds

Roeiers, Reeuwijkse Plassen, Klein Elfhoeven, vanaf Korssendijk, 
20 x 40cm, oil on canvas
painted  - Wed 6 March 2013


The painting was made right after I finished the 3 little studies from my previous posting. What inspired me was the reflections on the water. It was just past mid afternoon, the sky had  cleared up a bit, the Sun well into its descend, casting those soft warm hues.....what else could I do but get it on canvas!  As happens quite often, some Higher Intelligence, throws in a little visual treat, like those rowers passing by, thought it was a nice compliment to this scene, thus painted it in.

Reeuwijke Ponds, near Gouda

Reeuwijkse Plassen, Klein Elfhoeven, vanaf Korssendijk, 
10 x 15cm, oil on gesso wood panel
painted on location - Wed 6 March 2013
SOLD  

Holland has thousands of this sort of large ponds, a favorite location for vacation homes for city dwellers! Here you have signs of spring in the air.  Coloration of trees and plants still not green, which results in this soft display of warm tones.  A delight to paint, bringing out my soft nature!  Made a 4th painting, will be featured on next posting!

picture taken by Henry Retel, Kleinjesfotografie 

Seagulls, abundance and The North Sea

Meeuwen, overvloed en de Noordzee
oil on canvas, 30 x 150cm
painted on location - Thurs 21 Feb 2013
SOLD

No shortage of feeding for these seagulls and a few crows. Brought up by the natural movement of the tide, a variety of shelled sea creatures, become a source of life sustenance to this group of  feathered beings. While painting this scene I had this thought ringing in my head, the Good Lord doth provides, for creatures large and small!  Personally I'd rather say,  Mother Nature provides. But that is only a play with words. The point is I am convinced that there is an overflow of Abundance on this planet, however there may be a misconception with ownership and distribution!
BTW,  for your information, what you see here is the most Northerly point of the Zandmotor,  joining up with the beach at Kijkduin.

A Soft Winters Seascape #2 -2013

"Een zachte winters zeegezicht" 
#2 - 2013
oil on canvas, 40 x 50 cm
painted - Monday 18 feb 2013

SOLD

This painting  was made just before the the one I published on my last posting, thus 2 works were made on that session. Simple, non complicated composition....looks easy, yeah right....Here is a quote from a well known Artist...... What one has most to work and struggle for in painting is to do the work with a great amount of labour and sweat in such a way that it may afterwards appear, however much it was laboured upon, to have been done almost quickly and almost without any labour, and very easily, although it was not. (Michelangelo) 

Sunny Winters day at Kijkduin

Zonnige Wintersedag, Kijkduin
oil on canvas, 30 x 90cm
Jan/Feb 2013 SOLD

Have worked on this painting on several occasions, both on location and finally in the studio. Of course we had that snow storm which changed the situation of this view totally! Anyway got it off just in time for the exhibition opening this coming Sunday, in that very large building which is, the Atlantic Hotel, in Kijkduin. The play of light, casting shadows, creates tension and helps in defining the space. Ones eye is gently ushered far away to the vanishing point, by both the beach line and the white fence at the boulevard. Here below a picture of an on location session, taken by my daughter Selena!

View of Kijkduin from the 'ZandMotor'

Winterse strand gezicht, Kijkduin vanaf 't ZandMotor,
oil on canvas, 20 x 60cm
painted on location - Fri 25 Jan 2013
SOLD

Just on time to capture this scene, as of yesterday the snow has all but melted away! I set up my gear right at the northerly most point of the man made Zand Motor, (unique in the world, pilot project of 32.2 million cubic meters of sand added onto the beach, covering an area of approx 100 hectares, 22 football fields). It was early afternoon, the Sun still casting a soft warm light on the white snow covered beach. which helped create all those warm hues on the surface. Not a cloud in the sky, thus the light was almost blinding. Naturally I had it behind me, thus it worked in my favour. Again just a reminder of my up and coming exhibition in the building 2nd from the right of the painting.

Sunset on The White Beach

Zuiderstand met sneeuw tijdens Zonsondergand 
oil on canvas, 60 x 80cm
painted on location - Tues/Wed  15/16 Jan 2013
SOLD

The first real great snowfall here in Holland, and guess what, The Hague got hit the hardest! That made for some beautiful scenery, in otherwise not so interesting places. Here I have returned to a theme which I explored in depth a few years ago when I first started this project, "Wet Paintings from The Lowlands"!  As some of you may already know, I am preparing paintings for my up and coming exhibition in the NH Atlantic (Hotel) Kijkduin. The entrance to the beach shown in this painting is directly in front of that hotel. Below a picture taken by photographer, Peter van Bennekom, just as I got started on this canvas, late in the afternoon, whilst the Sun was low thus casting warm hues and created this lovely view!   .

