Will be absent for sometime

Hello blogger friends, perhaps for sometime I'll not be able to post any painting here. I have to attend to some family matters that need my attention. I cannot paint if there is distraction particularly if it is a serious one. But I'll try to read your blogs because I enjoy somehow seeing your works. Have a nice painting days and I hope it will not take long for me to write something here again. Thank you to all of you.

Dortmund bell

While walking in the center of Dortmund, Germany last September, I saw this bell outside a church. I took a photograph and continued walking to the direction of a parking area where our car was parked. So, I don't know the historical aspect of this bell and I could not find anything about it in the city's website. I have the impression that the church could either be catholic or protestant.  Anyway, the bell is huge enough to catch my attention.
This is painted in watercolor on 30 x 40 cm watercolor paper.

garden design

 Last year sometime in August, we visited the Boomkamp garden center in Borne here in Holland. The purpose of our visit was that our family friend was looking for a garden design for their newly purchased house.   Being one of the eight top garden centers in the Netherlands (website here), Boomkamp is therefore a good place to visit for our friend. There, we had seen a number of garden designs in which we enjoyed very much.
For this painting, I used the photograph of one of the garden designs as reference. What we see from this painting is only one corner of the model garden. This is in watercolor and the size is 30x40 cm. Happy art days to all for the coming week.

again an autumn leaf

Sorry, this is again a leaf experiment. I could not resist the temptation of those colors. While I was walking along the rows of trees near our house, I could see lots of colorful leaves on the ground. I tried to ignore them but somehow I picked up two leaves and enjoyed looking at them on my palm. At home, I placed them in an empty jam jar with water. I had no intention to do another leaf study since I had already done two. The following morning however, I could not resist the colors of the leaves and eventually decided to have another experiment on a small piece of watercolor paper. And here is the result.

a cow sketch

We decided to buy a new computer because we were not able to bring back our old one into its normal working condition. It took us long however to make our new one works. We are not good in the technical aspect of the computer so we had to make some visits to the shop where we bought the computer for advice. Apparently, our old computer could still be just working according to the guy in the shop. Anyway, this was the reason why you have not heard from me for sometime. I'll visit all your blogs once we finished installing and fixing everything in our new computer. We have a laptop but that we use only for specific purposes.
     This sketch is an old one. I did not post it here earlier since I could see that something is not right in the cow. Anyway, you can see that it is a cow, he!

newly harvested lemon

I had a problem with my computer that is why I was silent for a while. Fortunately, all my files have been recovered. There is still to be done with the computer, but it is now working although it runs a bit slower. Being not good in the technical aspect of the computer, I really have no idea what went wrong.

Anyway, at the moment I am busy with a bigger size painting which I am not yet ready to show it here. For the meantime, here is a small piece (ATC size) done on a scrap watercolor paper. Normally I do this small piece when I have little time to paint but has the urge to use my brush.

We love using lemon juice to our food and drinks that is why it is always present in our kitchen. I think lemon is a healthy fruit to have.

Have a nice weekend to all!

little boat

I started this boat last June but stopped working on it because I was busy with other things. Yesterday however I was able to finish it. The photograph that inspired this piece belongs to my niece Anna. This is in watercolor and the size is 24 x 30 cm. Hope you'll all have a nice weekend.

Another autumn leaf

The colors of this leaf tempted me to sketch and paint again another autumn leaf. So here it is. Have a nice day to everyone.

Colors of the start of autumn

I based this from actual leaf. I like the different colors from this leaf which to me indicate that autumn season has just come.

The Schwebebahn

During our short visit (4 days) to some cities in Germany, one thing that really amazed me was the Schwebebahn in Wuppertal. In English I think it is called suspension train, but I called it hanging train. I enjoyed very much the rides that we had with the train while doing our sightseeing tour in the city. I have never seen before such kind of railway. It is an amazing innovation. It is running above the river and it is really swinging. One time I could not immediately get out of the train because it was swinging. Anyway, for those who have not seen the train, I have here some photographs for you.

