Isabel & Lucia

These two Spanish/Dutch sisters were a delight to talk with and capture in oil on panel. The sittings are two hours and afterwards I take a few weeks to weigh and measure if I have really gotten the spirit of the sitter. In the last 20 years I have made over a thousand of these vignettes. I never tire of the kick it gives me.

oil on panel
25X25 cm.
€ 500 in commission, framed

Eros & Psyche-Ode to Love

The second in the series- Eros & Psyche, the god and goddess of love. These Luxor roses are giving me their best. I take the big tube of red and then white and paint with them. of course I have prepared a "failed canvas" with the "Ben Dot" paper I am crazy about. I hope there is something to ask questions about here. I work to find a balance and a feeling of mystery. the best way to spend a dreary, dismal rainy day I can think of!

oil on canvas, covered by paper and painted again with oil
40 X 60 cm. €600 unframed

Ode to Love II

An explosion of profusion! These roses are the ultimate for me in painting an Ode to Love! And the two beloved ones are Eros and Psyche, a figurine given to me by a Flemish girl friend. The original was found in Tongeren, Belgium, in 2 AD.

Oil on canvas covered by paper and painted again in oil. 70 X 90 cm.
price: 1,750 € unframed

roses 02

Each new day with these roses gives me the chance to explore the changes in forms and movements of color. Again I have used a canvas with a painting I didn't find good enough. I covered it randomly with my favorite papers, mostly the "Ben Dot" one. then I charged on with the oil paint, beginning with paint directly from the tube. when I am gasping for breath, I stop.

Oil over paper over oil on canvas,  40 X 40 cm.  700€ unframed

Roses 01

These Roses never let me loose. A freely painted impression of my favorite kind.

Oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm. 850€ unframed.

Two of my revised Men in Blue. I love to just keep painting on these portraits in an attempt to make them more paintings with stories without loosing the white background and movement of paint. These two have to do with flying. The portrait I was working on (see Blog post 9\16\13) now has included this man's favorite hobby= butterflies. and the lower portrait has "gierzwaluwen" flying through. I always think of this Man in Blue when I see these beautiful birds darting through the air.
these portraits and more are in the show opening Sunday at 4 p.m. in "de Tuin-Zwammerdam". see www.waterlelies.nl for more information. but then you have to read Dutch.

Man in Blue

 Working on the portraits I want to exhibit at the upcoming show in Zwammerdam. This is Fred, one of the Men in Blue from the exhibit nearly 5 years ago. I have changed three of the portraits into real paintings, letting the likeness go. I hope that you, the viewer will see this as an attempt to portray a personality in lively strokes of color. Please go to the website for your invitation to the show. We hope to see all of you there.

Joyous sunflowers

Want to squeeze in this boisterous oil painting of sunflowers before the real winter starts. It is a last reflection on summer which keeps the warmth in the house while the winter winds howl.

size: 60 x 60 cm.

oil on canvas

 €650 unframed

The Polder-Summer

"God created the World, but the Dutch created Holland". The English are fond of saying this and rightly so. A Polder is land pumped out of a lake. Here in Noorden we call the whole bit behind our house where I painted this landscape "The Polder". About 200 years ago this was all water= the Nieuwkoopse Plassen. About 400 years ago the dike system in N. Holland enclosed the larger portion from Haarlem to here creating land for farmers and gaining turf for fuel. Pumping out water and creating islands has resulted in a beautiful nature reserve where I love to paint. This particular morning the sky was moving fast and our two geese where galivanting in the right place. The old praam was my water-studio for many years. "She" is retired and festooned with bright pink Pinkster flowers in the late spring.

( Oil Painting on canvas, 60 X 80 cm. €1,850. incl. frame)

The Bright Field inspired by and dedicated to a poem by Welsh poet, R. Thomas.

I have been working on this painting for some years now. it is one of my very first paint-over- paper over paint works. am I finished? I surely hope so. I have now found the "story line" hidden in the layers of paint and the composition. I won't fill it in for anyone else. you have to make your own story. but I would like to know what you find please. Thank you.

