Fun times on the beach in Holland

Noordwijk Aan Zee

oil on canvas, 8" x 20" 
painted on location - Sat 26 May 2012

SOLD

Summer is in the air, spent last holiday at Noordwijk Aan Zee, were I was guest painter at the Opera Aan Zee 2012 Festival. Here you have 1 of 4 seascapes made in that period. Also knocked off 7 opera scene paintings! Thus while for most of you a holiday weekend, not for il pittore.

Model in Thought

Model in thought
pencil, pastel on 280 grm sketching paper
8" x  5.5"    -    21.5 x 14.5 cm
sketched in studio, 5 minutes - 8 Sept 2006

$ 50

The model is nude, and for reasons of beauty and grace, usually a female. Over the years I have amassed a rather large amount of such sketches. Thus should you ever be so inclined to include in your art collection works of this genere, look no further., Just get in touch.

Reflections of memories gone by

Artist and model #2
pastel/charcoal on warm hue manila paper
25.5" x 20"    -   (65 x 50cm)
made in studio from live models
(signed and dated)

$ 325

In the time period that this work was made I was primarily busy with making works of the nude model and the artist being reflected in the mirror, which I had strategically positioned behind the models sofa. Artist at the easel is Jane Walker, who at the time shared my studio.

Reflections of love in the studio

Artist and model #1
pastel on paper
20" x 25.5"
made in my studio - mon. 12 nov 2007
SOLD

Seems like this subject has become my latest series. The weather being what it is, there isn't much inspiration to go outdoor painting. With a great model, such as the one represented in this delicate pastel drawing, who wouldn't choose to work at the easel, in the comfort of a warm, well let studio. In the forground lies the model, in a lovely flowing gesture. Directly behind her, the composition is made up of mainly reflected scenery. The sofa, parts of the model, windows, and the artist at the easel, all taking place in the same space as you, the viewer are made to occupy, whilst visually taking in this quaint scene.

Alamos,Sonora, Mexico Street Scene 2

oilo on canvas mounted on board
4" x  6"
painted on location/signed/dated on back

$ 75

Same village as previous posting, spent of few days there, was really taken by the layback relaxed lifestyle in this town that then seemed to be locked in its own time frame. Saw lot of people still on horse back, and two bars had swinging wooden doors just like in western movies!

Street scene, Alamos,Sonora, Mexico

7.5"  x  11.5" -  (20 x 29cm)
oil on canvas mounted on board
made on location
dated/signed on back

$125

An earlier work from my travels through Mexico in the spring of 1995. Fascinated by the lay back country and western feel to this village, I made a couple of oil painting studies. The hanging wires and initial compositional drawing were actually sketched in with chacoal, which you can still see under and above the oil paint.

Beach Cafe, Wijk Aan Zee, North Holland

Strandpaviljoen De KUSt, with evening light
oil on wooden panel
14" x 8.5"
painted on location -  Sat 12 May 2012

SOLD

The Netherlands flag, proudly displayed, gives you some indication of the weather these days here in The Lowlands.  The evening Sun casts a warm glow and gives a soft delicate look to the beach entrance of this cafe along the coast here in Wijk Aan Zee. I was being hosted by the owners of this establishment in a beach house just to the right of this cafe. The mixture of warm and cool colours create harmony and balance while doing great service to define the space in this composition.

Beach scene from Holland

Beach houses at Wijk Aan Zee
oil on wooden panel
4" x  6"  -  10 x 15cm
painted on location -  Sunday 6 May 2012 SOLD


Just a quick study of the situation that afternoon.  Clouds racing by at speeds that made it impossible to work any larger than this. I don't beleive in taking pictures, then working fom them. You will most likely loose the essence of the subject at hand. And besides, we are painters after all is said and done, are we not?

Olive trees, Mallorca, Spain

Farm near ValdeMossa
oil on canvas board
4" x 6" -  10 x 15 cm  private collection-Santanyi, Mallorca

I visited this lovely island some years ago, made a series of small format oils. This one still in my position.

Inspired by the colors of both nature and buildings for this work.

Big Band Jazz in De Fuut, South Beach, DH

oil on canvas
9.5" x 12"  -    24 x 30cm
painted on location - Sunday 29 Apirl 2012

$ 275

A female singer, adds a spark of colour to this Big Band ensemble all dressed in black. The drummer keeping the beat, while the director (with his back to us) pulls it all together,...what a scene to be able to paint! A first for il pittore, to actually make a painting of the interior of a beach cafe! Every Sunday Leo, owner of this establishment, brings Live Jazz music for the ardent jazz fan. Just as colourful inside as it is on the outside, a pleasure and indeed a gift  for me to be able to work in and around this beach cafe.  

