Hasselt, Belgium

Hasselt, a town in Belgium, this morning. I had to go there for a hip-operation of our cat, Yoda.

Weustenrade

 

I made a trip on my bike this afternoon; came across this old farmhouse in Weustenrade (just a few km from my house).

Den Bosch: Magnolia

 

I didn't feel like drawing the St. Jan monastry itself, but decided to go for the beautiful Magnolia trees, which were just about to blossom.

Den Bosch: St Janscentrum

 

Last saturday there was a coördination meeting with the local Urban Sketching groups, in Den Bosch. After exchanging views and brainstorming on new ideas, we all went out into the cloister garden to draw. The magnolia trees were almost popping out in beautiful blossom.

Eindhoven HTC 5

 

Far too cold to draw/paint outside. This was done from the main hall on the 4th floor of the HTC5, one of the offices and laboratories of the Eindhoven High Tech Campus. I was there for my last and final presentation of one of the most complicated architectural designs I even made, a semi-conductor plant.

London: Leicester square

 

Drinking coffee on a terrace. Next to us was this elderly gentleman, with a rather out-of-London accent. He was so occupied talking to his wife and friends, I managed to draw him on location without him noticing. I am proud to say, the drawing resembles.

London: airport

 

Waiting at the airport (Stansted), drinking some watery coffee. She was sitting opposite, long enough to make this quick sketch. She left before I finished painting, that was improvised.

London: Camden Lock

 

Camden Lock, a busy shopping experience in a former warehouse complex next and under the railways. It's a busy tourist trap, but interesting anyway. I was there 15 years ago, and it was new end fresh then, but too many nutella and T-shirts shops for my taste. Good to draw though.

London

 

Returned from London this afternoon. A quick sketch made in the Underground, central line, between Liverpool street and Stratford. Wasn't easy, the train was very crowded.

On the border

 

A saw this scene along the former "international road", on the border between Germany and the Netherlands, just a few km from my house. The "international road" was a Dutch two lane road running over German terrain, about 5 km long, connecting 2 remote Dutch villages. Back in the day it was forbidden to stop, and impossible to get off, as all crossing roads (even cartroads) would go through tunnels or bridges. As it fell under Dutch jurisdiction (German plice had no authority), but Dutch police had nowhere to park their vehicles, you could drive there whatever speed you wanted. You would not receive a speed ticket. Of course, the road was also famous for it's mortal front collision accidents. Anyway, the terrain was returned to Germany after the Schengen Treaty, as border control was not necessary anymore.

New Jersey

 

Oilpainting, after a picture I took back in 2019, when our taxi brought us from Manhattan to the new Jersey airport. Cobra watersoluble oilpaint on wood, 50x60cm. Time for another one.

Zara

My granddaugther, Zara, was staying over for the weekend. She is5 years old, and a real joy to have around. Always laughing, always merry. She was very focussed watching "Frozen" or something similar on het tablet. A chance to try and draw her. Just a piece of paper and a bic which was lying around.
 

Retired now (2)

 

As a suprise my department organized a Masterclass Urban sketching. My direct collegues assembled for a visit to a local church in Ulestraten (it was too cold to draw outside), where they asked me to give an unexpected Master Class. THe resulats of my about 15 collegeus was far better than I expected. I manage to squeeze maybe 3 minutes in between to make this quick sketch of the altar.

I am now retired

 

As of today I am officially retired as an architect. Even though I will still work a few days to finish an important job, the end of my professional life is at hand. 

I had a unforgettable retirement drink last wednesday, and my collegues gave me a few nice surprises. They assembled some 60 artist impressions that I made over the years, and sketches I made on my own building sites. Then changed them into postcards, and had my present and former collegues write a farewell notes on the back. Absolutely stunning. Some lasting memory!!

Portrait in acrylic and charcoal

 

Life portrait session on saturday morning. Drawing with charcoal, and then watery acrylic over it. The charoal dissolves in the acrylic paint, which gives it a nice tonal quality.

Someone in Roermond

 

We visited Roermond, sat on a terrace, I saw a man staring toeards the horizon, made a quick picture and drew him at home. Pentel unktbrushes, both watertight and washed out.

Hillensberg (Dtsl)

 

It was very cold today, with a strong chilling wind, but I needed to get out and make a drawing somewhere. Sometimes I cross the border to do some shopping (som articles are cheaper, better or local specialties) and fill my tank with cheaper gasoline. By doing so, I usually cross a small village on a steep hill called Hillensberg (Germany). It had a small 13 or 14th century church I had never noticed before. A nice opportunity to make this sketch.

Spoorwegmuseum

 

A locomobile, as on display in teh railway museum, that we visited a week ago. It was a quick one, I had only half an hour left before we had the final closing meeting.

Spoorwegmuseum

 

Urban Sketchers Netherlands (of which I am boardmember) organized an event in Utrecht, at the Spoorwegmuseum (railway museum). There were numerous trains to paint and draw. And we had 350 sketchers joining us, a great event. I made three drawings. One of them was a total failure, which I destroyed immediately. The other two were fine. This is the front part of a huge Scottish steam train, exhibited because it played a role in the liberation of the Netherlands, 80 years ago. black ink on toned paper, with white gouache.

Portrait watercolour pencil

 

Water colour pencil. After a picture on the internet. She was looking down, I didn't catch that enough.