Painting:  Mixed technique-oil, paper, oil, crayon  in wide frame, 15cm. on all sides
                 80 X 80 cm. or 110cm. square with frame
                 Price: € 2,000

Today Tina Verklaren received this painting for her 55th birthday. thank you, daughters and husband, John, for choosing this Oriental Poppy painting! Happy Birthday, Tina.

Man in Blue

Five years ago I had an exhibit of 26 portraits called "Men in Blue". the ones I still have are bothering me. After spending a day en plein air painting with Roos Scheuring, LeoVerbeek, Corry Kooy and Bart van Boxtel (who cleverly manned the Zonneveer- boat), I decided to give myself the needed kick. I am now turning these somewhat timid too-figurative portraits into real paintings. Playing with paint and thinking about the intention. They will probably no longer "look like" the models, but hopefully will be exciting with oil strokes. Thanks, friends!

waterlily pond

If you take a look at the first painting in the last Post, you will see the basis of this finished work. Yes, it takes many sessions to become satisfied with a painting. Even then I may pick the canvas out some years later and give it another go. This canvas is 100 X 120 cm., has many layers beneath it including one of paper which gives it a richness of texture and patterns. It feels to me as I look at it hanging on the living room wall as if I am gazing into a pond full of James Brydon's on a warm summer day. These red water lilies appear to be sacred bowls of deep colors attracting insects which drown in the nectar. A stream of light hits the lily pads becoming golden in the late summer light.

I am in a flow of painting flowering waterlilies in our bassins. good thing it grabbed me before the summer is over. The lower painting is still in process. I did it in and must go on to hopefully revive it.

Time to start giving attention to portrait painting. Here is one of my 25 x 25 cm. oil paintings on panel for the Hospice Group in Nieuwkoop. all the volunteers have been here to sit for a "conversation painting". I am very proud of the wall of portraits hanging in the house. The situation of talking with each other gives me such inspiration. I just let it roll.

exhibition

"Early Summer Morning"" is the title of this study I painted while sitting in the boat. 35 X 52 cm., oil on canvas and very impressionistic. I am using it for the poster advertising the show opening on Monday. "Kunst in het Gemeentehuis, Teylersplein 1, 2441 LE Nieuwveen, S. Holland. It runs from 6 August until the 12th of September, 9 to 12 workdays. Lots of flower, landscape and a few portraits in this show. You are sincerely invited to come take a look.

A July Saturday

Back to painting waterlilies today. our gardens are spectacular this year. somewhere in the distance Herman is picking buckets and buckets of blue berries.

Garden Notes

Just looked at my artist friend, Lynn Golden's Blog. I realize how much our relationship inspires and influences me. Thanks, Lynn, for our mutual commitment to the love of color and movement.
This oil painting over paper over a failed canvas of long ago is ripening on the living room wall. just maybe I might have the courage to leave it this way? My garden is exceptionally full and gorgeous this year with all the rain and cold we had in the spring and summer.

Having a great time with watercolors in the garden. Every day is another spectacular one. Making a whole line of greeting cards, each one unique. you might order any you like.

Took a quick photo of the watercolor I am working on. Don't want to get it more finikky and detailed- keep it fresh as the garden is since the cold broke and summer has finally arrived. That means I have to work really fast. Watercolor is a good medium and I have to try really hard to pick it up. Have a heavy hand from always painting in oil, but I think this is working.

klaverjassen

A very Happy Birthday to you, Rob Veenboer. You have been playing (upper right) with your friends Leo, Herman and Jan every Friday evening possible for over 30 years. I have been priveledged to be painting this series of over 7 finished and unfinished oils for a number of years.
Thank you, Wil. enjoy your day.

Back in the saddle after a wonderful month with Joy, Craig, grandson Cooper, Anwyn and Drew in the Hilltowns of Massachusetts. Started with watercolors again. This oil portrait of Julia was painted some years ago. Came across it again and put it on the wall. it holds its own very well, I think.

