Amstenrade gate

 

The gate to the former Orangerie of the Castle of Amstenrade.

Amstenrade Castle

 

Our castle Amstenrade, yesterday evening. Made with bamboo pen and watercolour on Fabriano paper.

House in Hoensbroek

I made this painting for my neighbours. It's their house (you can see the roof of ours in the back).

My neighbour had his birthday, 65 years now, and this was the present from his family. He is very proud of the house. And the painting has a nice location now.

Done with water soluble oil on a panel, 40x50cm.

Almere 2

 

Another clean sketch from our sketchday in Almere. Didn't feel the need to colour this one.

Portrait

 Portrait of a man, picture found on the internet. Watersoluble oilpaint 40x50cm.

Almere 1

We were able to organize a national Urban Sketchday again! At last, after almost 1 1/2 year. The last one was in Arnhem, october 2019. Seems ages ago. This time Almere, a new town in the polders (below sealevel). The town was started in the 70s as overflow from Amsterdam and Utrecht. And it's filled with modern architecture: a lot of steel, concrete and glass. But also vivid shopping centres, nice lakes, hidden communal gardens and well designed modern houses in very green neighbourhoods. THis is one of those hidden gardens: a housing project and communal area on the roof of a shopping mall. Drawn from a bridge crossing the shopping street.

Andrew Wyeth

This was an experiment. I wanted to paint a portrait using the Charlie Hunter method or style. I did a few landscapes using that method: using oilpaint on water basis, adding large strokes, and washing parts away with cloth, tissues or whatever.

I used a portrait of Andew Wyeth, a painter I admire immensely. Not that that was the reason to paint him, but I loved the strong contrasts in the face.

Genneper molen

 

Watermill. Made during an extended lunchbreak walk, when I was in our office in Eindhoven.

Actually, this is the watermill that Vincent van Gogh painted a few times. It's still in it'soriginal state.

Castle of Terworm

 Out sketching again. A little castle in my town, maybe 6 kilometers away, Terborg.

It's used as a wedding place, actually my daughter was married here. THere was a wedding going on, at a certain point the bride was posing for pictures, on the small drawbridge to the entrance, I managedto insert her in the drawing.

Eyes

Watercolourpencil.

Portrait

 Anoter try at a serious painting: based on the "Sam Drukker" style of working.

It's based on a picture by Ed van der Elsken, a couple somehere in Paris I think.

I decided to go for a dramatic colour: kobalt blue. This is after one evening of painting.

See where it gets me.

Maastricht, Faliezusterklooster

Yes, we did it again! Finally at last we were able to organize a Urban Sketching meeting, in Maastricht. We were with 10 sketchers, in a quiet park at the old city fortifications. I introduced some new sketchers to USk in and outs, and was able to make this drawing. Finally we enjoyed company at a terrace, renewing the lust for drawing. It felt good after a year.
 

Vaccination

 

People waiting outside the vaccination center (Mecc Maastricht), for their partners to receive a Covid 19 vaccination. My wife was there to receive hers; and I took the 15 minute opportunity to make this quick sketch.

Vivian Meier

 A drawing after an image made by the New York and Chicago Photographer Vivian Maier. Washed out fountain pen ink.

Vogelzang in Puth

 

One of the typical courtyard farmhouses in our region. This is an old house in Puth, called Vogelzang (Birds song). Nicely restored. During sketching I had the opportunity to chat with  one of the owners of the building complex, Marietje van der Linden. Always nice.

De Ridder (8): the Octopus

(Page 8 of the Childrens book I wrote for my grandchildren. It's in Dutch, but this is the English translation. I finished it yesterday.)

The Knight had to cover his ears again, and walked to the animal to check it out properly. He had to shout: “Hello Hydra! Listen, for a nice little reward I could solve your problem!”

The seven heads looked to each other and said simultaneously: “Okay. This pot holds a nice and fitting present. It will make you think of this sweet creature. Will that do?”. “We have a deal!” the Knight said.

He flew to the roof on his horse and lowered a rope through the chimney. With a heavy pull the animal came loose. It was a regular Octopus! She was probably lost in the storm!

The Knight pointed to Octopus. ”Look at that! An Octopus. She is clearly a long way from home and the sea. But I will take her home”.

The Hydra blushed out of shame. Stuttering the heads told each other: “I am so sorry, Forgive me, I didn’t mean all I said. I do like you. Can we be friends again? Just like old times?”

And so everything was okay again. They spit a little fire to celebrate.

The Knight waved goodbye and quickly carried the Octopus to the sea.

Lee Marvin

 

Just a little random drawing, from a movie still. Point Blank featuring Lee Marvin. Always a fantastic actor to see playing. Washed out fountain pen ink.

Hoenderloo groep

 

Another one, made at the weekend we had on the Veluwe. This is a rather strange building of a former treatment center for difficult boys. It already existed for about 160 years, before it was closed down last year. I was talking to a nice couple who lived in the neighbouring streets, they filled me in. A beautiful area, it seems a pity for the former inhabitants of this institution.

Old lady

 

Exercise in Pastel. An old lady, after a picture from Google. Even though it's not my favourite material, it felt nice to do a portrait again.

Miggelenberg

 

We had a nice little long weekend in a cottage in a holiday camp on the Veluwe. In Hoenderloo. Fortunately the weather was nice (even though we have had better temperatures in previous May's). Especially on Sunday the temperature was comfortable. The cottages are spread widely over a slightly hilly forest; this is the actual view from terrace of our cottage. It's quite relaxing to draw with some nice music on my hearing aids.