Autumn splendor in Delft

Herfst sfeer te Delft
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Sat 24 Sept 2011

SOLD

While paying a visit to a gallery owner that represents some of my work, (located next to that red building on the right). I couldn't resist making this little scene of the situation at hand. A very playful treatment of brush and paint on a canvas that already had a light burgundy reddish tint, thus you see that coming through, especially on the lower left and bottom of canvas.

Footprints on the beach, South Beach, DH

Vertical NoordZeegezicht #6, met catamaran
oil on canvas
80 x 60 cm - (31.5 x 24 inches, thus a fair size!)
painted on location - Fri 23 Sept 2011, re-worked in studio, Mon 26 Sept 2011  -  SOLD


Here you have yet another vertical format seascape, however this time not so extreme with the verticalness! I had to do quite some work to this scene, in my studio. Still fresh with the memory of the situation, and of course how could I not remember what that strech of beach looks like, after all these years! Thanks to a few days of high winds, and some very hard crashing breaking waves, the shoreline begins to take on a natural flavor. Personally I like it better this way. So much re-ordering of things (the Dutch love to do this) has taken place on this beach, it was looking too neat for sometime. A lovely day for sailing, and taking a stroll on the beach, thus evidence of both appear on the canvas. If you look close enough, you will see the chap on the cat! If you don´t know it yet, you can click on the image to see it enlarged.

Vertical North Seascape # 5

Verticaal vlak, Noordzee # 5
oil on canvas
80 x 30 cm
painted on location - Fri 16 Sept 2011

SOLD

Capturing the Dutch light at Sea, seems to be becoming a new theme for me. What is interesting for me, is that I can really get those clouds down on the surface of the canvas. And what is of interest for you, is the unusual format of this series. Allowing the possibility to create space in those dead end corners of your living quarters. As these canvases take up much more hieght than width, the possibilities are unique.

The red beach towel

't rode strandhanddoek
oil on canvas, 150 x 30cm
painted on location - Fri 16 Sept 2011


Here is something different, for a change! Up to now have made these so called, 'vertical format seascapes' a modest hieght of 100cm. As most of you know, Holland is re-knowned for its lovely clouds. Well, with this format, I have choosen to focus the attention to the them, by covering most of the surface of the canvas with sky. Again, as taking pictures of these format paintings does not justify the details


Just to give you an idea of the size of this painting!

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.

Chilling out on a sunny beach

Geneiten van strand leven, WAZ
oil on canvas, 50 x 120 cm painted on location - 25 May 2011 (reworked in the studio, 8 Sept 2011)  -  SOLD


Well as I look out my window right now, it is pouring down cats and dogs! The wind is slightly bending over trees, thus not too threatening, but just altogether unpleasant weather..... Todays posting was made on a pleasant spring day, with obviously comfortably warm temperatures, and a refreshing breeze to caress the warmed up exposed flesh of these sun bathers. Funny I never posted this work up to now, as I felt it was not complete. However, after straightening out the horizon line and adding a few more tints of Royal Blue Light to the sky, I felt confident to make this painting available to the public. The detail below shows just how loosely the brush work on this canvas was applied. I really was surprised with the twisting motion of that topless woman featured at the bottom center. Sometimes the brush does things that you coudn't achieve, even if you try. An amazing experience, as the result occurs merely by the intention, and not so by the willing physical actions of the painter.

Misty Panoramic Seascape, South Beach

Mistig zeegezicht met zachte luct
oil on canvas, 30 x 150 cm
painted on location - Fri 2 Sept 2011
SOLD

Struck by a sudden heat wave, here in The Lowlands, the atmospheric conditions took some time to get adjusted. This caused for much moisture to get trapped between the sea's surface and the cooler temperatures soaring high in the sky. The effect was pleasant and interesting enough to capture on canvas, thus il pittore packed his gear and headed out to his favorite spot on Zuiderstrand, The Hague. Characterized by soft breaking waves, and a hardly visible horizon line, this scene was colorfully accented with the depiction of a few sailboats, three persons and a dog.
Again, as it is extremely difficult to get a sharp image on these large panoranic paintings, two close ups for your viewing pleasure.

A Calming Sea view with yellow bouy

Rustgevend zee met gele boui
oil on canvas
20 x 140 cm
painted on location - Thurs 25 August 2011



You come home from a rough day at the office. You battle your way through heavy traffic on the motorway. You turn on the tube, and all you see is violence and mostly disturbing situations. What the hell, is it all coming to, you ask......Well, the good news is, there is still hope, there is still sanity, if all you will do, is look for it...... Il pittore makes it his business to look for it. But not only that..... to record it and to bring it into your home, is what il pittores mission in life has proven to be. Is there some value in this? I certainly think so, and if only you will allow yourself the luxury of re-experiencing that perfect moment, in time and space, that il pittore experienced, on location, with his paints and canvas, you might find that your own being would benefit from his efforts.

