O.L. Vrouweplein

Another lunchbreak spent in the warm sun of early spring, this time on the Onze Lieve Vrouwe plein in Maastricht. 15 minutes walk to the city center, 10 minutes ink, 10 minutes talking to an interested stranger, 10 minutes paint, 15 minutes walk back to the office. Lunch op het O.L.Vrouweplein, Maastricht. De zon was al warm, de terassen gevuld, een eerste groene schijn over de bomen.

St Servaasbrug

Another lunchbreak on the river Maas, that's the advantage of working in an office on the riverbank.
I walked to the Sint Servaas bridge, originally from the Roman times when Maastricht was called Mosa Trajectum. The statue shows Saint Servaas, who was bishop of our town around 380 BC, and founded christianity in the low lands.
My winter coat was too warm.
Schets van de Sint Servaas brug, Maastricht, een paar dagen geleden in de warme lentezon tijdens de lunchpauze. Werken op een kantoor aan de Maas heeft zijn voordelen.
Eehhh, a small mistake:of course 380 BC must be AD380. To exist Before Christ would be hard for a bishop.....

Segura!

This is Segura! , a Samba band of Brazilian model, who always play during the carnaval parade in Maastricht. Not only their rhythms are fantastic, but also how they dress: it's something between Darth Vader and black clad Ninjas. And the band is always preceded by a dangerous looking guy on a black trike. It dreww them while they crossed the St. Servaasbridge.
Segura!, de Maastrichtse samba band, tijdens de grote optocht vorige week. Geweldige ritmes!

Fishing

Such a beautiful day! It was warm in the sun; during lunchbreak I made a walk along the bank of the river, and I saw this fisherman and his wife quietly staring towards the Maastricht citycenter.
De eerste lentedag, heerlijk weer. Tijdens lunchpauze een wandeling langs de Maas, waar deze visser en zijn vrouw zaten te genieten van de zon.

Optocht

I made some sketches during the Carnaval parade in Hoensbroek last monday. Above the group of  "blieve plekke", with their digging-for-gold wagon. They won the 3rd prize. Below the group "Gaef gaas" (hurry up), who did not only win Kowrenne, but also the main prize of this year's parade.
The sketches are a bit shaky; I had to draw quickly because the groups were moving while drawing. Carnavalsoptocht, Hoensbroek. Boven de wagen van "Blieve Plekke" (3e prijs), onder de koninklijke koets van "Gaef Gaas" (hoofdprijs). De schetsen zijn rommelig, want ik moest nogal snel tekenen.

Portrait

In between all Carnaval activities, there is still time for some painting. Artclass, portrait on brown paper, 50x70cm. I am not 100% pleased with the result. Schilderklas, afgelopen zaterdag, tussen alle carnavalsactiviteiten door. Ik ben niet helemaal tevreden met dit portret op bruin papier.

Sjrapnelle va Gebrook

Sketches made during the Carnaval parade in Hoensbroek, today. The bottom one is a sketch of my wife Gertie and her friend Yvonne, making fun of the fact that grey hair is getting dominant in the streets of our city. They won the first prize!
Optocht in Hoensbroek, vandaag. De onderste schets laat Gertie en haar vriendin Yvonne zien, zoals ze de draak steken met de vergrijzing van Hoensbroek. Hiermee wonnen ze de 1ste prijs!

Op de mèrt

Kowrenne op de mèrt. Last thursday evening, the kick-off for Carnaval in Hoensbroek. LIke always with the Cowrunning contest (2 guys under a paper and wood cow, trying to outrun one of the other 8  cows). Our group, the Föhners went as "Kowhakkers". The only prize we won this year was the eternal glory. Cow B, Gaef Gaas, deservingly won the prize of "best looking cow of 2011". Koerennen op de markt van Hoensbroek, het traditionele begin van Carnaval. Dit jaar zat er voor onze groep "de Föhners" niet meer in dan de prijs van de eeuwige roem.

The above sketch depicts one of the games, called "stoelendans". When the music stops the back guy under the cow must be seated on a barrel. And there is always one barrel short, the cow that is left after 7 rounds is the one how wins.

