Home, night sky above Zundert

Exhibition at Van Gogh Huis, Kosterswoning
Zundert, The Netherlands

Home, night sky above Zundert 190x100cm, oil on canvas

De Moeren, 190x100 cm, oil on canvas

Asparagus, 20x30 cm, oil on canvas

Exhibition view, oil sketches on linen, montage on wood panel, A4

Studio view, AIR Van Gogh, Zundert

 

Studio view, AIR Van Gogh, Zundert

I felt overwhelmed by nature, especially in the fields of the countryside. When I arrived in Zundert I saw a clear image of a painting in my imagination. I could see the colours, the surface of the paint, the brushstrokes. But I didn't paint it. Instead I watched the night sky, with binoculars I looked at the stars, and the stars between the stars, in an endless universe. I woke up the next morning thinking I could never paint such a beautiful image. The morning light entered the kitchen window and fluff from the willow trees danced in the air. It struck me they have the same movement. I started to paint, layer after layer, until the oil paint on linen catches the movement of the stars, and the colours of the night blend on the canvas. It took me day after day and week after week. When I finished this painting, I walked on De Moeren, on the dust road along the heather. There it was, when I looked up at the sky above the dark grey heather, the sunlight simmered and sky looked exactly like the painting I had seen in my imagination. I painted 'De Moeren' in one day.

For the month of April I was invited for the artist-in-residency in Zundert, The Netherlands. During my stay I made several oil sketches, smaller paintings and three large paintings:

- Large painting of three light blue-grey planes is based on the sky above Zundert, unfortunately this painting got water damage after a roof leak. (200x300 cm, oil on canvas). 

- Large painting is based on the the night of 6 to 7 April, when I photographed the stars above Zundert and painted the impression this sight made on me. This painting is called 'Home, night sky above Zundert' (190x100 cm, oil on canvas). 

- Large painting is based on the sky above De Moeren, (190x100 cm). 

- Asparagus, three small paintings (20x30cm, oil on canvas)

- 'Remember' five small paintings of soldier's graves from WWII in the churchyard of the Protestant church (30x20cm, oil on canvas)

- Countless oil sketches (A4 oil on canvas)

- Countless drawings in conté on Steinbach and in sketchbooks