"Under construction." Westervoort, Holland.

Been lucky today!

First I wanted to visit the shipyard Bennink for a yacht which I saw

from the bridge I have to cross to go to Arnhem, but once there I

discovered they where even building a complete new boat in the shed!

"In aanbouw." Westervoort, Holland.

(Under construction.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

On my way home I met this little chap.

Have you ever heard a subject call "Paint me, Paint me!" 

I did.

"Schilder me!" Westervoort, Holland.

(Paint me!) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Old barge." Arnhem, Holland.

Just before sunset, ...

"Ouwe dekshuit." Arnhem, Holland.

(Old barge.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Entrance Duiven." Duiven, Holland.

Each Thursday I try to work on my Morris,

a oldtimer Morris Minor Van from 1968.

Today no exception but I manege to paint

this little sketch on my way home.

"Entree Duiven." Ploenstraat 9 Duiven Holland.

(Entrance Duiven.) Oil on panel.

18 x 24 cm.

"Where two worlds meet." Madurodam, The Hague, Holland.

Yesterday people asked me how on Earth did I get on such a high viewpoint.

Easy it's a park, look for yourself:

Madurodam.

As I told I had to tweak the second one from yesterday a bit,  that was because the

water-hose I wanted to include was taken away at one moment. So I tried to include

it again at my studio.

"Waar twee werelden zich ontmoeten." Den Haag, Holland.

(Where two worlds meet.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

Madurodam Then Hague, Holland.

This was tough today!

If you ever want a crash course perspective drawing, go to Madurodam!!

Made two but the second one I really have to look at it again.

It's not only the perspective but also the background, you have to decide

where to stop and let your imagination go further otherwise you could paint the whole park.

Great day, lovely weather and lots and lots of places to paint!

"Madurodam, Paleis op de Dam en Magna Plaza." Den Haag, Holland.

(Madurodam, Palace on the Dam and Magna Plaza.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Westervoort beton." Westervoort, Holland.

This concrete factory stood halfway below water-level, the last

weeks, and now they where very busy to reinstall a lot of things.

Good luck for me because usually I am trespassing where I painted

this painting and normally I would have been send away, ...

They saw me, but they where just too busy. :-)

"Westervoort Beton." Westervoort, Holland.

(Westervoort Concrete.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Land ahead." Westervoort, Holland.

Some guys are glad the river is receding, ... birds are definitely one of them.

Being confined to a small pieces of land just between the dike roads and

the water the last week or so they now see land appearing all around them.

"Eindelijk land." Westervoort, Holland.

(Finally land.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Cut off." Westervoort, Holland.

There are still a few people who live in the floodplains,

that's quiet an undertaking at the moment I guess, every time

with a little boat to the dike where your car is parked, and

hoping you didn't forget anything.

The water has reached it highest point and is definitely receding now.

"Afgesneden." Westervoort, Holland.

(Cut off.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Daag hoogwater." Westervoort, Holland.

(Goodbye high water.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"From the Great bridge of Doesburg." Doesburg, Holland.

It's still high tide around here, although the water is slowly

very slowly receding. I went to Doesburg today and the water-level

was still even a lot higher than last week!

A great view from this bridge, foul weather though.

"Vanaf de Grote of Vast brug." Doesburg, Holland.

(From the Great bridge.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

High tide, again and again and again, ....

Sorry for that, but it's such a nice view, ...

I met an old chap btw. the ferry "Always Ahead"  but

now I know it's not always the case, ... she laid still waiting for better days

I guess.

"Niet steeds voorwaarts." Dieren, Holland.

(Not always ahead.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

 After the ferry I looked for an other spot, found a great view all the way back to Doesburg, I reckon

that town is about 10 km. away and this river (IJssel) is flowing along that town as well.

"Van Dieren naar Doesburg." Dieren, Holland.

(From Dieren to Doesburg.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

While going back home I couldn't resist to paint this little spot again, ... I painted from this spot several times now, in the winter > over there and once > here  

"Velperwaard."Velp, Holland.

(Velperwaard.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Westervoort bridge." Westervoort, Holland.

Todays effort,

"Westervoort brug." Westervoort, Holland.

(Westervoort bridge.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"High tide with rain." Arnhem, Holland.

Sounds a bit like fish and chips, but it's soo common

over here rain rain and then some rain, a bit pity though

because of the awesome high tide. You have to know,

the last time it was soo high was 1995. I sheltered

under several bridges today, ... it's narrowed my

compositions but kept me dry, ... my palette I mean!