Studio Model Session #1 -2012

Pastel and charcoal on 100g grainy sketch paper
12" x  6"  -  30 x 23cm
made in studio  -  Wed 2 May 2012

SOLD

Today in the studio worked with two fine models, along with a group of artist's from Rotterdam. Here you have a glimpse into my studio, nice spacious room with  good natural light. We were all busy drawing/painting the models. I opted to show the models in the space they occupy.

Pathway to Fun and Adventure, #1-2012

 

South Beach, The Hague, Entrance #10 

oil on canvas

23.5" x 12"  -   60 x 30 cm

painted on location  -  Wed. 25 April 2012 

SOLD

Painted almost one week ago, I'm now posting this work which depicts the entrance I use for almost all of my seascape paintings. To the left is the Catamaran clubhouse HKZV, then follows beach cafe/restaurant De Fuut. To the right one is afforded the view of Scheveningen, to the left, Kijkduin and Hoek van Holland. As one can see by looking closely at this canvas, it was a rather windy day, as sand covers the whole area of the canvas. Being the middle of the week and still rather early in the morning, not much traffic walking down that paved path, however was glad with the two bicycles locked up to the wooden fence, bringing this scene unmistakeably to The Lowlands     

                   detail of painting 

Canal scene, Dordrecht, Holland

Canal scene with evening light,
oil on canvas
9.5" x  12"  -   24 x 30 cm

$175

Supposedly the oldest city in Holland, Dordrecht has a charm of its own, characterized by the many canals and Historic buildings. Here the evening sunlight casting warm tones on the rooftop and upper facades of the houses.

Savoury Cumulus clouds, Texel, Holland

Cloudy beach scene, Texel, NL
oil on canvas
6" x 12"    -    15 x 30 cm
painted on location, - Sat 10 April 2010

no longer exists, painted over

This little canvas although rather small in dimension, still manages to afford the viewer an emmense view of a solitary beach. Nature dominates in Il pittores vision, thus I choose to keep the crowds at bay. Those savoury cumulus clouds where casting shadows that literally swept by at a speed comparable to a gutsy BMW travelling on a German autobaan.

Catamaran Sailclub #1, The Hague, Netherlands

oil on canvas
12" x 16"  -   30 x 40cm
painted on location - june 2011, reworked in my studio April 23rd 2012

SOLD

You will be seeing more paintings from this clubhouse as it is one of my favorite subjects to paint and lucky enough it is located 3 miles from where I live.

Windy Seascape study #5/ sky opening up

oil on canvas board,
5" x 7"  -  (12 x 18cm)
painted on location  -  Monday  16 April 2012 SOLD

The biggest format of this series, And featuring the most blue sky from them all, thus the title. Was really very fine to make this series, and will do it more often.

Windy Seascape study #4/ rainy conditions

oil on wooden panel
4" x  6"   -  (10 x 15cm)
painted on location  -  Monday  16 April 2012 SOLD

A very typical Dutch sky, this time of year. The rain was not that threatening as it would just drift by now and then. Lasting sometimes only half a minute or even less. Most painters find it difficult to paint clouds. Fact is they are shifting about and reshaping themselves constantly, thus I would recommend they tackle the situation on a small format, work quickly with one brush and have the colors on your palette ready.

Windy Seascape #3, effects of light

oil on wooden panel
4" x 6" -  (10 x 15 cm)
painted on location  -  Mon 16 April 2012  SOLD

Although this is titled as #3, in fact they all should have the same number as they were made simultaneously!  There are few imperfections,..... for example the horizon line is always straighter than the way it has been painted. But then again these are studies, and thus retain the quality of a study. I was aiming at getting the light situation correct, and I can say that, that has been accomplished. If I would go back into the painting, to make corrections, it would loose its quality of freshness. I would risk making this very lively situation appear flat and stale.  And remember a few times I had to keep my hand on the easel, to prevent it from getting airborne!

Windy Seascape study #2/crashing waves

oil on masonite
4.5" x 5.5" - (11 x 14 cm)
painted on location - Mon, 16 April 2012  SOLD

Simular to yesterdays posting, however on close observation you can see many differences. Composition the same, but here you have adition of tree tops of the high dunes. In these conditions the atmosphere is changing by the second, never mind by the minute! I think I'll do this more often, work simutaneously on more than one canvas.