Kowrenne

Tomorrow evening we will be running again for the cowrunning games.
It's the start of Carnaval in our city. Eight paper and wood cows with each two runners do sprints and circuits on the Hoensbroek marketplace. Our group is 15 people and I am the captain.
Our theme this year: Kowhakkers (Lumberjacks). We built a wooden loghouse on wheels as home for our cow, to show off during the initial presentation parade.Wish us luck.
Morgenavond: de aftrap voor Carnaval: Kowrenne op de mèrt (Koerennen op de markt). Ons team gaat dit jaar als "Kowhakkers". Verder commentaar overbodig.

Obituary

Four of my drawings were publicised in d'r Uul, the local Carnaval newspaper of Hoensbroek.
And this was a new experience: one of my drawings featured in an obituary: the captain of one of our fellow cowrunners, Gerard Schreurs, passed away this year. He will be missed.
Don't try to read the text, even most dutch can't read our local dialect.
Enkele van mijn carnavalschetsen stonden deze week in de Uul, onze carnavalskrant. Ook als illustratie bij het bericht van het overlijden van Gerard Schreurs, captain van een van onze collega kowrenner groepen

Dieselpunk

Sometimes I start drawing on one side of the paper, proceeding to the other corner, without having an idea what to draw in the first place. And lines become objects; the drawing developes itself.
I just found out this kind of fantasy machinery is called "dieselpunk".
Soms begin ik met potloodlijn op een wit vel papier, een doodle, en opeens wordt zoiets een tekening. Ik ontdekte ook dat dit soort fantasie machines "dieselpunk" heet.

Spatula

Painting class last week. A first time using spatula (I am not sure about the english word: maybe painting knife). Having trouble getting the feel for the technique.
Spatel techniek bij life portret. Een eerste poging; ik heb moeite om me de techniek eigen te maken.

Trega terrain

Demolition on the Trega terrain in Maastricht is still going on, see the earlier demolition sketch. This time drawn from the Firestation side, on the ramp to the Noorderbrug. Last friday during lunchbreak.
Sloopwerken op het Trega terrein, gezien vanaf de brandweerkazerne bij de Noorderbrug.

Madison Avenue

Two years ago we visited New York, and I saw these steampipes on Madison avenue. I did not like the sketch, but the scene kept humming in my mind. When I saw the work of the painter Ronald Dupont in an exhibition in Gent, I knew I had to try this scene in that kind of style. Here it is. Acryl, 50x70cm.
Twee jaar geleden, tijdens ons bezoek aan New York, zagen we deze scene van enkele stoompijpen op Madison Avenue. Geschilderd in de stijl van de schilder Ronald Dupont. Acryl 50x70cm.

Landbouwbelang

Maastricht, sketch made during lunchtime yesterday, at the loading cranes for the river ships on the Maas.
Kades aan de achterzijde van de Landbouwbelang gebouwen, de oude kranen voor de belading van de binnenschepen.

Mp3 player

Live model art class last Saturday. Painting of a boy listening to his MP3 player. I have to learn to limit the highlights.
Model schilderen, afgelopen zaterdag. Acryl 50x70

Yellow cab

Working on a large painting 60x100cm; this is a detail. A New York yellow cab, based on a picture I took when we visited NYC two years ago. I am not satisfied with this part, but I am not sure why. Any ideas?
Detail van een schilderij van New York, waar ik op dit moment aan werk. Niet tevreden over dit deel, maar ik weet niet waarom.

Burglars

Burglars broke into our house last Monday. We don't have a lot to steal, but still they managed to get away with my laptop and harddiskdrive (on which I had all my backups) and some other loose stuff like my beard trimmer (!) Worse is the damage and mess they left: they had been looking into all closets and cupboards, leaving clothes and emptied boxes all over the place. This is how my son's room looked like.
Two lessons: we will get an alarm and I will make proper backups.

Inbraak in ons huis afgelopen maandag.  Niet zo erg veel gestolen (hoewel, elk object is een teveel), maar ze hebben wel een hoop schade en een puinhoop achtergelaten.

Demolition

Maastricht, the Tregaterrain. Formerly a ceramics industry, making room for a residential area. Just around the corner from my office. Sloopwerken in Beatrixhaven, Maastricht, het voormalige Tregaterrein.

Herkenrade

Traditional Limburg farmhouse in Herkenrade, near St. Geertuid, not far from the Belgian border. I pass it almost each day while driving to work, so a few days ago I decided to stop and sketch it.
Oude boerenhuis in Herkenrade, een gehucht vlakbij Sint Geertruid. 'sMorgens vroeg, op weg naar mijn werk.