The driver in front of me and the light green arcs that hold the hanging train rails.

Here the hanging train is coming while passengers were waiting for a ride in one of the stations.

I took this photo while under the train station. And here we can see the train in blue is coming.

Taken while inside the train. The arcs in light green hold the train.

Hanging train rails in one of the stations.

Closer look of the hanging train rails in one of the stations.

sketch of a puffin

A few years ago, we got a set of coasters as a gift from a family member who had sailed to the north of Scotland (Schetland island). The coasters were designed with puffins images. Based on one of the images, I made a quick pencil sketch and brushed some watercolors on it. The outcome looks like puffin and I'm showing it here.

just two simple sketches

I will be in Germany for a few days. So I want to wish you all a wonderful weekend. I hope to visit your blogs again late next week.  

I used artist pen and colored pencil here.

I used charcoal to sketch this bell pepper.

drawing practice

Did this simple drawing of pear this morning using charcoal. 
May you all have a good and pleasant weekend.

tulip, an old piece

I don't remember that I posted this tulip before. According to the date I'd written at the back of this painting, I painted it on 14 August 2011.

jonagold apple drawing

Last night I went to bed at about 12:00. I was not able to sleep immediately until I think almost 3am. So this morning I got up late and feeling not really good. I sat on our sofa until 9:30 and then prepared my breakfast. While I was eating, suddenly I thought of my new box of charcoal. I decided then to pick it up and drew this apple to try it. I have been using pastels but this is my first time ever to use a charcoal. I think I will use this medium more often for my drawing exercises.
Jonagold apple is my favorite kind of apple. Its taste is somewhat sweet and sour, and really crispy. 

rose sketch

I have been missing my brushes and watercolors. So when I found time this afternoon, I immediately did this quick watercolor sketch directly on my 400g acrylic paper. I'm beginning to like this thick paper.

In France

I left for France last Sunday, 05 August. I'll visit all your blogs as soon as I am back at home. Have a nice weekend to everybody.

Acrylic in wet-in-wet

This is an imagined landschape. I tried acrylic here in a wet-in-wet technique especially for the sky and the green field. My verdict is that watercolor is still the best medium for this technique.

A swan

This is again a small piece. I had fun doing this small thing. They are quick to finish and I'm just using my scrap watercolor paper.

This is a small piece, the size of an artist trading card or ATC (about 2.5x3.5 inches). Since thinking and working on a bigger project is somewhat a challenge for me these days, I guess doing this small card is a good alternative to let go my desires to paint. And I also know that I need more and more practice in my painting, that's why I want to do this small thing once in awhile. Hopefully, this exercise in one way or another will help me progress in my painting technique.

I did this early evening yesterday, a part of the day that I usually stop doing any painting work. I wish you all a good art week and a pleasant summer weather condition.

Tarsier

Tarsiers are small nocturnal animals with big eyes. They are of different kinds but this one is common in the islands of the Philippines. This is said to be an endangered kind. Search the internet, e.g. wikipedia.org, for more information about this animal. 
This work was just a quick drawing and used of watercolors. I did this last month. Have a nice weekend everyone.

Menhir

• In July 2010, we were on holiday in Brittany in France. With our car, we were able to visit so many places in the region. One day, we found ourselves in the place Brignogan-Plages. Somewhere there, we found this menhir (standing stone) and had our lunch there. In my photograph, there are some houses in the background but I did not include them in this image. Also I did not follow the original color of the menhir which is generally grayish. 
• There are many touristic places in Brittany which show lots of these menhirs. Those interested to know more about them, you can find some good readings in the internet.

