Diggers

They are working o our street, the sewerage systems need renovation. there are two old ones, dating from the 1930's. To be replaced with one new large one, in the middle of the street. The construction company started four weeks ago, and it will take until November. My street is now a large pit, fit for a nice drawing of the digging equipment.

Mitzie and Tomatoes

It was warm yesterday, a fine June day. Mitzie, our oldest cat, was resting in the most unlikely place: a pot which was used to grow tomatoes in last year. We didn't have enough time this year, so the pot is vacant. Well, sort of.

Hollandsch Koffiehuis

Last saturday we as organizing team of the USK 2019 Amsterdam symposium came together for a meeting, and inspection of the venues.
I spent most of the day in the nice company of Gail spotting locations for the workshops at the symposium. We had some tough issues for some of the locations, but I am gad to say we found solutions.
When I left for the trainride home, the ride I wanted to take was cancelled. Which gave me some time to sketch an old 1911 building across te centra station, called Hollands Koffiehuis. A coffeeshop dating from an era when you could actually buy coffee at a coffeeshop.

Ford Mustang 1973

Mustang 1973.

I went to the vintage american car meeting, here in  town, this evening.
There was this beautiful blue Mustang from the early 70s. Rather difficult to draw.

Merovingen Maastricht

I made this map of Maastricht for my son, to be used in a computer presentation that he is making. The drawing depicts the town of Maastricht in the Merovigen era, about AD 600-800.
Part is based on information that I  found and received, another part is based on my imagination.

Face

After a picture. Paintbrush and some watercolour.

Odysseus and the Sirens

I had one of those dreams again, of a boat manouevring between rocks that made screaming noise.
Even though I could not relive the visuals of that dream, the idea stuck, and evolved into this drawing. Odysseus in his steampunk ship, passing between the sirens (which look quite different here than in the original mythology, I know, but that is called artistic freedom)

Beetles

Went out to draw these two Beetles in Merkelbeek, this evening. I passed them yesterday during my running training.
They were standing in a field in the back of a farmhouse. The blue one is obviously a donor car for the yellow one, which is prepared for a rallycross.

Finn, but not really

I tried to draw my grandson Finn (now 6 months old). He was laying on his back, I drew this while standing at the foot of the bed. So the perspective is a bit weird.
Even though I did my best, and ther drawing is remeniscent of his face, it's not Finn.
Still, I always learned that it is difficult enough to make a drawing in which the person looks alive. I think I succeeded to do that anyway. Drawing babies from life is very, very hard.

Julia, once again

Julia, in a live portrait painting session. It was the last session of the Masterclass portrait course of this season.
Acrylic 50x70cm, took me two hours to make.

Brooklyn, Brighton Beach

A sidestreet of Brighton Beach Avenue. I guess it is probably also known as little Russia, I have never seen so many Russian shops, except for Moscow itself.
Coming from a country where nearly all electrical cables are underground this was a fascinating sight.
I now know why the Spiderman comics originated in the States. Inspiration around every corner.....

NYC Hanover street

View from the Starbucks at hanover square, downtown New York. They sold Banh mi, something like vietnamese baguettes. No idea what that tastes like, but we already left the Starbucks before we were hungry enough to try.

Central park

Very quick sketch in the Central Park, New York. Made in about 10 minutes.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

The Brooklyn Tabernacle choir, a real gospel choir. 250 singers, incredible.
We wanted to attend an early Sunday mass, and took the risk to go to Brooklyn, the renowned choir that won several Grammys and sang at the inauguration of Obama (that seems already ages ago).
We were welcomed heartily. I was given permission to sketch, which i did when they were still doing voice exercises before mass. When they started to sing I didn't want to draw anymore, but only wanted to enjoy the music.
I also liked the mass itself by the way, I loved they way the priest did his sermon. A real show, so unlike what we are used to here in  Europe.

Christopher Slutman funeral

Our hotel was near 5th Avenue. We noticed that the street was closed down, to our surprise there were thousands of fire and policemen standing in attention, a few miles along 5th Ave.
They were paying their respects for Christopher Slutman, a Marine and ex-NYC fireman, who died during a roadbomb attack in Afghanistan, early April.
There were large amounts of policemotors, some firetrucks, policecars and a group of bagpipes.

Very impressive, especially in our European eyes.

May he rest in peace.

New York, Times & Liberty

Last weekend my wife and I were married for 30 happy years. Like we did at the 20 and 25 years anniversary, we visited New York city, this time accompanied with some friends.
This meant we did the usual tourist things, but also a few new ones.
I have made sketches of these two scenes before, but I could not resist to do them again.
The view towards the statue of liberty, from the Staten Island Ferry. It was a quick one, I only had like 10 minutes to do this one. 
  

This sketch, made from the platform on times square, also took about 10 minutes, I did not want to hold up the company.
I loved the city, and will show a few more drawings.

Germaïn, portrait

Portrait session, last saturday. Germaïn, a model we had a few times before.
Great guy to paint, so different than the usual models.
On Bamboo paper, 50x70cm, acrylics, about 2 hours work.

Paris Notre Dame

I was horrified by the fire in the Notre Dame in Paris, last week. Visited it a number of times, admired the stained glass windows and the mighty organ. Such a beautiful place.
I made this drawing back in October 2009, during a visit to Paris. There was a Maria procession on the Seine. I just could not leave this event unnoted.

The enigma of a monday at noon

I went to an exposition, the Tefaf in Maastricht. there were some Giorgio de Chirico paintings.
I was inspired by these, and made my own version.
Ink drawing, digitally coloured.

Koerennen / Kowrenne

A commission drawing of the Cowrunning festivities in Hoensbroek.
I made this drawing (size A4) for a friend, Bert.
Some 20 years ago he initiated a "Kowrenne" group, of which I was part as well. Later we split up into different groups, but I must say that theirs (Cow B) was even more successful as ours (Cow H).
We stopped some 5 years ago, they last year. This drawing is of their last run. The contest is quite physically demanding, and yes, we all get older.
I made the drawing for his birthday.