A very pretty Dutch boat, Markdal, Breda

Eve pauze, aan de water, Markdal, Ginneken, Breda
oil on canvas
24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Sun. 21 Aug 2011

SOLD

Here we are, back in Holland! The scene depicted is of a very pretty Dutch boat, secured on the banks of an iner city water-way, part of the nature reserve, Markdal near Breda. I was invited to paint, along with others, as part of Zomersfestival Breda 2011. Upon arrival on this Nature reserve my eyes were immediately drawn to this serene and tranquil scene. I liked most of all the reflections on the water, but that boat......., Is that not a work of craftmanship or what? The flag and the couple seated next to it, add nice accents to an already picture perfect scene. Couldn't pass it up, thus, gave it my best shot!

The Charm of France # 1

De betoveren van Frankrijk # 1, Ainay-le-Chateau, Cher
oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm
painted on location - Thurs 4 Aug 2011
SOLD

Not far from the fields were I painted those grazing cattle, on my 8 day sorjourn in France, is located this quaint Medieval village called, Ainay-le-Chateau. It is late in the morning, the Sunlight is just making its presence on the scene, thus bringing to life the gay colors on the buildings facade. A most picturesque clock tower, which at one time had the function of protecting the dwellers of this village from intruding vagrants and other unwanted guests! Although they don't have a dominant role in my paintings, I always like to include people. Thus a close-up, uncase you missed them!

Limousin cattle grazing, Cher, France

Limousin Vee graast, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - thurs 4 August 2011
SOLD

The boy in the blue shirt, most likely the farmers son, is slightly bent over, having a few words of consulation with his pet Labrador puppy. The cattle still taking advantage of the wet due engulfed around every single blade of grass, on this will maintained field of emerald green. Here, on this small piece of rural earth, Life is unfolding the way it should be. Located in the department of Cher, France, almost in the middle of this country of gentle rolling hills. Il pittore, on target, doing his thing, captures a moment of sublime tranquility, a moment of innocent beauty. The lighting conditions are exceptionally perfect, at this hour of the day. The cattle are by now used to me, as this field is directly across the dirt road, were I painted the lovely Charolais cattle, in the previous 2 mornings.

Charolais Cattle Grazing 2 , Central France

Charolais Vee graast 2, Bessais le Fromental, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - 2 Aug 2011
SOLD

Same field as the last posting, yet some differences. It was painted more or less at the same time of day, yet the cattle are arranged differently, and the view of the feild is slightly seen from further away. It was not easy for me to capture the correct porportions of the cattle. As I refuse to work from pictures, I had to quickly paint them in, and beleive you me, more cows were erased or reworked than you actually see on the finished work.

Charolais Cattle, Bessais le Fromental, France

Charolais Vee graast, Bessais le Fromental, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sun 31 July 2011
SOLD


Finding myself amidst these lovely gentle creatures, whilst they went about their business of grazing the green grasses of these unspoiled rolling hills here in the pristine countryside of Cher, France, (about 3 hrs drive s. of Paris). I felt moved to apply the colors of my palet on canvases, I had taken with me, from my studio in The Hague. I was taking part in an Art week held at a Buddhist retreat centre called, AmidaFrance. To capture those shadows I was on location at about 0745hrs. It felt good to show up for breakfast with already a canvas completed! Here below a detail of this breed of cattle. As I don't work from pictures, you can see that the paint is applied rather swiflty.

View from the island Panarea, Sicily

Gezicht vanaf de eiland Panarea, Sicilia
oil on 3 wood panels
10 x 45 cm
painted on location - 13 July 2011

Private collection-Panarea

Will dear reader, as is clearly evident, this is absolutely not a view off the coast of The North Sea! Finding myself on a short vacation, on this exotic tiny island, off the coast of N/E Sicily, part of the archipelago, Eolian Islands, I managed to get a couple of small paintings done. In the distance, that triangular shaped island is actually an active vulcano, called Stromboli. Every evening one gets an astonishing display of lava bursting high (200 meters) into the sky, causing one to witness, a spectacle of Nature rarely seen. From the distance shown on the painting, one sees an intense light of orange/red, coming from the top left side of the peak, as if a gigantic light bulb is being switched on and off. Closer in view, is the uninhabited island of Basiluzzo. A favorite location for yachts and pleasure boats to anchor and enjoy the crystal clear waters and take in the natural beauty of the rocky cliffs, eroded over the centuries by both wind and water.