Windy Seascape with 3 Seagulls

oil on masonite
4.5" x 5.5" - (11 x 14 cm)
painted on location - Mon, 16 April 2012

SOLD

Yesterday on location, worked on 5 paintings simutaneously. Mind you all 5 small format. As the wind was way too strong to have any decent size canvas on my easel. I opted for this solution, and glad I did. At the end of the session ended up with 5 smart oil studies of windy, cloudy, seascapes, with warm colors on the sea. In the distance, light bounces off a ship heading due North.

Old Timer Carrusel, In motion

Scene at The Home Made Market, The Hague
oil on wood panel
4" x 6" - (10 x 15 cm)
painted on location - Sun 1 April 2012

$ 125

Those kids on that carrrusel are having a ball! A lovely object to paint, however as it was almost always spinning I had to work quick and loose. Smack in the middle you see two children seated on a swinging stool, a boy and a girl, blue and pink! What is not so obvious, and I will point it out to you, is that black and white pony situated on the top of the carrusel! Not much detail, but one gets the feel for it.

Market Scene, The Hague, Holland

oil on masonite
5.5" x 4.5"
painted on location - Sun 1 April 2012 SOLD 

A lovely atmosphere was created this day because of this special market happening on this rather handsome neighbourhood here in The Hague. A very sketchy oil painting, small format, alla prima, gives a decent impression of the situation.

Cathedral, Zacatecas, Mexico

oil on canvas board
4" x 5" - 10 x 13 cm
made on location, May 1995 (signed and dated on back)

$ 75

Here a little gem made whilst I travelled through that exotic country Mexico some years back. A marble fountain, on the square creats a sense of depth, made in the evening, thus the dark blue sky.

Markt Square, Den Boshh

s-Hertogenbosh, Historical Center
oil on canvas
12" x 16" - 30 x 40 cm
painted on location - Tues 5 April 2011

$ 285

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.

The White Boat, Delft, Holland

Pastel/ink on colored paper
9" x 13.5" - 24 x 35 cm
made on location, May 2004

$ 75

This is the first work I made of this subject. I later painted two oils of if it. Both are in now private collections. Soft pastel colors create a tender mood for this scene, set in one of the worlds Heritage cities, Delft Holland. A few hundred years ago, Johannes Vermeer painted a view of the harbour and city, about 20 meters to the left of were I set up to make this pastel. His view was of a busy harbour that once existed in this area. That painting is now housed in the Mauristhuis, Royal Picture Gallery Collection, The Hague.

View of The North Sea from on high

Westduinpark, The Hague
oil on canvas
9.5 x 12 inches / 18 x 24 cm
painted on location - Friday 15 October 2010

$ 175

Here I am back at a familiar location. Feeling the need for some peace and to get my head cleared up from what can be defined as ones lifes struggles. I decided to head for this secluded location in Westduinpark, with this spectacular view of the North Sea. Despite the fact that it was not a very suitable day for outdoor painting, (as rain clouds drifted over me on 3 occasions), I nevertheless managed to knock off this small format earthly colored seascape. The light reflecting on the surface of the water was of such an intense light pale green hue, it seemed to be lit up from the bottom of the sea! On the horizon, one can distinguish what gives this country its extreme wealthy finicial position. That tiny dark spot on the horizon is an oil platform. To the right, a tanker, most likely waiting for the price of the oil barrel to increase, thus securing a gaining of millions!

A detail for your viewing pleasure.

Fallen leafs of Warm Hues

Woods near Bergen, North Holland
oil on canvas
9.5" x 12" - (24 x 30 cm)
painted on location - Tues 25 Oct 2011

$ 175

Setting up my gear in the rain, at a location I was familiar with (made a 30 x 80cm ptg of same scene last year), this naturel canal scene was created. Orderly rows of mature Hazelnut trees, in autumn colors, walking paths carpeted with fallen leafs of warm hues, enough inspiration to get my creative juicies flowing.

Limousin cattle grazing, Cher, France

Early morning view of Limousin cattle grazing
oil on canvas
12 x 16 inches
painted on location - thurs 4 August 2011

$ 300

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. For your viewing pleasure a close-up.

Rolling hills with Charolais Cattle 2 , France

Charolais Cattle grazing 2, Bessais le Fromental, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
12" x 16" - (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.

Rolling hills with Charolais Cattle , France

Charolais cattle grazing, Bessais le Fromental, Cher, Frankrijk
oil on canvas
12" x 16" - (30 x 40 cm)
painted on location - Sun 31 July 2011  -   $ 245

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.

Misty Beach Scene

oil on canvas
16" x 20" - 40 x 50cm
painted on location - Thurs 22 March 2012

donated to charity  (€450)

A little off my beat and track, but always a pleasure to paint at this location. Not yet fully operative, this beach house cafe has set op some windbreakers to accomodate the sunbathers. In the distance you can vaguely see the hotels on the boulevard at Noordwijk Aan Zee. BTW - those are not black pirate flags you see on those masts, but rather the colors and symbol of one of Hollands finest brews, Hertog Jan. A close up for your viewing pleasure.

