Inspiration

The "Devil and the Violin" is a folk tale I read last week:
A man played fantastic music on a violin he built himself and with his music he charmed everybody. The devil was jealous and offers the man a lot of gold for his violin. The man fond a good proposal and took the gold. The devil immediately began to play on the violin but no one stopped to listen to his music. He became angry and sought the man to complain that the violin had a problem. The man answered that nothing was wrong with the violin. He said he sold his instrument, but not his soul.
This story illustrates that something wonderful has nothing to do with training, material or to follow a certain fashion. And also that inspiration (as motivation) comes from your inner. 

Rotterdam Zoo

mei 2012 at Rotterdam Zoo: some koffie, a donut and a model for a few minutes...

16th Studio Route in Delft and Delftse Salon

16th Studio Route in Delft: 8 and 9 Oktober. Opening Saturday, October 8, at 11 hours in Kadmium, Koornmarkt 48F. Delftse Salon at Kadmium, Oktober 6 to November 6, Delftse Museum Night, October 28.

My home is my studio at the same time because I like working at home. I can in this way at any time go to work, it doesn’t matter if the early morning or late evening.

My painting corner opposite the kitchen. To the left of my table is a pepper plant (now with 5 peppers), on my table is a cherry tomato plant (now with 3 tomatoes, not shown) and right of my table two avocado trees. Except my companion they are often used as a model for my work.

Figs as a model for my work. I'm still working on the canvas of the five figs. 

My table for drawing en linocut in my living room.

To draw... 

To make books... 

For printing linocuts... 

My press to print linocuts, also in my living room. 

Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp): sketches

For sketching in Rotterdam Zoo I prefer small sketchbooks and a pen. Small sketchbooks fit easily in my bag and are not too heavy to hold when I'm drawing. The pen has the advantage that I can make quick sketches. It is for me more important to catch the moment as a reminder.

Sometimes I let my imagination free for sketching. Occasionally I also make notes as babies are born or what animals have done, eaten, etc. A sketchbook is a bit like a diary. When I browse through old sketchbooks than I remember exactly what I've seen and experienced that day.

 A couple of sketchbooks: it's nice to decorate the cover with drawings.

Cactus as a model

Cactus have always fascinated me. I have a few cactus at home, sometimes they go along  the years, but sometimes not. They become suddenly ill and died.
This cactus in the picture I have years at home. In the summer of 2006, the cactus bloom for the first time but by busy I have not seen that. When I saw that its first flower was bloomed I immediately took my brushes and a canvas and started painting. I promise myself that despite problems, I wanted to miss nothing more, that I should keep looking for everything  around me... because life is wonderful!

 The first flower is blooming...

To my joy I saw that the cactus had a new node. This time I have seen her develop from node to flower.

 The development...

Open to the world... 

The departure: the second flower is blooming... 

The cactus has two 'kids', pen drawing 2007.

 I repotted them in 2008 ... 

I fond once the cactus (on the left side of this painting) on the sidewalk (with other three cactus). After a few weeks at home, he suddenly flourish. The other cactus (on the right side) is the cactus of this blog, with three nodes.

The Equilibrist, 2008 

My model accompanied by a pumpkin, 2010  

This year two flowers flourished almost simultaneously, they stayed together for a long time. 

Cactus in Middelburg, Mei 2013

Ping-Aan

Ping-Aan (1993-2004) was a nice present from my parents. Her name means (according to an acquaintance) "love of God". She was born in Chow Chow Kennel Van de Beerse Haj, of breeder Anne Timmerman-Evers.

Breda, 1993

 Amsterdam, 1993

Amsterdam, 1994

Amsterdam, 1995

Amsterdam 1995: Ping-Aan with my mother. 

My mother was a doctor, homeopath and breeder of Chow-Chows.

Also Amsterdam 1995: Ping-Aan with my father.

My father was an engineer and was a great nature lover (also my mother).

sketch watercolor 

Sketch Elsenburger Forest, 2003: Pause

Amsterdam

Sketch coloured pencils, 2004

Sketch watercolor 2004: Autunn

Snow, Januari, 2004

Amsterdam

 Shall I cross or not? Delftse Hout, 2004

Saturday, 2004: It's still to early to wake up... 

Amserdam

New press for linocut, 2003

During walks with Ping-Aan I have experience how important is the nature for relaxation and as inspiration for my work. Ping-Aan was a nice company! 

Delftse Hout, 1999

sketch, 2004

Delft. 1999

Sketch Delftse Hout, 2004

Scheveningen: My dog loved the sea ...

...but she hated to bathe!

Oktober 4, 2007: World Animal Day

In the Heaven

A new life, 2008

More photos of mij dog, paintings and linocuts see please set Ping-Aan at my Flickr.