Beach paintings, feather etchings and peanut butter cinnamon swirls

 

We've been busy this last week redesigning the exhibition in our gallery. The beach and sea paintings fit really well with the wood panelling. 

 My new business cards arrived as well....they're so cute....

I've recently added a few new etchings to my Etsy store: this larger etching above of a group of ladies wearing the traditional outfit for one of the islands in our area. I used dry point, aquatint and vernis mou on this etching. These are all techniques that give the piece the different textures.

And these 3 feather etchings were new additions to my store this week.

And lastly, on Saturdays, for the etching workshop and open studio, I make a cake. This week's was this scrummy peanut butter and cinnamon swirl....wow it was delicious! Not a crumb over......

KunstCentrum Tholen: a new home

It's been a while since I've been here and a lot has happened this last while. The KunstCentrum (art centre) has moved to Hoogstraat 28 in Tholen. We love our new studio. It's lovely and light and great for working in. The etching press was the first thing to move in and has pride of place.

We're feeling very lucky!

last Saturday

This was last Saturday in KunstCentrum Tholen.....gezellig toch! 

Painting by Diane from the art classes.

music and flowers

Spring was in full bloom this week in the art centre with musical accompaniment from this antique gramophone...

Kunstroute Tholen

In Tholen today and tomorrow there is an art trail (kunstroute)....studios are open and artists display their creations across the small harbour town. Plenty of music and street performances too! In the KunstCentrum (art centre) we'll be performing with Bittersweet @ 15:00 (classic Jazz and French chansons) Friday and Saturday...

 ...and demonstrating how etchings are made.....

cold outside...toasty and warm inside

 Glad to be inside today...!

sharpern your paint brushes, the new art classes are beginning

We're all set for the new art classes to begin in KunstCentrum Tholen (the art centre) ! We're starting in the week beginning 4th February.

Slijp uw penselen!

Alle schildercursussen starten in de week van 4 to 8 februari in KunstCentrum Tholen.

Voor meer informatie, zie www.atelier28.net of bel: 06 38904426

we woke up in Narnia this morning!

It's an ice world out there today!

oh baby it's cold outside...

In Tholen this morning the sun was shining brightly and with the snow still on the ground it looked quite magical!

under a blanket of snow

Today we woke up in Tholen (in the Netherlands) under a blanket of snow. The little town looks like a proper winter wonderland. This was the harbour this morning...and our cat, Moeki, didn't much fancy going outside!

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.

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!

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.

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!