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!