   

Carnivale 2012 by day.

Gezicht op Carnivale 2012, Den Haag bij daaglicht,
oil on canvas, 30 x 90cm
painted on location - Sun  30 Dec 2012 -(In studio Tues 8 Jan 2013)
SOLD
It is winter, the days are short, it is just after opening at the Carnival, the time is 2.15 in the afternoon.   The crowds have yet to arrive, however il pittore takes advantage of the still dry weather conditions, and makes a go of this fascinating scenery.  The assistant to the Anatomy Lesson Professor watches on to the innocence of to little girls sharing some candy floss. Both the century old merry-g0-rounds are in motion. Parents are enjoying themselves, but really the kids are having the time of their lives, and that my friends is what it is all about!  Here below, two close ups, for your viewing pleasure.

Carnivale 2012 by Evening

Gezicht op Carnivale 2012, Den Haag bij nachtlicht,
oil on canvas, 30 x 90cm
painted on location - Fri/Sat  28/29 Dec 2012
SOLD

Here you have a glimpse at the old fashioned carnival by evening light. On the left, brilliantly coloured toddlers merry-go-round, then the grown up kids version, circling in action, next to that, the anatomy lesson pavilion. A fire burning in a metal barrel, (one of many), keeps the parents warmed up.

Carnivale's in Town, Entrance

Ingang Carnivale 2012, Den Haag
oil on canvas board, 18 x 24cm
painted on location - Sunday 30 Dec 2012
SOLD

Let me take you back in time. Actually let Joris Hentenaar and his crew take you back in time! This old fashioned carnival could have been the stage for a Fellini film, taking place in a small village somewhere in Northern Europe! That was the intention of the organisers of this event, and believe you me, they have succeeded, as you will bear witness in this and my next 2 postings. Three carnival characters are ready to greet you as you step into this make believe setting were you will meet the most bizarre characters.  Flame blowers, jugglers, a woman in a fish bowl, a man who breathes through his eyes, just to name a few.  Of course the children are dazzled and taking it all in, but the century old merry-go-rounds are their favoured attractions.

South Beach, DH, Winter Seascape #2

Gezicht op het Atlantic Hotel, Vanaf Zuiderstrand, DH,
oil on canvas, 30 x 90cm
painted on location - 12 Dec 2012,  (12-12-12)
SOLD

Fantastic winter sky today at the Sea. So it was a real treat to get to paint this scene. However the temperature was very, very low. Although I was warmly dressed, my toes and fingers  were starting to get numb, by the time I decided to call it quits on this canvas. Was inspired by the combination of warm and cold greys that went up in covering most of the canvas. I purposely highlighted the Atlantic Hotel, Kijkduin, as have been invited to hang up an exhibition of my paintings, next Febuaury 2013, (will keep my followers posted on that opening). Below a close up of a couple and their pet dog, strolling along the beach. Some people have the nerve to call the figures on my seascapes, puppets! Upon a close look at this detail, you will see that they are not at all puppets, but rather expressive figures, communicating with gestural movements.

Panoramic Winter Seascape #1 -2012

Panoramisch Winters Zeegezicht #1
oil on canvas, 30 x 150cm
Sat. 8 Dec 2012 - (12.00 - 16.15hrs)
Zuiderstrand, DH
SOLD

Maybe hard to believe with the weather we are now experiencing in Holland, but this was the situation on the beach just a few days ago! Calm, serene waves gently brushing the moist sands of the south beach in Den Haag. Cold as a whip however, and for this I had multi-layered clothing on, from head to foot! This picture is worth having a closer look at, so I recommend you double click on the image.

Panoramic Autumn Seascape, South Beach, DH

Panoramisch herfst Zeegezicht, Zuiderstrand,DH
oil on canvas, 20 X 140cm
painted on location - Zuiderstrand, Kijkduin - Wed 14 Nov 2012 SOLD

  The advantage I have by living in The Hague is that the Sea is always close by. Thus even though the weather forcast was for cloudy, hazy and cold conditions yesterday, something like what we are experiencing today, and has been with us for sometime now, I was able to hit the beach in the early afternoon and make this rest giving seascape. I was struggling over a decision; "do this seascape or go to a park and compose another Autumn Gold painting!" Well, I guess you know what the answer was to that!
 

