more harbour town watercolours

I've added some new harbour town watercolors to my etsy shop...I just love little towns filled with houses perched on the edge of a harbor or the sea...these new ones have sign posts pointing to 'home' and the 'beach'. 

colourful landscapes, Erasmus and an iris: paintings and etchings from the art classes

A couple of months ago I shared some art work from our art classes and in particular work from Yvonne who's now completed her first 8 week course with us. Above are her latest pieces. Both measure 80 x 100cm and exude colour. She used a natural sponge to add texture, especially in the trees. They are a joy to look at...

These are etchings from the etching class. Above is an etching from Alexander of Erasmus. After the line etching was made, the plate was treated with an aquatint, covered with a spirit varnish and placed in the salt bath for varrying dregrees of time to accentuate the hat and keep the face clear. The great thing about that contrast is that when etching ink is applied, it's also possible to add different coloured inks (as can be seen in the image top left). However, even with one colour the depth is still visible. Below is an etching from Adri that I really enjoy printed with blue etching ink. A little bit like Delft blue...?

etsy in flow magasine

It was great to see the 'Etsy Courant' in this month's Flow...hopefully we'll see a few more Dutch etsy shops!

more photos from the Historical market in Veere, Zeeland

Every Tuesday we've been demonstrating how etchings are made on the historical market in Veere, Zeeland (the Netherlands) wearing, of course, the local costume. Here are a few more photos from the last few weeks...

holiday islands and beautiful ladies: paintings from the art classes

The last 2 weeks we've been working together with local graphic and product designer Steven Bouwens from  studio 09. Both of these paintings are works in progress where Steven was experimenting with using various techniques, including palet knife. In both cases the canvases were prepared with a single background colour, a sketch was made with charcoal and then worked out further with a palet knife. It's a good technique if you want to create an impressionistic style.

markets, clogs, etching presses and dressing up: the Historical Market in Veere has now begun.

The Historical Market in Veere has now begun (every Tuesday 10.00 - 17.00 in July and August). Yesterday was the first one and I've got a new outfit. This is the Middelburgs Ambacht costume traditionally worn by girls and some women on the island of Walcheren in Zeeland, Netherlands. Below is a gentleman wearing the traditional costume for the area.  

We took the etching press like last year, and demonstrated how etchings are printed. A process that hasn't really changed since Rembrandt's day.  

The next market in on Tuesday 12th July...come and say hello! There's lots to see: basket making, local cheese, local beer, handmade soap, sculpture, painting, homemade jams and chutneys, jewellery, wafel making...and much much more...

rowboats in the water: new oil painting

Water is still a theme in our studio. In this oil painting I chose to paint these 2 rowboats. The white reflects well in the water in contrast to the blue. It was a joy to work on them. (It measures 20 x 20 cm)