another exercise on strawberries

I am not yet finish with the project I am working on this week. In the meantime I have this quick small exercise on strawberries which I did last week. I wanted to do this in a loose technique. But as shown here, my goal was not a success. I also don't like the sprinkled watercolors that I added. I think they are done too much here. Anyway, I had a nice time last week eating these strawberries which I chopped (with some more) and mixed them with my favorite ice cream 'Hertog Slagroomijs' -:). Check HERE my other strawberry work. Have a nice weekend everyone. 

watercolor painting exercise

Two weeks ago I was with my painting group. Because I did not prepare beforehand what I was going to paint and could not think at that moment what subject to work on, I decided to consult a book. And the calla lily image attracted my eyes and became my subject. Unfortunately I forgot to get the title of the book and the owner of the image. I want to give credit to the owner of the image where I based this painting, so if someone out there is the owner, please send me a message under the comment section of this post. I used the image only as a reference for my watercolor painting exercise.

I had almost set aside this painting because I didn't like the background. But after some suggestions from my painting group members and further reworking I decided to keep and post it here. I think in painting, patience is necessary to get a better result.

apple sketch

This afternoon I found time to sketch an apple. Some of you may laugh, but I find this fruit difficult to paint. This is the reason why I never posted any apple in this blog. This is the first apple here...hahahaha. May you all have fruitful art days in the coming week.

Strawberry sketch

I have no time to do some serious painting these days.  But I have this small sketch of strawberry to cheer my weekend. Hope everybody will have a nice weekend too.
P.S. Did this sketch  two weeks ago while eating the rest of the fruits.

Adenium

This is based on my own picture of Adenium flower which I took last year during my trip to Asia. I like the strong dark red color of the flower. I have this plant at home, and it really gives lots of flowers to enjoy. This is only one of the many varieties of Adenium. Some of the hybrid ones look like roses but I prefer this simple looking variety. This work is done in watercolor using Fabriano watercolor paper, CP 300g.

Have a pleasant weekend.

watercolor sketch

I had used watercolor directly to make this sketch. I was just trying to practice on Hahnemuhle watercolor paper Quattro 300g when I did this. I'm beginning to like the paper. In Dutch this bird is called 'ijsvogel' and kingfisher in English. Hope everybody has a great day.

update on light pink rose

I had done more on my light pink rose. For the background, I did it on wet-in-wet. 

For now, I'll shelve this painting and maybe next time I'll know what to do further to improve it. 

Have a nice day.

light pink rose

I just wanted to put something here today, so I posted this unfinished rose.

This is in watercolor, size 25x25cm in Hahnemuhle 300g paper.

Pansy in violet

At the moment we have a pot in our balcony full of mini flowers of pansy in violet-dominated color - see the second photo. I bought the plant last March but it still gives lots of beautiful flowers which I enjoy looking everyday. Yesterday, I picked up one flower and painted it while sitting near a salon table - see the first photo. The painting is not what I had hoped for to be. I  tried to paint it in a loose style, but I guess I failed to do that. Anyway, I am in a practice mood so there are always many next times to try. The beauty of painting, at  least in my experience, is that it relaxes my mind while I'm enjoying the whole process.

I'm back

> Hello, blogger friends. I'm back from my Southeast Asia trip. It was a fruitful trip and I was able to do what I was supposed to do there. But the summer heat had me realized how vulnerable I am health wise.  At the moment I guess I need some days of rest to recover.
> During the trip I managed to make only few sketches with my pen and colored pencils. I'll post some of them here soon.
>Over this small painting, I started this during my trip with watercolor pencils and finished it last Monday with my regular watercolors. I had already painted this dog earlier but I was not really satisfied with the result then, so I tried the subject again to learn. Hope everybody is enjoying the last part of the spring season. Miss you all.

On travel

The Mangoes

Been busy with the preparation for my travel to Southeast Asia. I will be away for almost 2 months and probably may not be able to post any painting. But I'll open and hopefully write something here. Also I'll try to visit all your blogs to see your beautiful paintings. I have brought with me my graphite and watercolor pencils so that I can do some sketching. Until next time and I wish you all a very fruitful art days.
In this painting are mangoes from my photographs of my previous trip.

