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.

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.