Here below I include 2 pictures of a work I made in 1988. It is an areal view of the islands between Panarea and Stromboli. It measures 110 x 160 cm, and is on display in the lobby of the luxurious, Hotel Cincotta.

A pleasant summers day on the Beach

Gezellig zomers dag an het strand, Noordwijk Aan Zee
oil on canvas
60 x 120 cm (24 x 47 inches)
painted on location - 5 July 2011

private collection, Noordwijk

I was asked to make this painting during the painters festival 2 weeks ago. However it was not realized until yesterday, as the weather was not at all cooperative. The location is Noordwijk, I was sit up directly in front of the luxurious Huis ter Duin Hotel, next to the catamarans. The landmark lighthouse stands stalwart and proud on the extreme right side of the canvas. The water was obviously a treat for people to cool off in the warm summer temperatures. Not a bad location to enjoy a hot summers day!

Beach scene with Kite Surfers

Strandgezicht met 'Kite surfers', Noordwijk
oil on canvas
50 x 70 cm
painted on location - Fri 24 June 2011  -  SOLD

Just back from a week painting on location, in Noordwijk Aan Zee, as a participant of the Schildersfestival, (painters festival). This is one of 21 paintings that I made in 7 days! Fortunately, I managed to sell 19 of them! They ranged in size from 10 x 15 cm up to 60 x 120 cm. We had very high winds for six days in a row! Believe me after a while your ears start ringing, and fine sand particals seem to like finding locations on your body to take refuge form the tormenting force of the swift flowing air! This work was created next to my own 3 meter parasol which I layed on the sand and attached to a pole. Thus barracading the easel and myself from the wind and rain!

View of The North Sea Regatta

Gezicht op de Noord Zee Regatta
oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sunday 12 June 2011

SOLD

The view point is beach entrance(strandslag) number 10, Westduinpark, The Hague. The horizon line was literally dotted with hundreds of sailboats of all sizes. Must have been a superb day to sail, as the wind was quite strong. Fascinating color displays on the surface of the water, as the clouds kept blocking the suns light, thus creating all sorts of longated patterns on the 'Sea of Green'. Approximately 20 mintes after I finished this painting, the sky in view, was completely overcast with a thich layer of clouds causing the waters surface to tranform into a dull Benelux grey. It is hard to see on this digital representation of the oil painting, but I have indicated these clouds coming in, as one can see by the rough brush work on the top left of the canvas.

Sailing in the Rain, South Beach, DH

Zeelen tijdens 't regent, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Sunday 05 June 2011

SOLD

You might be curious as to how I got that painted on location, whilst it was raining! Will thanks to the sailing clubhouse The Hague, I was able to sit up next to the building, which protected me from the rain. It was just a slight drizzle, on and off, actually, thus not a threatening situation. I rather like the mood that the sea gives off on these sumber days. All those variations of benelux greys, at times, give one a rather calming soothing affect. Certainly not the least bit unpleasant to appreciate. Also I enjoyed painting the wet sand. Of course I gave myself some artistic freedom with the colors scheme, but what the hell, I'm in the business of creating beauty, not ugliness.

Wind Force 7, The North Sea

Windkracht 7, 't NoordZee
oil on canvas
100 x 30 cm
painted on location, Friday 27 May 2011

SOLD

As a colleague of mine commented, a bit of a Japanese influence on this seascape, re the format. I wasn't thinking about that when I made this work. Just wanted to get some painting done, on a day which was totally inhospitable to a plein air painter, thus had to sit up on the terrace shown on the previous posting, protected by the glass panels. A friendly price, as this is a 1st, working on such a format. A little feedback would be nice, thanks.

Beach Cafe scene, North Zee

Op terras bij strandpavilijon 'De Kust', Wijk Aan Zee
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Tues 24 May 2011


Well here I am back on the coast, and let me tell you,...what a windy coast line it has been, here in The Lowlands! Finding myself at Wijk Aan Zee as a participant of the annual painters festival,"Ezels&Kwasten", this is the 1st of 7 paintings made in 4 days! The light was fantastic and as you can see plays a major role in the formation of this colorful terrace scene. Proteced by those glass panels, guests of the cafe and myself were able to enjoy the fresh sea air, without being hendered by the wind. If you look at the red banner flag, just behind the glass panel, (extreme right side of painting), you will get an indication of the force of the wind.

Here below you have the scene of the continuation of this terrace. Painted a couple of days later, with more or less the same windy atmospheric conditions. This painting was sold within a matter of hours, to a local couple who frequent this cafe, and usually occupy this corner table of the terrace, while having drinks.
(Just a reminder....by klicking on the paintings,You can have a more detailed look at them.)

