Herman in the garden

This is what a visit to a Vincent van Gogh exhibit in Musée d'Orsay did to me! not sure I am finished. This impression of Herman in the garden is the result of studying van Gogh again. He never leaves me with his delicate forceful strokes full of energy and joy of living. The exhibit was about how society pushed van Gogh over the edge. There have been many books written about this "poor" man. If you spend time really looking at his work, you might understand in a small way his absolute passion. If you can find that in your life, you are lucky.
In Paris there is a statue of General Charles de Gaulle. Perhaps there are more of this statue in several places. I recently saw one in the 16th Arondissement, placed on a small square full of flowers and spring-green trees. It is a modern bronze where De Gaulle is making a momentous gesture like the man in the back of my painting. In my painting this man, however, is directing traffic in Noorden.

Please make comments so I can learn from you. Thank you.

VVG in Paris

Paint by Number was developed and marketed in 1951 by Max S. Klein. 12 million kits have since been sold. Just to think about all the people these nifty kits gave pleasure to and maybe a beginning to a never-ending hobby or career.
When I entered the hotel room on the 5th floor of Hotel Jean Bart in Paris, I caught my breath. Over my bed was this number painting of Van Gogh's irises= totally different from the real Van Gogh and full of life and ingenuity in it's own way. This was modern art before it got snobby. Anyone could paint it and hang it.
During the three days I spent in that ever-incredible city the exhibition of Van Goghs in Musée D'Orsay was a high point. Many freshly restored canvases from particular collections with an unusual approach by Antoine Artaud. I really liked the wall color which always makes a difference. So, get your tickets Online and take a trip to the city of light.

Got your eggs in?

Maybe you have collected all your eggs and are looking for another path today? we are OPEN from 13 until 17 hours=Voorweg 22, Noorden. a beautiful day for a walk around our island.
Happy Easter.

Herman and his beauties

Herman and I will be here all weekend including Easter Monday. Open gardens and studio from 1 until 5 p.m. wander in, wander out. Please comment on the rose paintings I am doing and any other which stirs your attention. Nearly everything is for sale. Please don't be disappointed at not seeing these gorgeous Carnea water lilies. They will be showing themselves at the beginning of June. Much more to see and talk about. very informal. hope to see you.

In the Living Room-Tim

Tim lives in Plainfield, Ma., USA. I hope to surprise him with this 25 x 25 cm. oil on panel study when I return in May. Next to him is a greeting card size oil on paper on carton of my favorite mythological figures of eternal love= Psyche and Eros in a starry night. I make a lot of these small studies and also put them into the large red rose paintings.
Hope you enjoy these. I have painted over 1500 of these studies, never wanting them to be more "photographic". It is about the life in the paint which expresses the life of the sitter. Hopefully someone will pop up here during the Easter weekend and be willing to sit with me for about 1 1/2 hrs. for a "Portrait Conversation". No strings attached=just the joy of the talking together while I send strokes of paint to the 25 cm. square surface. Surprise me, please.

Enough Roses? Come see!

Early this morning Hanneke arrived with these gorgeous dark red roses. I am thankful.
Do I ever have enough? No. every rose is unique and they inspire me to get out the paint and give it a go. Anyone wanting to visit my special Rose Garden over Easter week end and Monday is very welcome. also Herman's water lily gardens are something to see even though they won't be flowering until early June.

OPEN HOUSE

A piece of my living room which is a perfectly lit studio. I am working very hard on these gorgeous Luxor roses. And a portrait once in awhile.
This Easter weekend we are spontaneously having an OPEN HOUSE! no advertising. just a sign on the bridge saying "COME ON IN!" I would love to have someone chat with me for an hour or so while I paint their portrait. I will see who shows up first.
Please drop in. the water lilies are just pushing their deep red leaves above the water and the calla lilies are exquisite. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! HAPPY EASTER!

Portrait for Hospice wall

Another fast portrait of a willing volunteer for the local Hospice house. Some years ago the direction asked me to make portraits of the volunteer workers to place on a wall in the reception room. When families come to look at the possibilities of placing a dear one in Hospice care, they look at the faces of people who will be doing the care work. It seems to have a very positive effect because I am still painting portraits when asked. I love to do this work as I have also done the volunteer care. Now I do what I love best as my contribution.
These 25 cm. square portraits in oil are my trademark so to speak. Hope you like it. I also do them in commission.

Black Vase-1st layer oil paint

After I see a composition in the paper layer shown in the last post, I begin with the subject, searching the colors and forms in paint directly out of the tube. Some softening with brushes where the paint is really too thick is required. The duo Psyche and Eros, the mythological symbols of eternal love in this series take their places.
This painting has been hanging for several days to settle while I just look at it. I feel where I want to change colors, but will leave the exploding roses as they are. satisfied with their joyful expression.
I hope you are enjoying the process I go through.

First Stage in the Black vase

It gives me great pleasure to paste over portraits I no longer want to look at, in this case a Man in Blue from 5 years ago. It will now go further into the Rose Series. Still have the Ben Dot paper, thank heavens,and some other interesting ones to play with to develop the composition. Actually this one was fine in this stage. But I know it will change in light, which is also interesting if I want to wait. No, my itchy fingers got going with oil paint. more tomorrow. thanks for watching the changes.

my garden

My garden is this far= blooming calla lilies. we are experiencing a very early spring with summer-like weather. I painted this "romantic pair" a few years ago and still find it's exuberance symbolic of the exploding calla lilies and their nearly tropical leaves. Every year joy at the winter's disappearance and the beginning of a flowering season.

Painting:  90 cm. square, oil on linen, 850 €