Taking a break in India

atelier28 had a little break over Christmas and the New Year and here are some highlights of what I've been up to. A few weeks in India. I arrived in Delhi just after boxing day and after one night's rest, took the not so express Mahabodhi Express train to Gaya arriving, eventually, 13 hours late. The journey itself was pleasant enough with lots of great, cheap, spicy chai tea. However, we were glad to finally arrive at our guest house in Bodhgaya, the place where the Buddha became enlightened.

The guest house had a great little restaurant on the rooftop run by a Tibetan family.

The Dalai Lama was in town, along with Richard Gere too, so there were many visitors from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, China, and many other tradionally Buddhist and non Buddhist countries.  Meeting people from these different cultures was a real highlight for me. I particularly enjoyed seeing their beautiful clothes.

 This was opposite our guest house...school on the roof top...

This small town was full to the brim. Here, the monks were in a procession to a teaching with the Dalai Lama. And below are a few impressions of the area...

This was a beautiful spot under the Bodhi Tree marking the place where the Buddha is said to have become enlightened. The sun was dancing through the leaves of the Bodhi Tree...a very special atmosphere.

This was a typical street scene. Note the man up the electricity pylon fixing it! 

On my return, whilst waiting at Delhi Airport, there was live music in one of the shops. A Japanese spectator decided to join in with the most amazing dancing. She was a real hit with the musicians and staff!

Origami pixie boots - Sintlaars

Everyday in the run up to Christmas the Etsy blogs from the Netherlands, France and Germany are sharing creative projects in an advent calender. Today the 4th door was opened and this is a project  from atelier28! How to make little booties from a serviette (napkin). They look so cute decorating a Christmas dining table and are really easy to do. Here is how you make them...click on photo to enlarge:

new! mini canvas prints

I just went to pick up these mini canvas prints from the printer. I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. They are all prints made from our own paintings (oil on canvas). I stretched the canvases myself over tiny wooden frames. They measure 10 x 10cm and 15 x 10cm and look especially cute as a collection. They've now all been assembled, photographed and are on sale in my etsy shop.

windmill on the horizon: commission of a painting on a harpsichord

Last year I posted a video showing the making of the painting Francesco made in commission on the harpsichord of Jan de Viet and now the whole lid has been completed. The part on the left above the keyboard has just been assembled on the harpsichord and now the scene is really complete. It's a beautiful instrument to see and listen too. Jan de Viet has his studio in the old Townhall here in the centre of Tholen where he gives his lessons.

a vase of snow drops: painting from the art classes

We finished this seasons art classes this morning and as we approach the festive season and the days get cooler and shorter I thought this painting compliments the time of year well. It was made by Margreet from our Friday morning class. She's been working on it for the last couple of weeks and I love the colours...the warm reddy brown and cool minty green. I think the technique that she used for the background with the layers of colours works well with the precision of the vase and berries. Beautiful...

meditative landscape watercolours

Dreamy landscapes where land and water are full of the colours of the sky and the two melt into one...  This latest selection of watercolours try to capture those fleeting magic moments at the start and end of the day.

laughing-on-sea: new painting of ladies from Zeeland

A good ole belly laugh while paddling in the sea... This is a recently finished oil painting (20 x 20cm) of two ladies wearing the tradional clothing from Zeeland (Zeeuwse klederdracht) enjoying their time at the seaside!

little folding photo books

I've just had these pocket photo books made by Albelli of a few of my recent paintings. I'm really pleased with them! They are cute and small to keep in my bag and the quality of the printing is great too. Thick card with a good shiny finish and linen cover. I'm sure I'll be ordering more...

The studio kitty: new paintings

Meet our studio cat Moeki. It's nearly a year now since we brought her home from the cat shelter in Zierikzee and she is one of the family, hanging out with us in the art centre and getting in all the hidy holes. She has such a sweet little face I couldn't escape making a series of oil paintings. These are all 13 x 18 cm...I'm sure more will follow!

who ate all the pies?

I was inthe mood for pie baking last night. I thought I'd try a pumpkin pie, for the first time! I found a great recipe in the yoga journal and there was an apple and cranberry pie in there too...so I gave that a whirl. Pretty tasty!