Autumn Gold #1-2012

De schoonheidszin van de Herfst #1-2012
oil on canvas, 40 x 30 cm
painted on location - Hemmensebos (Zetten), Sun 11 Nov 2012 SOLD

The dogs name is Amy, together with Wilma and Selena they are taking a brisk stroll in a small forest which is in these days a magnificent array of warm hues, really a feast for the eyes, together with sunlight, what a combination! I couldn't pass this moment by,..... luckily I had my gear with me and thus this work was created. Of course they didn't have to pose the whole 45 minutes that it took to make this painting. They came on at the end of their walk, when the painting was at its final stage.

The Sea and nothing but The Sea

de Noord Zee en niks anders
oil on canvas
60 x 70 cm
painted on location - Wed 22 June 2011 and June/Oct 2012 SOLD

This is actually a repainting if a work I made last year at the Noordwijk Painters festival. I basically stayed with the original composition, however I removed a kite surfer, and I changed the coloration of the sea and sky.  Painted on location on two seperate occasions, and re worked slightly in my studio resently. s. 

Here is what the painting looked like originally.....

Scottish Highlanders grazing, Bergen Aan Zee

Schotse Hooglanders grazen, Bergen Aaan Zee, 
oil on canvas board, 30 x 122cm
12 x 18cm (each), painted on location - April 2012, 
SOLD

Another very late entry, but an appropriate time, for the posting as I will be active in Bergen NH this weekend as a participant of the Kunst10Daagse. These lovely creatures were painted shortly after I made the sea scape of Bergen Aan Zee, (posted last week). Of course I had to work with great expediency, as they moved around frequently, often coming towards me to check out what I was up to!

Market Scene with Mother and Child

Gezicht op Markt met Moeder en Kind, Bergen,NH
oil on canvas, 70 x 90cm
painted on location, Oct. 2006 and  Sat 20 Oct 2012

€ 1900

Hello Dear Friends and followers of my postings. Here you have a rather intimate scene of what one can expect whilst strolling down a busy market in a picturesque village here in The Lowlands. This is the centre of Bergen, NH, a cosmopolitan village just west of Alkmaar, in the North of Holland.  If you noticed the dates this painting was started 6 years ago, and has been shelved in my studio as I was not content with the composition. Determined to complete it during the Kunst10Daagse, I took it with me and worked on it a few days ago. The mother and child in the foreground are actually my daughter, Selena and my girlfriend Wilma. They were so kind to pose for me, long enough so as I could complete this painting. The theme repeats itself, just to the left with again, a representation of a child with her Mother. You know they say a painting is worth a 1000 words, and for me this image proves just that. Something about the goodness in Life comes through. We are all going through troubling times, all one heres about these days is finacial crisis. In this painting Nature, Love, Kindness and Abundance are being celebrated. Fruits, vegetables, cheese and eggs a gift of Nature to sustain Life for us. The leafs are showing off there beauty before the trees that they dress are going in for a much deserved Winters rest. What is being communicated between the Mother and Child is not certain, but you can surely guess that it has something to do with  Love an Kindness.  So while the Media is blasting you with negativety, remember there are those of Us, (and we are many), that still take the time to show that Life is Good and Love rules above all!

Sout Beach Cafe, 'De Fuut', DH

Strandpavilijon De Fuut, Zuiderstrand, DH,
oil on canvas, 40 x 60 cm
painted on location - Sept 2012SOLD


My favorite subject to paint on South Beach, here in The Hague. The play of light on this painting works will in defining he space and giving one a sense of volume re the subject being painted. This scene is already history for the remainder of this year and won't be back until April 2013! These cafes are seasonal and are broken down for the winter.

Windy beach scene, Bergen Aan Zee, NH

Strandgezicht, Bergen Aan Zee, met hooge wind,
oil on canvas, 40 x 50 cm
painted on location, April 2012
SOLD

Working on location with such conditions, one has to get the paint on the canvas as soon as possible, and not delay for even 1 minute, as rain and wind can do irreversable damage to the freshly applied paint on the surface of the linnen. I had just enough time to get this composition completed, capturing the light of a given moment. With the the racing clouds, the changes are swiift and it becomes a question of working from memory, even though I'm on location.

Opa picking Dahlia's, near Zundert

Opa aan het Dahlia's plucken te Zundert
oil on canvas board, 18 x 24cm (7 x 9.5inches)
Thurs 30 August 2012
SOLD

Not really my Grandfather, just a title to a painting! Again, a work made sometime ago now, however better to post it rather than leaving it on the shelf, as they say! Was active in Zundert, at the end of August for a few days, making  paintings of the Dahlia flower fields with the pickers. They were getting the flowers ready to pin on the waggons  that would be shown on the parade of the famous Bloemencorso, held annually at the end of August.

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?