In a month I will be back in Holland. See you then.

A rose explosion! this rose painting in paper/oil technique is 60 X 40 cm. I can never stop being inspired by these very unusual Luxor roses.

What a beautiful gesture! I have loved this painting from Lukas Cranach, the Elder, 1472-1553. This detail is only 15 X 10 cm., mixed media on carton. Please come and enjoy the Stand Up Art blocks designed by Herman. The oil paintings are mine.
We will be here for the 3-day Pinksterdagen Week End, 18, 19 and 20 May, from 11 to 17 hours. I will be in the greenhouse and Herman by the water-lily bassins. He has some beautiful new kinds of lilies which will unfortunately not blossom until June. We have had a cold spring, remember. Our flower garden did not mind the cold and is glorious. you are invited!

This bright May day inspires me to begin a new series=this time roses. Across the lake you can buy these glorious Luxor roses: deep luxurious blossoms with reds in the petals emerging from white bases. Each flower gets better and better as it unfolds. This canvas is 60 X 40 cm. painted over my favorite "Ben Dot" packing paper. The series contains many small studies to be mounted on Herman's Stand-Up blocks. Opening on the PinksterWeekend show 18, 19 and 20 May here on our Nymphaea Eiland. Everyone is welcome.

 Painted this portrait of Rini recently. small formaat which I love= 25cm. x 25cm.
That the conversation revealed a very special woman shows forth in the oil painting I think.

Want to have a lot of fun in Villa Bourgesie in Rome, especially on a beautiful Sunday? Rent a Biciclette Bella with three good friends. You will have lots of laughs. 5 wonderful days in GrottaFerrati in the neighborhood of Frascati.

Bathsheba thinking about the letter she received from King David. She must reply, of course, and does. A drama occurs in which her husband is killed. This 30 x 30 cm. mixed technique painting is inspired by a photo of Marlene.

"Lot and His Daughters" is another present-day painting inspired by a Bible story. Sodom and Gomorrah was in flames= an aftermath of God's wrath on sinful living and disrespect. Lot had been given the chance to leave and fled with his family which had been warned to not look back on the destruction of their hometown. His wife did and was turned into a pillar of salt. The daughters had the task of providing the family eer. Pa was the only man around.
In this "story" the daughters are nurses and the aging man was inspired by Lucian Freud, my favorite portrait painter who died last year.

For Good Friday I have chosen one of my little Stand-Up paintings= just 15 x 15 cm., paper over cardboard, then the oil painting on top, glued on one of Herman's special MDF stand-up or hang-up supports. This is Bathsheba not getting a message from the Easter Bunny but from King David telling her to come to his rooms immediately. you probably all know the outcome of this inviation. She was just taking a bath in her own garden, wasn't she?
We will be hanging out at Sta-Art Gallery in Alphen tomorrow afternoon from 13 until 17 hour, Dutch time. Would love to see you there.

beautiful cold morning and I thought this "Stand-Up Art" tiny oil would be just the thing. Sylvia seems to be shivering just like me with the wind from Siberia. Nice how that white tissue paper works, if I do say so.

Here is what the previous post has turned into. Rebecca has put goat fur on her son's arm in order to confuse her husband, the blind king, into choosing him instead of his brother, who did have hairy arms. She is another siren who is master in deceit. We women need that cleverness to get what we want. I have used several family members as model in this case. And the goat? On "The Land" in Cummington, Ma., goats are an issue. They also seem to often get their way. please post a comment if you dare.

Just beginning this story of Rebecca, her son, the goat and the blind husband-king. The first layers of failed oil painting, then paper layer and now the oil paint doing the blocking-in are now accomplished. look for the next Blog please. tension mounts.

Lilith, first wife of Adam. She left him and went to live with the animals. I painted this "Siren" on an iron plate which is a very good surface. She feels like iron. Tomorrow Annet and I will be at the Sta-Art Galerie, Hoofdstraat 33 in Alphen a/d Rijn from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. We would like very much to see you and tell about our work for "Sirenen".

