keeping my head above water: new paintings and exhibition

Sometimes it feel like this, just about keeping your head above water. A few years ago I was on holiday in Sri Lanka with friends and I had a disposable underwater cameras. Following on from other similar pieces that I'd made of people underwater this is one of my latest oil paintings (18 x 24cm) inpsired by one of those photos. I love painting light underwater and reflections. It will be on display at the 'Kunstuitleen' in Terneuzen (near us here in Zeeland, the Netherlands) from the 3rd November to 22nd December in an exhibition for small art....

...along with this painting (80 x 80cm), a reflection of summer days along the sandy beaches of Zeeland, and 4 other pieces.

being together, never alone: new etching

The summer is well and truly over and after all the art markets this summer we took a little break, but now we are back in action. The art centre is spick and span ready for the art classes that start this week and I've been back behind the etching press.  I began with dry point, working directly in the copper, then used an aquatint to create the shadow areas. It's already here in my etsy shop: being together, never alone...

cappuccino sailing: new paintings

We were recently asked to make a painting in commission of one that we'd already made in blue but in brown tints. Francesco made two for the clients to choose between. We had quite strict pallet of colours to adhere too but I love the result...and luckily they did too!

how much is that camper in the window?

The market season has finished for us now which feels a bit mixed. It takes its toll carrying all our stuff to the market every week and being nice to everyone with big smiles all day long! But I do love the direct contact with people and the challenge of trying to make a good and attractive display... so that's it for another year. We couldn't help ourselves last week and spend some of our takings on these two groovy tin vans from one of the other stalls. The blue one has a cute surf board on top too with little openings for our business cards. And now here they are on display in the shop window alongside a few of our recent paintings...

running through the dunes playing in the sea: new paintings

I'm gradually accepting that summer is drawing to close as nature continues her cycle on to autumn. Fortunately I can paint the summer all year round! The painting above is the oil painting made in commission (50 x 60 cm) based on the dunes here in Zeeland (Netherlands), and below is a scene I spotted last weekend, which was a real scorcher and wonderfully refreshing to just jump into the sea (oil on canvas 18 x 24 cm).

dreaming of the beach: new paintings

The last week or so I've been working on a dune painting in commission and it's now finished so I'm continuing the series of small oil paintings inspired by my favourite theme: the beach. Both are scenes I saw at the weekend here on the coast of Zeeland in the Netherlands. Above is 18 x 24 cm and below 13 x 18 cm. I began another today...so watch this space... prints of the paintings can be found here and the originals are on my website.

hand in hand: new painting

Yesterday we were in Veere on the market with our etching press giving demonstrations as well as wearing the local costume along with children who are also dressed up. I captured this photo during one of the markets and just had to turn it into a painting. The painting is 18 x 24 cm oil on canvas. 

taking the plunge

The end of a warm day and the sun is dipping towards the horizon and the bright light twinkles on the sea's surface. The beach is emtying and the stillness is interspersed with the sound of seagulls and the occassional shout of enjoyment from the sea....aaaahhhh summer days.... (oil on canvas 13 x 18cm)

The sea looks so enticing...gentle waves and crystal clear waters, but the sea off the Dutch coast (and my homeland England) is pretty chilly and it takes a while to get used to before plunging in. Still my favourite thing to do...apart from painting! (oil on canvas 18 x 24 cm)

the sun came to Zeeland!

At last! After weeks of cool, rainy weather, the sun was shining today (after a lot more rain!). It was a gorgeous day...managed to capture these photos...hope to paint tomorrow!

watching the world go by: new paintings

In January I visited India in an area where many Tibetan and Himalayan people also lived and visited and this image reminded me of that trip. I know she looks like a monk, but she is actually a young Nepalese Buddhist nun paying her respects (oil on canvas 18 x 24 cm). I love the colour and energy of Tibetan Buddhism but I have had more contact with Buddhism from Thailand and when I saw this picture taken by a friend of mine who is a Thai monk, I couldn't wait to get the oil paints out. He was travelling in Thailand on the train and captured this scene (oil on canvas 13 x 18 cm): "watching the world go by."

