Mission foods Russia

Some years ago I designed a Tortilla plant for Russia, 80km south of Moscow.

It was finally opened last week, and my original artist impression was handed over to the client as  present for the opening during the reception.

Even though I could not be present it is a nice idea that some of my ideas were realized somewhere on the other side of the world.

Mission foods in Moscow

This is what I do. I design factories, in this case a tortilla plant to be located in Stupino, Russia, 80 km south of Moscow. I made the design for the Mexican firm Mission foods, the largest or one of the largest producers of tortilla bread in the world.
Of course, the aim is to make a production plant, efficient and clean, compliant to all latest food regulations (you can fill a truck with those regulations....). Even so, I always try to give it some touch.
But sometimes you just have to let go.
The plant will be opened within a few weeks, and this is what the building looks like in reality.
Try and spot the 10 differences.... :)

MIG 21 in Maasbracht

I made a drawing of this old MIG 21 today. It's standing in the business park of a village called Maasbracht, some 30km away from where I live, at a car junk yard. No idea how it got there.
It was hidden from view by a line of trees. I had noticed it a few times last winter, when the trees were bare, but only today I found the time to draw it.

Moscow Metro

Above painting was made during artclass, as exercise in Christianne Knops style. It was based on a picture I made last week the Moscow Metro system, circle line. Mind you, it was cold, very cold that evening. Minus 23. These Russians with their massive clothes were a nice inspiration for the painting. Acrylic, charcoal and pastel, 70x100cm.

Vnukovo

The train from Moscow centre to airport Vnukovo stood still for a few minutes. Just long enough to sketch this little dacha or chapel down below the railway bank.

Kremlin

Moscow: it was far to cold to draw outside, minus 23 Celsius is enough to have your hands hurt like they stick needles into them. But a little later we had dinner at Sbarro (a buffet pizza restaurant), with this view of the Kremlin wall. It's the part at the monument for the unknown soldier. It was dark and the buildings artificially lit when I made this, but I drew it as if by daylight. I wanted the red Kremlin wall to stick out.

Moscow: minus 23

Business trip to Moscow. Freezing cold at the Kremlin: minus 23 Celcius.

Elena

Domodedovo, near Moscow, Russia, an older drawing I made a few years ago when travelling in Russia. There is something weird with my blog lately: I can post, but in my office and the hotels I am staying in, the comments part is blocked. So I can't react anymore. I'll have to check this problem out once things are calmer.

Brasil versus Siberia

When posting the "siberian autumn" post in skineart.com, I recieved the comment by Bea Meira that it was spring in Brazil. Which inspired me to make the blossom counterpart of falling leaves. This is supposed to be Jacaranda blossom, native to Brazil. I hope I will get the chance to see it in reality in Sao Paolo once. Herfst in Siberie, lente in Brazilie.

Transsiberian express

When I was young it was my dream to make a trip from Moscow through Russia with the Trans Siberian Express, 6 days in a train. Fantastic. This is how close I came, it passed by at 80 km/hour near the station of Bogandinskiy, Siberia.
Ik heb altijd een trip willen maken over de transsiberische express. Ik stond langs het spoor, en hij kwam langs met 80km/h. Hoe dicht kun je bij een droom komen!

Foto gemaakt door Dietmar Johanssen tijdens de trip door Rusland

Tyumen, courtyard

Last week in Tyumen, Siberia. In this inner courtyard two women were collecting empty beer and wodkabottles. Due to the brilliant colours the grey housing did not seem so dreary.

Binnenplaats in Tyumen, de vrouwen verzamelen lege bier en wodkaflessen in een lege kinderwagen.

Autumn in Siberia

Bogadinskiy

An old lady and her cat were sitting in the late autumn sun in front of her house, in Bogandiskiy, east-Siberia. Below you see the rough sketch made with fountainpen, on which the painting was based.
Een oude vrouw en haar kat in de herfstzon, in Bogandinskiy, Siberie. Hieronder de ruwe vulpen schets, als basis voor de aquarel.

Helicopter: MIL

In this helicopter we flew for two hours over Tyumen and the siberian plans. A large Russian MIL. Actually, it was my first time in a helicopter, what a thrill. The views were fantastic.
In deze helicopter vlogen we vorige week over de hoogvlakten van siberie. Het was mijn eerste keer in een helicopter. Geweldig.

Mourning cloak butterfly

Mourning cloak Butterfly, picture taken in Siberia. Officially Nymphalis antiopa.

Rouwmantel vlinder, foto gemaakt in Nova Zaimka, Siberie.

Tyumen, Siberia

I flew back from Tyumen, Siberia today. It was a beautiful place: all the birch trees were golden brown in the autumn sun. We had some terrific sights flying over the siberian plains by helicopter.

Vandaag teruggevlogen vanuit Tyumen, Siberie. De landschappen waren fantastisch, de berkenbomen hadden een gouden gloed in de najaarszon.

Stupino, Russia

Had no time to make new things this week. So I looked back for some sketches I made last year around the same time, in Stupino. This is a former military town some 100 km south of Moscow. It was renowed for its engine factories for military and civil aircrafts. Proof is the large MIG which is shown as a monument at the crossing of two major roads. Mostly you make monuments for things to remind you of the past....

Next to the plant we have been constructing there, I found this picturesque derelict bus. And a sketch of one of the Ural 375D trucks we used doing the groundworks. I have seen these machines work at minus 35C.

Deze week een paar schetsen van vorig jaar rond deze tijd: Stupino in Rusland. 100km zuidelijk van Moskou, en ooit beroemd voor zijn vliegtuigmotoren. Vandaar het monument van een grote MIG, op een kruising.

Ook een schets van een oude pittoreske bus, vlak naast de bouwplaats, en een schets van de russische URAL trucks.

Wat een machines, ik zag ze werken met -35C. Vraag niet naar het benzineverbruik.
Ook aardig, de garages die je ziet in de buitenwijken van moskou. deze zag ik in de trein van domodedovo naar het centrum van Moskou.