Magic of Delft

oil on canvas
9.5" x 12" - 24 x 30 cm
painted on location - Sat 24 Sept 2011

$ 175

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.

Sailing in the Spring Mist

View of the Sea from South Beach, NL
oil on wood panel
4" x 6" - 10 x 15cm
painted on location - Sun 25 March 2012

SOLD

Sping is in the air, and one can literally see it in this little oil study made just the other day. The air warms up as the Sun showers us with heat, however the water still rather cold, thus mist forms, adding a mystical look to the whole scenario.

Beach Club House South, South Beach, DH

Zuidstrandpaviljon, Zuiderstrand, DH
oil on canvas
4" x 6" - (10 x 15 cm)
painted on location - April 2010
SOLD

A small study oil painting made of this most appeallingly colorfull beach house/cafe on this strech of beach, here in Holland. As you can see, depending on how the light falls on the structure, it takes on varied qualites. It is still early in the season, and thus not too crowded.

View of Cathedral tower, Delft, Holland

Autumn day Oosteinde, Delft
oil on canvas
16" x 12" - (40 x 30 cm
painted on location - Thursday 14 October 2010

$ 125

One of my favorite canal scenes in Delft. This time with an accent of autumn colors, makes this view a delight to paint. All those yellow/greenish hues work well with the warm colors of the houses and wall of the canal. Not too obvious is that mother and child walking in front of that pink house on the left, thus the detail below.

Vintage Drawbridge, Weesp, Holland

Vintage draw bridge, Weesp
oil on canvas
20" x 27.5" - (50 x 70cm)
painted on location _ Sat 11 Sept 2010 SOLD


In 1888, 122 years ago, the most well known Dutch person ever to walk this earth, Vincent Van Gogh, made at least 3 oil paintings of , The Langlois Bridge, in Arles, France.. Similar in design to the bridge I painted, but certainly less flashy. Let's face it ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to building bridges, you simply cannot beat the Dutch! I'm positive the Dutch Master was filled with nostalgia upon seeing that bridge, in the sunny light of the Midi. Me I found this draw bridge, here in this otherwise boring village, nestled just under Amsterdam, the most interesting subject to paint, on a one day plein-air painters festival. What struck me the most was the sunlight bouncing off the structure, and the situation of the boats anchored near the bridge.

Market Scene, Grote Markt , Nijmgen

Archway to St. Stevens Church
oil on wood panel
5" x 9"
painted on location - Mon 19 March 2012 SOLD


If those silly pilots in WWII, didn't bomb the hell out of Nijmegen, (by mistake), I'm sure it would have been right up there with Amsterdam, as far as aesthetic beauty is concerned! And I'm almost positive the Romans had something to do with that lovely layout of this city, set on a hillside, overlooking one of Holland's busiest rivers. I will be painting every now and then in this delightful city as my sweetheart lives in the area.

Sailboats, Harbor Scheveningin

Oil on canvas
7" x 5" (18 x 13cm)
painted on location SOLD


A view of one of Hollands most popular Inner Harbors.

Passage along the Adige, Verona, It.

watercolor on paper
5" x 6" - 12 x 15cm
created - 6 Dec 2012


SOLD

It was early on a Sunday morning, back in the Fall of 1985 when I set up my easel and made an oil painting of this scene. That painting is now somewhere in a private collection in Messina, Sicily. From a photo I was inspired to make a copy, but then in watercolor.

In love at Kijkduin, Holland

oil on canvas
20" x 59"
painted on location and in studio - Dec 2011 - March 2012

Private collection Amersfort, Netherlands

Here you have the final version of this commission piece. Was quiet the challenge working on it thru the winter and yet giving it this spring like atmosphere. They don't call us painters masters of illusions for nothing! This painting will be hanging in the home of that couple walking on the path. The play of light really helped in defining the space, and both the shoreline and the boulevard on the right lead the viewers eye to a distant location somewhere beyond the concrete jungle of Scheveningen.

The Yellow Bridge

Yellow bridge, Valkenburg, Holland
oil on wooden panel
4" x 6" (10 x 15cm)
painted on location - Sun 11 March 2012

Donated

A most picturesque village in Limburg located just minutes away from Maastricht. For those of you who are familiar with the geography of Limburg, you know why that bridge is yellow. For the rest of us, including me, found out that that colored stone has been mined out of the ground in and around the village of Valkenburg since the a very long time ago.