hand in hand

We were on the historical market in Veere again today with our artwork and etching press demonstrating how etchings are made and I took these pictures of the children wearing the local costume. The little chap above was really tiny! We had a good day, only a bit of very light rain and plenty of visitors. Looking forward to next Tuesday when we're there again.

the etching press prints

Yesterday we were in Hellevoetsluis, just south of Rotterdam (in the Netherlands) demonstrating how etchings are printed...here are a few photos. It was lucky that we were inside because every now and then the heavens opened! 

The etching plate is being inked in 

 and covered with handmade Somerset paper

 then pulled through the press....and....da daa...a VW camper caravan

Tomorrow we'll be in Veere again.

dreamy landscape 'letter box' watercolour paintings

Today we will be demonstrating how etchings are made at an art market in Hellevoetsluis and I've made these new 'letter box' watercolour paintings of meditative landscapes for the occassion. Come and say 'hi' if you're in the neighbourhood!

take away pizza and strawberries

I really do love the summer. A chance to spend more time outside. Last week I made a pizza and then we took it away on our bikes and cycled along the Oosterschelde, Holland's largest National Park, and thoroughly enjoyed our outdoor picnic...after a swim, of course!

Yesterday it was quite windy so we sheltered behind the dike overlooking the polder. The tiffin food containers that I bought in India in January came in really handy... and the summer scene wouldn't be complete without stawberries!

Talking of strawberries, I made this cake for the etchers and painters in the art centre today. It is totally delicious! A really moist (eggless) strawberry cake. No wonder it was a full house!

clogs and ice cream

The sun was shining today and it's feeling more like summer. The art market season has begun for us and we've just returned from the first historical market in Veere, here in Zeeland (Netherlands). The etching press was packed too along with the clogs and we were demonstrating how etchings are printed most of the day. 

It's a market full of people wearing the local costume and displaying traditional crafts such as basket weaving, wool spinning, rope making etc, and selling local produce. 

Zeeland is made up of several islands joined together with dikes, dams and tunnels and the costume varies in the various regions. The main difference is the design of the cap and the top.

We'll be there every Tuesday in July and August. Come and say 'hello' if you are in the neighbourhood!

the wild wild sea

I really can't get enough of going to beach. It was pretty windy and cool when the sky clouded over but there we were on the beach and even swimming in the rough sea. Inspiration for new paintings for sure!

oh I do like to be beside the seaside...who doesn't! new paintings

Californian dreaming on such a dreary grey summer's day. The summer season here in Holland has been, well, not so warm and sunny but when the moment has arrived I managed to capture these images to paint on canvas. I just love painting the summer light. Above and below are 24 x 18cm and further down 18 x 13 cm. Prints are available of these paintings in my etsy shop and the paintings can be found on my website along with more of my work.

sunny side of the dunes: new paintings

Last Sunday we visited a village on the coast in Zeeland, the Netherlands, called Zoutelande (in English it would translate literally to Saltland). It's a small touristy place nestled behind the dunes where we often cycle to throughout the year and I spotted these two scenes of people enjoying the sun. As you can see from the coats they are wearing it was sunny but cool because it was quite a windy day. I just couldn't help myself but capture the scenes on canvas (above 18 x 24 cm and below 13 x 18 cm oil on canvas). Prints of the paintings are now available in my etsy shop.

making paper with the white kind of love

Just before Easter I was asked to write a simple 'how to make paper' guide for a small booklet that would accompany 101 woonideeen (101 living ideas) and after having to keep it quiet for a couple of months, I'm not good at keeping secrets, today the much awaited printed version finally arrived in the post! The little booklet attached is filled with inspiring Dutch and Belgian Etsy artisans...a real little treasure.

...and *drum roll* ...here is my mini guide to making paper... very satisfying! Even managed to squeeze in a sunny photo of Zeeland.