"Hoogwater met regen." Arnhem, Holland.

(High tide with rain.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Vanonder de brug." Arnhem, Holland.

(from under the bridge.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

Setup photo, no onlookers today!

Still High tide! Holland.

Been awhile since I posted.

Not that I didn't paint but I just didn't had the time

to upload the paintings, ...

"Grijsfabriek in overproductie." Velp, Holland.

(Grey factory in overdrive.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Ondersteuningswerf RWS Doesburg." Doesburg.

(Supportshipyard Doesburg.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Waterdag." Westervoort, Holland.

(Waterday.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Waterfoto's." Westervoort, Holland.

(Water photo's.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Hoogwater Loo." Loo, Holland.

(High tide Loo.) Oil on panel.

18 x 24 cm.

"Amsterdam centraal station." Amsterdam, Holland.

(Amsterdam Central station.) Oil on panel.

18 x 24 cm.

High tide, ... again! Holland.

After a heavy snow time the weather has become above freezing,

and you know what that means, Snow is melting, and together with

two days of continues rain the rivers are full!!

Those are awesome sights, ... you have to realize that at this moment

the water would stand on ground level in our living-room weren't it

for the dikes. And they forecast even higher levels, ...  3 meters higher

as the level is now!!

It's an awesome sight soo much water rushing by.

"Hoogwater op komst." Westervoort, Holland.

(High tide is coming.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Spoorbrug Westervoort." Westervoort, Holland.

(Railroad Bridge Westervoort.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Water of land." Westervoort, Holland.

(Water or land.) Oil on panel.

24 x30 cm.

"20 minutes sketch." Westervoort, Holland.

I't almost spring like over here sunny and a lot of melt-water flowing through the rivers.

If only the temperature would follow, neeh, if I may choose I would like some fresh snow!!

Anyway I made two today, the first one I was a bit lucky.

The island you see in front, it was my first intention to get on it

and paint the reverse way I was looking.

I couldn't get too it because the water was just too deep for my wellies, ... luckily!!

When I finished this painting there wasn't an island anymore at all!!

The second, was made on the same spot though, just 90 degree. left of the first painting, .. a quick sketch because the sun was rapidly going under.

A lovely afternoon! 

"Hoogwater komt." Westervoort, Holland.

(High tide is coming.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"20 minuten schets." Westervoort, Holland.

(20 minute sketch.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Rush hour." Westervoort, Holland.

If the English say 'It's raining cats and dogs' we could say

'It's raining cars and trucks.' The last two days where only

one rain shower ONLY ONE!! without any stop (so it seems)

it kept raining!! Couldn't stay inside though and sheltered under

a railroad bridge, .. limited viewpoint but at least I could swing my

brushes around.

"Spits." Westervoort, Holland.

(Rush hour.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Just a corner." Westervoort, Holland.

Not much time today, ... but just enough to paint

this little corner in town, mwooah town.

Almost out of town, ...

"Zomaar een hoekje." Westervoort, Holland.

(Just a corner.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Along the Martinuschurch." Doesburg, Holland.

Had a appointment in Doesburg, ... so why not paint over there as well?!

"Langs de Martinuskerk." Doesburg, Holland.

(Along the Martinus church.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

 And as promised the other part of my trip to Limburg:

"Aan de andere kant." Reijmerstok, Holland.

(On the other side.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Gezegende Maas." Maastricht, Holland.

(Blessed Maas.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Goedemorgen Limburg." Euverem, Holland.

(Good Morning Limburg.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Magisch Maastricht." Maastricht, Holland.

(Magical Maastricht.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

"Reijmerstok." Reijmerstok, Holland.

Oil on panel. 24 x 30 cm.

"Richting Euverem." Reijmerstok, Holland.

(Towards Euverem.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

A great 2011, ... Everyone!

Back home after a awesome holiday in the south of Holland

called Limburg, somewhat hilly which reminds me of Wales.

Although Wales wasn't that snowy when I visited it, what

a sight that would have been?!

Anyway painted a lot so relax and enjoy, ... (the first part.)

Euverem, Holland.

Oil on panel. 24 x 30 cm.

Gulpen, Holland.

Oil on panel. 24 x 30 cm.

"Richting Reijmerstok." Reijmerstok, Holland.

(Towards Reijmerstock.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.

Valkenburg, Holland.

Oil on panel. 24 x 30 cm.

"Vanaf de Vosberg." Reijmerstok, Holland.

(From the Foxhill.) Oil on panel.

24 x 30 cm.