Den Bosch, On a sunny day

Gezicht op Lepelstraat, Den Bosch
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Sat. 21 May 2011


Last week I participated in a plein air painters festival in this well maintained old city, here in the Lowlands. Normally this scene would be not interesting to paint, but with the high contrasts afforded by the shadows, thanks to the sunlight, it becomes a feast for the painters eyes. I cleverly sit up under a parasol, thus on the shadey side. Only problem was, the terrace was going to open up to the public in 1hr and 20 minutes! I took the challenge, and don't know what you think, but I am pleased with the result. (tip..... never start painting on a completely white canvas, this canvas already had the dark background)

St. Joris Café, The Hague, (Postcard size #1)

Cafe Sint Joris, Den Haag, Kleine
oil on wood panel
10 x 15 cm
painted on location - Wed 11 May 2011


Just keeping busy with small format city scenery, prepairing myself for a plein air painting festival in Den Bosch starting today, until next Sunday 22 May. The theme of this festival will be City life, and what better way to pass away a good time with friends than sitting at a quaint terrace with a cold pint of your favorie brew.

Pulling the Cat to Sea, South Beach, DH, #2/2011

Naar zee met 't 'Cat'
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Sunday 8 May 2011  SOLD

The day is off to a fabulous start. Just enough wind to make these two sailors effort of towing their cat worthwhile! Me, I'm more concerned about the light, thus getting on location well before the Sun reaches its zeinth, is vital, otherwise all those nice colours and shadows will get far too illuminated.

Path to the Sea, Westduinpark, The Hague

Nieuwe Pad naar Zee, Westduinpark, DH
oil on canvas - 60 x 90 cm
Fri 29 April and Sun 01 May 2011

painted over, no longer exists

What a difference a day makes! If you look at the painting on the bottom of this post, you will see just what I am talking about! Today, I present to you a repainting of the same scene, as depicted on the bottom picture, (which btw was paintied on 29 July 2010). Something about that painting made last summer, just didn't sit right with me. I finally decided to re-work it, opting for a more serene situation of the same view. Thus no clouds, and less growth in the flora, to calm things down. The municipality has taken away one of the paths, allowing for nature to fill in vacant space. Incidentally, this path leads to the sailing club and the strecht of beach that I so often paint.

Sailing Clubhouse, The Hague #1/2011

't Catamaran, Zuiderstrand, Den Haag, 1/2011
oil on canvas, 50 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sat 23 April 2011 
SOLD

With the great weather we have been having lately, the new season is off to an early start here at South Beach. A well groomed beach, looks orderly, clean and most importantly, spacious. It is still early as I set up for this painting. The morning moisture is evaporting, with the heat and Sunlight, a Sea vapor predominates the atmosphere. It is going to be a busy day on the beach, and here at the clubhouse, gearing up for the seasons 1st race.

Tulip bulbfields near Anna Paulowna, NH

Tulipvelden, Anna Paulowna, NH
oil on canvas
30 x 100 cm - (12 x 39 inches)
painted on location - Thurs 21 April 2011 (finished in studio Thurs 28 April 2011)



Yes don't those tulips love water! Especially during the heat wave we just experienced here in The Lowlands. Featured in this painting is the landmark water tower of this village, an irrigation ditch, (which wasn't even there, but I concluded that the composition needed something to balance itself), and functioning water sprinklers. Thus the production of tulip bulbs is indeed a fail-safe operation in this part of the world!

Tulip bulbfield, Schagen, Holland

Bollenvelden, Schagen, NH
oil on canvas, 30 x 100 cm
painted on location - Wed 20 April 2011 
SOLD

In this painting you see one of the same windmills which was featured on the previous posting. Only this time from another prespective. I got down as low as possible, basically seated myself on the earth, in a cross-legged position. Not very comfotable, let me tell you, especially after the 1st hour! I've decided to publish 2 highlights in this posting. Giving you the chance to compare modern energy producing windmills with the classical water managment windmill.

Muscari Latifolium Bulb field, NH.

Bollen Veld #1, Schagen, NH
oil on canvas
30 x 80 cm (12 x 32 inches)
painted on location - Wed 20 April 2011

Privater collection, Sora(Fr), Italy

A first for il pittore. First time I've painted these world renowned bulb fields here in The Lowlands. Being on location so close by, one gets intoxicated by the pungent scent of these beautifully colored flowers. Visually a feast for the eyes, however painting them is another story! The hue of these fields is so intense, that even at a great distance the color still maintains its character. This presents a problem to us plein - air painters, because after all, we do have to convince you the viewer of prespective, don't we? Fortuneately leading the lines to one vanishing point does help! Below a close up so as to show you the texture of the paint on the canvas. Remember you can see the image larger by double clicking it.