At the exposition in Alphen a/d Rijn this "Naughty Middle-Aged Couple" is part of the "Stand-Up Art" wall where Annet's work is the half and mine the other half. About 35 small paintings on my side are ready to stand-up on a desk or side-table. They are just 15 X 15 cm. and will catch attention anywhere while not taking up much space. They are also ready to be hung up if wished. Herman made the MDF blocks on which the mixed-medium paintings in oil are glued. Clever man. And the price is absolutely right=just €100¡

GEFELICITEERD, Peter. We hope you enjoy your birthday present from Ria. It was painted behind our house in Noorden before they cut all these beautiful trees down. A lasting memory. A lazy summer day.

Please don't forget to come to this show in Alphen a/d Rijn at STA-ART Gallery, Wednesday to Saturday, 11a.m. to 5 p.m., if you just should happen to be in Holland until 7 April. Annet and I are there Saturdays from 1 until 4 p.m. we think it is very worth it!

Today two ladies of ill-repute from Bible stories. I hope you will find many symbols in these paintings. I have taken the images from photos in the Dutch newspapers and put them in the context of the story. First you have Tamar, the women who stationed herself as prostitute before the city port in order to lure the king into her liar. Of course it succeeded for her to bare the next in line. much more to tell over this painting.
And then there is Rachab, whose brothel was in the city wall. she helped two foreign soldiers escape in return for promise of her safety when the city was beseiged. Who is the fellow on the right?

Composing and playing with materials for this series of Sirens was such a pleasure. I will be going on with it for sure.

These three Sirens are revenging their girl friend =the daughter of Jefta.
Jefta had promised God to sacrifice to him the first person he saw on return from his victorious battle. Of course that was his beloved daughter! These sexy harpy-like ladies are running through the woods to catch him while his daughter is lying dead. I have had so much fun making these paintings for the show which will open tomorrow with an information evening. Friday all hell will break loose with real Sirens and a special Diva. Please show up.

"Sirenen" That is the name of the exhibition starting March 8th in the Sta-Art Gallery in Alphen a/d Rijn, the Netherlands. Two painters and 4 sculptors are showing their recent work.=all about sexy women. The opening at 8 p.m. will be spectacular with various temptresses walking about. A "diva-siren" will be opening the show with her luring song.
I have been working for about a half year on this series of paintings. I realized right on that the Bible stories most of us heard in Sunday School are full of seductive women-women who used their wiles to get their way, mostly in order for the men to win wars. I took a number of these women's stories and made paintings in my mixed-technique of paper over oil, over paper, and so forth. Keep watching my Posts, please.
Here is Lilith as a Young Girl. Google her please. yes, I looked at DaVinci too.

My dear painter friend, Lynn Golden, is over from St. Just in Roseland, Cornwall.(see www. Lynn Golden.co.uk)  This is the second year she has come to Holland to specially paint tulips and other spring flowers. It is a 10 day marathon of keeping the flowers alive and perked- up in the greenhouse while starting one painting after another. Herman starts up the wood-burning stove early in the frosty mornings to get it warm enough to work comfortably. She will leave with a new assortment of beautiful pastels and paintings and then send them off to shows in England. It is a very inspiring time here on the island.

Potifar's Wife. Many painters have wanted to take a crack at this Bible story. And many did, including Rembrandt. Unrequited passion you could say in contrast to Delilah and Sampson's painting. Treachery and deceit is more the case. He didn't want to get involved and she just managed to hold onto a thread of his mantel with which she got her even.
I love letting my fancy go with these works. The paper does it for me in many cases giving me the idea. The stories of Sirenes in the Bible are endless. Keep watching, please.

Sampson and Delila is probably the most passionate painting in the series for the big exhibit coming up. It is full of fire and fury just before Sampson's eyes will be put out. Working up to getting the show "Sirenes" finished for the big opening the 8th of March. Please come see it in Sta-Art Gallery, Alphen a/d Rijn, the Netherlands.