Vendetta

Yesterday evening we celebrated Sinterklaas with our family.
I know, a bit late, but we decided to postpone it untill our daughter Rianne returned from London.

So we had a lasagne dinner, and gave and received presents.
And we had fun about surprise presents accompanied with Sinterklaas rhymes (which according family tradition I make for all of us).
I made this painting for my son, Mart, as decoration for his student room.
He is a regular anglophile (presently he studies to become an English teacher) and was always fascinated by the movie "V for Vendetta" and the story of Guy Fawkes.

Acrylic on prepared carton, I used a London map as background, 50x 70cm, 










The painting is supposed to be hanging next to the one I made for him last year, the painting of Ann Lee. (Ann Lee post)

A dream (part 3)

The dream part 3 (previous: part 1 and part 2 )
Halfway the road to the prison some space invaders appeared and stole the roasted chickens. But the patrol car called in the flying fish brigade, who took up pursuit. The space invaders had not counted on that and in fear made chewing gum balls to hide the chickens in. Will they be able to escape?

Kafka

Not really a nice picture for Christmas eve, but I reread "In der Strafkolonie" (In the Penal Colony) of Franz Kafka. A horrifying story.
Last saturday in art class we experimented with portraits, collages and half transparant overlays; this was the result.


Notwithstanding this picture, I wish everyone a happy Christmas.

Mescherbergloop

For the first time in two years I was able to run an official competition run again: the Mescherbergloop. The worst 15km of the Netherlands, only very steep hills, muddy fields, slippery country roads, forest paths and uneven stairs. Through freezing weather, rain and wet snow.

Last year February I suffered from a chronic ankle injury; I couldn't run more than 50 meters without having to stop from pain. (very frustrating, I have run marathons in the past).
The surgeon told me that even though it could improve a little, I had to get used to running with pain. Or take up another sport.
It took me almost two years, slowly building up the distances, to be able to run a painfree 15 km. And that's good enough for me.

Tebodin office Geleen

This is the view from the printer room on the second floor of the Tebodin office in Geleen.
Next to our regular Maastricht office, this one is located in the middle of the Chemelot Chemical plant (better knows as DSM), near our clients. My habitat since summer 2011.
I started this drawing during lunchhour. But as it is made in front of the window of the printerroom, people would walk in and chat me up all the time. So I finished this one yesterday at home.

Marsha in the sun

These are the preliminary stages of my new project, a stained glass window with a nice summer theme.
I already cut and polished the glasspieces. I will be painting it next week, and burning the paint into the glass.
In the bottom you see Marsha, our black cat. She is now about 15 years old, moving around is becoming difficult for her. She will be able to enjoy the sun in this window forever.

Shoreditch high street station

There is no fun in drawing in the dark, so with these december days, dark and always busy at work, there is not much opportunity for Urban sketching .

I decided to pick up Urban Painting again. This one is based on a picture I took at the Shoreditch high street underground station in London. Oil on board/canvas, size 40x50cm.

Bamboo and watercolour

Last weeks model class. Three of about 11 quick drawings of different poses, made in under two hours.
No pencil drawing to define the dimensions, but drawing directly with stubborn Bamboo sticks and chinese ink. Quick shading with bold strokes of watercolour.
 

Glass bird

Another stained glass piece, this one is made by my wife Gertie.
I made the design specially for this object; you can see the sketches for the different ideas below.
The piece is standing on the front windowsill of our house, on a nice steel pedestal.
It's a pity the orange and red colour nuances are a bit lost, they shine beautifully when the sun hits the panes.
Diameter 400mm.

Camden Lock retried

A sketch of Camden Lock, London.
I made this painting on location during my visit to London in September, in a Moleskine A4, but it went totally wrong.
Normally I don't even try to improve a waterolour gone wrong, but did it this time anyway.
Washed away dark spots, reinforced parts with extra colour, tried to enhance the composition, added some white gouache.
Even though it improved more than I expected, it's still not to the standard I wanted to reach. But why should I only show the good ones here?