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!

The new look, South Beach/DH #2

Gezicht op Kijkduin, met 't Zandmotor, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas
40 x 100 cm
painted on location - Thurs 7 April 2011
SOLD

Back on my own stomping grounds! Here a view similar to the previous scene painted on the beach, however one important detail I have highlighted on this canvas (see close up below the text), is the new Zandmotor, being built up to further add sand to this beach. Only this time, Nature will assist Man, in that the waves will transport the sand that has amassed on that man made peninsula (schiereiland). The ships visilble in the distance, i believe from Van Oord, in fact are busy unloading tons and tons of sand, which they first suck up from the bottom of the sea, some 7 or 8 kilometeres off shore. Then this sand is dislodged by very sophisticated mechanical means, thus the 'zandmotor' is built up. Eventually that same sand will end up on our beach, this time transported by natural wave action. Just how long that will take....well, only God knows!

Market Square, Den Bosch #2

Markt gezicht, s-Hertogenbosh #2
oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm
painted on location - Tues 5 April 2011
SOLD

This is the 2nd paintng made in this lovely historically important city. Here you have a representation of one of the few original buildings in its mediaeval glory. The parasols shown here are the same ones from the previous posting, only seen from a different view point. Not a common style of painting for me, but I feel it works well for cityscapes. Incidently, if you are visiting this city someday, and you need directions, that blue flag is a landmark for the tourist information office.

Market Square, Den Bosch

Markt, 's-Hertogenbosch #1
oil on canvas
40 x 50 cm
painted on location - Tuesday 5 April 2011
SOLD

Finding myself in Den Bosch on a paint outing with 5 other plein - air painters, organized by Rob Jacobs, of Gallery Jass , I made this and another smaller format work. Setting myself up directly in front of the entrance to the Bijenkorf, looking towards the towers of the monumental St. John's Cathedral. The composition was to my liking, however there was so much information before me, that I thought, the only way to handle this, is to loosen up, and work with a palet knife. That was the 1st phase of the painting, then I went back with brush work to highlight certain details. BTW, for your interest, that green house above the 1st parasol on the left, is the birthplace of one of Hollands greatest painters, Hieronymos Bosch.

St. George and the Dragon Café, The Hague

Op 't terras bij Sint Joris en de Draeck, DH
oil on canvas
50 x 70 cm - (20 x 28 inches)
painted on location in 6 settings - 20/3/2011 - 02/04/2011

SOLD

In my eyes the most picturesque, café scene The Hague has to offer! Situated on a corner, Weimarstraat with Van Swietenstraat, across the street from the trendy Koningsplein. Patrons of this establishment, are once again able to enjoy the Sun's rays, casting warmth and light on this sidewalk café. Il pittore also takes advantage of the sunlight, which casts shadows and highlights objects. Making it a delight and a challenge for a plein air painter. This is a neigbourhood café/restaurant, which we Hagenaars are all very proud of! The inside is also authentically cordial and a visual feast for the eyes.

The new look, South Beach/DH (re-painted)

Recente gezicht op Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas
40 x 120 cm - (16 x 47 inches)
painted on location - Tuesday 29 March 2011
SOLD

I set up my gear directly in front of strand pavilion 'de Kwartel', locating myself half way between the dunes and the coastline. Facing south, in the direct Kijkduin, I was inspired by the light and somewhat foggy condition at hand, to work on this panoramic format canvas. Ideal for the new look of our beach, as it has undergone and is still undergoing, a major filling and widening process. We here in Holland love this, as it just means more room for us! In a small country, filled up shoulder-to-shoulder, this is a much valued comodity. On a more practical reason, this is being done to prevent the coastline from being entirely washed up, due to the predicted rising sealevel!

Just a perfect day on The North Sea

Windstil, zacht licht an de Noord Zee
oil on canvas
60 x 90 cm (24 x 36 inches)
painted on location - Sunday 27 March 2011

SOLD

With the intention of painting a Van Oord ship spouting out sand to raise the level of the coastline, here at South Beach, The Hague, I sit up near the water, and began this rather large canvas. It began to take shape, the forms and spaces started speaking to me, and before I knew it, I had a decent scene developed on my canvas. A ship did come into my viewing space, and would have occupied a large area, had I painted it in. But you know sometimes less is more, and I had the feeling, this work of art is about peace and tranquility, something we all could use now and then.