Vegetal still life vs portrait

Vegetal colours

Number two of four exercises before I start working on my next portrait in my series of tributes on heptagonal carriers. I was so pleased with this one that I not only signed the painting but also framed it. I wanted to practice two things in particular: working with Alkyd paint and with colors. After… Continue reading Vegetal still life vs portrait

Painting, varnishing and printing

JKRowling and George Orwell

I forgot to mention in the clip that I am not applying the final varnish here. On a traditional painting the final varnish is applied at least a year after completing the actual painting. This blogpost is about ‘retouching varnish’. This varnishing creates unity in the painting, especially by reducing differences in tarnishness. I call… Continue reading Painting, varnishing and printing

Perfection, beauty & shifting perspectives

Perfectionism and beauty

Perfection can’t be wrong, can it? But perfectionism, obsession? Surely any form or degree of OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder) is bad isn’t it? Ordering my cutlery drawer this way started a couple of months ago. I gave the pair of scissors a very precise place in the drawer: not only in its own compartment, but… Continue reading Perfection, beauty & shifting perspectives

Chimney design by stubborn architect

Chimney near North Sea, Wassenaar

There is something really special about this chimney. Apparently the fire place just HAD to be on the outside wall. And thus required extensive provisions to ensure that the thing would not fall over; Especially close to the sea where it can blow hard. I am not sure: was the architect a particularly stubborn one… Continue reading Chimney design by stubborn architect

Dicentra Spectabilis

Dicentra spectabilis: broken or bleeding heart

My previous appartment had a nice loggia too. Since a couple of years I live in this nice appartment with a smaller loggia and with no balcony. Now that I am retired I spend more time on this sun-drenched one. In both meanings of the word ‘on’. The offical name of this plant is Dicentra… Continue reading Dicentra Spectabilis

That iconic serviceman in India 2002

Detail of oilpainted work in progress.

To me this is an absolutely iconic scene. It is based on a photo made in India in 2002. You had to combine that photo of US marines raising the American flag on that decisive moment in WW II in the battle of Iwo Jima with that photo featuring ‘Napalm girl’ Phan Thi Kim Phuc… Continue reading That iconic serviceman in India 2002