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!

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.

Catamarans ready to sail, South Beach, The Hague

Catamarans klaar om te zeilen, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas, 20 x 40 cm
painted on location - Wed 5 June 2013
SOLD

A cosy enough looking situation, however the temperature was somewhere under the 15 degree Celsius and the wind was making itself known! The situation although not ideal for catching some sun rays, these sailors taking advantage of it and going out to test their skills at manoeuvring those sporty vessels!

View of Scheveningen from South Beach #2-2013

Gezicht op Scheveningen vanaf Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on MDF, 15.5 x 110 cm
painted on location - Tues 4 June 2013

SOLD

Sunny yet very windy conditions on the beach this week, and temperatures still rather cool for this time of year. Below a close up of this painting, you can see these kite surfers are having a great time with the high winds.

At the beach series #3 - 2013

Parenting on the beach at Wassenaarseslag
oil on mdf - 17 x 60 cm  ( 6.5 x 23.5 inches)
painted on location - tues 28 May 2013

SOLD

Will here is the continuation of this series.....wonder if I'll ever make at least 24 of these this year, if feels like  summer already come and gone, (don't take me serious)! Was out on location yesterday working on a larger painting, however had to stop that painting as the light changed drastically, thus thought why not make this not soo little guy!

Blossoming Broom and other colorful field flowers

Bloeiende Brem, Doetinchem, Gelderland
oil on mdf - 16 x 24 cm
painted on location - Sat 18 May 2013
SOLD

Was out visiting a good friend and fellow plein air painter known as René Pleinair! Here is my attempt at turning a  simple rural composition into a cheerful situation. The weather was dull, grey and wet,.....however life is making itself visible in this season of rebirth. Thus I decided to celebrate the new growth, and with a little imagination, break away from reality, just for fun!

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.