An orchid on gessoed watercolor paper

I was experimenting two days ago using gesso on watercolor paper and painted an orchid on it.
The result was not so encouraging but I decided to post it here, though it is still unfinished. I shelved it for a while and I'm thinking to try another one without gesso. Hope everybody will have
a fruitful art days in the coming week.

Rose sketch

 What do you do when you want to paint but no subject in mind to paint? This happened to me this morning. While thinking however of something to do, I grabbed my brush and sat on a chair of our dining table. Then came a picture of a rose in my head and then translated it into this watercolor sketch. Again a rose, :-).

Auxerre rose

Am busy doing other things. Sorry for not visiting your great blogs. Painted this rose three weeks ago. I named this Auxerre rose because I took the reference photo for this painting in Auxerre, France while walking in one of the streets there after a visit to a cathedral. Was there on 30 October 2011. I value your comments and suggestions. 

Windmill and sunflowers

This is an impression on the windmill and sunflowers that I had seen last summer (2011) in Nuenen, The Netherlands. Nuenen is called by its people as 'Van Gogh village'. Here are a few pictures of the place. This is in watercolor on 300 gms cold pressed Canson Montval watercolor paper.

Quick sketch landscape

We have a gray weather today. So to perk up my mood I quickly sketch this colorful landscape. Doing this is part of my practice routine in watercolor. Now I can better see what I should improve in this sketch.  I have seen this image from the magazine called Palet & tekenstift. 

Pastels' study

This is another practice on pastels. Here I used fixative, and I observed afterwards that it changed the intensity of the colors in the painting. I read somewhere that fixative darkens the colors, thus many pastels' users avoid it in their paintings. However, many use it to avoid smudging. I think I have to read further on this issue to know the benefits of using and not using it.

Water drop

This is a mini water drop (7 x 10 cm) I did last January. I was just practicing 

then on a scrap watercolor paper, but it turned out cute so I decided 

to put it in a frame. The idea of this water drop came from the demo
of Birgit O'connor and from Barbara Fox.
I did this as a practice and for fun; and not for sale.
This is in watercolor.

Bird of Paradise

While watching a TV program "Hour of Power" yesterday, I saw a vase of mixed flowers with a bird of paradise in it. Then I thought I will make a sketch of the flower. And here what I made out of it. This is of course in watercolor.

Lidice Rose 3

Every one of us has our own favorite subject to paint. For me, I like roses because they are my favorite flowers especially the yellow ones. So, in this blog I would like to tell everyone that once in a while you will see roses here :-). I hope you'll not get tired of enjoying my roses as I do. Regarding the title of this post, Lidice is a place in Czech Republic where a memorial park dedicated for those who died in the area during the war is located. I had been in the area in June 2009 in which during that time, the park was full of blooming roses.
This is done in acrylic on Canson's acrylic paper, 20x25 cm.

A try on pastels

This is a small subject just to try on pastels. I thought it would be good to know how to use the medium. At the moment I cannot say if I'll use it frequently. I used here light gray Canson pastel paper.
I did the pencil sketch of this shell while watching on Sunday the Australian Open Tennis championship (on TV) between Nadal and Djokovic. Both played amazingly for more than five hours. I am a fanatic tennis fan.

WIP: a cat project

This is what I'm working at the moment - my first cat project. 

There are still some finishing touches to be done on it.

Have a nice weekend to you all.

A try-out with my new brush

Don't take this work seriously. I did it this morning just to check and test my new watercolor brush. I played with the colors of the building, so its original colors are different. I had some fun while doing this, so I thought why not share it here.

This building is a chapel in Ronchamp, France. It was designed by the famous French architect "Le Corbusier."   I had been in the area twice and had photographed the chapel myself. However, here I got my reference photo from the newspaper "De Volkskrant."