Spaarndam

A practice on plain drawing paper.
Not every watercolor have to be a masterpiece,
Its good to practice on cheap paper.
Here I used 200 grams drawing paper, this paper can take a lot of water, you have to search for drawing paper that is capable to do so!
Daler Rowney makes also excellent heavy weight drawing paper that is good to make quick watercolors!  
On this one I used just two colors for the first wash.
French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna.
Make sure to leave interesting whites for boats and so on.
After drying  I painted the town and the boats with the same colors.
Don't paint it in one tone, but  make color swatches and loose edges.

The I added some details, and small colorful little dots, 
that attract the eye to make it the center of interest!

Alwyn Crawshaw used to say:
"Why dont you have a go?"

Brush Practicing Painting Loose

You like to paint loose.
And just paint, what you feel, it doesn't have to be a masterpiece.
But as long as you have fun making it, it is good.
By doing things like these, you find out techniques you never knew from.
Cause when you stay on the safe side, you never become a loose painter.
Like I said it is not intended to be a good watercolor, but just a practice in two colours.
Winsor Blue and Burnt Sienna.
Plain Drawing paper 200 grms

Staithes in Line and Wash

Staithes on Bockingford 300gr/m2 
36x48 cm

Ronda in Spain

A few years ago I saw a watercolor from Ronda, and I all forgot about it, til just a week ago a television-game visited the city of Ronda, and there it was again that famous bridge!
So I searched a nice picture from the city and tried it in watercolor.
My next quest is looking for that particular watercolor I saw in a magazine somewhere?
I used Arches 140 Lbs Rough 12"X16"

The little Church of Spaarnwoude

I often paint this church, cause it has a lovely silhouette and a nice light colour.
A few months ago, i made a walk in the area, and did visit this little church, not that I go in, but you can walk around it, cause it is build on sort of a hillside, you have always a good look on this picturesque building.

The sun was low, so I decided to make a Contre Jour picture, David Curtis tries always to paint against the sun, cause his paintings, become more interesting that way he says!
Well if you know who David is, he is certainly right!
So this is my photo I took that day, its early in the year, so a low sun!

After a few preliminary sketches I decided to paint a misty scene, a first wash of Cobalt Blue and Burnt Sienna. Then a second wash for the church, same colours, plus a small amount of Light Red and Raw Sienna.
For the green I took Cobalt Turquoise, and Yellow Ochre, cause they are opaque colours, and would give me a bright green on this grey background.
The dark tree on the left is Neutral tint Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber, same as the fence!
I added a puddle and the fence reflections, and a figure with umbrella.
When dry i pre wetted the area’s I want reflections in, and made them!
Still wet I splattered some Turquoise in and Cadmium red dots!
With a razorblade I made the wire on the fence, and finally I made a few crows on the right!

IJmuiden binnenhaven

Impression in two colours!
Winsor Blue and Burnt Sienna

Middel Westzaan

Watercolour in letterbox format on Bockingford paper 200 Lbs.
54 x 25 Cm
The house is still there, but the sheds are gone long ago.
Keep it light, you can always add darks later.
Reflections are done on randomly wet paper, dont wet it all, cause you got to have happy accidents, and that is not gone to happen when you play safe on pre-wetted paper!

Farm Velsen Zuid

A plein air watercolor on location.
painted on Arches 31 x41 Cm
140 lbs rough

Jack Russel

I was inspired after a visit on the Rien Poortvliet museum in Tiengemeten, this man can paint draw sketch WOW!
So I tried a little dog when I got home!

Done with conte pencils and watercolours

Winter in Holland

Its winter in Holland, and the traditional Mill
in a winter landscape is always making a picturesque

picture!
On W&N Lana watercolourpaper

Plein air painting, on Canson Fontenay.
It was a windy day with lots of clouds in the sky,
but no colour what so ever, when I finished the
sky, the sun came out, and the blue sky appeared.

To late to change my painting, but a good lesson!
You have to wait for the right moment?