Thursday, September 24, 2015


"Nikki"
6x6 inch
oil on panel
SOLD

​I made this painting for the weekly challenge on www.dailypaintworks.com "the odd shaped shadow challenge". This idea popped up in my mind immediately and my sweet dog is my most eager model.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015


Texas house
oil on canvas
8x10 inch
SOLD

A typical house in the Heights in Houston. I made the reference picture before the summer. It was a grey day, with a bit of sun sometimes, typically Texas, it could change in an instant. I like to paint the strong light and shadow on sunny days but in grey weather the colors matter more because the contrast is gone. Good practice and it turned out the way I wanted!

Saturday, September 19, 2015


"Small kid, big dog"
oil on canvas
8x8 inch
SOLD

This cropped image caught my eye in the big picture. The feet were almost the same size :-)

Monday, September 14, 2015


"Towards the light"
Oil on canvas
8x8 inch
$65

This is Terschelling, one of the Dutch islands in the North. Such a small island, yet such emptyness and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. The beauty of a small country. I love it.

Clouds are great to paint. To keep the colors crisp I have to paint in at least 2 layers. I don't often paint landscapes but the light in this one was so amazing. I might do more.

Saturday, September 12, 2015


"Gettin' the cows"
8x8 inch
oil on canvas
$65

On a Texas ranch again, this is a combination of a few pictures and some imagination.
I adapted the background a bit to create depth - blue in the mountains and a more detailed foreground with contrasting colors (the complementary red and green). The cowboy dude also turned slowly into a different person. 
Painting from pictures is never a replica, that's what makes every painting so unique!


Of course, like always, I was stuck at some point in this one. It was quite in the beginning, I was trying different backgrounds. My daughter said: "Why do you always use the same colors, why not green or blue, that's nice".
Alright...let's try that. 
While I painted, I quickly explained some things to her (before she walked away again): "You have to be quick, to keep the looseness, see, "flats, flats", different strokes here at the foreground, some color maybe, see, some red spices it up".
Turns out this prevents me from overworking an area - I could just talk to an imaginary student next time I get stuck...

Tuesday, September 8, 2015


"House with a face"
8x10 inch
Oil on canvas
SOLD

I pass this house often and I can't help but think it sees me and even smiles. There is really a red, plastic chair at that place, like it sticks out its tongue. I wouldn't be surprised if, when I turn around, it will pull funny faces at me.

The blue fire hydrant was a painting on itself and also a great item for the foreground. For this painting I really only had to crop to this view, I didn't had to adjust anything.
And again... just around the corner.

Thursday, September 3, 2015


"Gonna keep this bag"
8x10 inch (20x25 cm)
Oil on stretched canvas
$75

I love to use this A&F bag until it tears. This way it will stay forever :-)

I have been working a long time at this one. In my head I had it clear and easy, but when I decide on background etc while I am painting, it doesn't turn out the way I had imagined...Also, I didn't want to take the time to think first and make color sketches...

I made shops in the background but it took the focus off the bag completely. Also the background was too light. I had to think: "What do I want to capture in this painting, what makes me want to paint this?" That was the bag. It had to stand out but shouldn't be on it's own.
So, a few layers later, I like it.  I'm glad I didn't throw it out at the "I'm-stuck-climax" point. It is an extreme mood lifter if it works out in the end!