I’m currently living ten minutes outside of Maastricht, Holland in the little hamlet of Libeek in the province of Limburg.
For my first two weeks here the weather has been beautiful blue skies with snow on the ground, but very cold. Almost too cold to paint when the wind was up. I did manage to get a few plein air pieces done before the rain set in.
I used Google Maps for the names (and actually used Street View to scout a bit for the first time) so I hope I got them right.
Op de Vrouweheide, Ubachsberg. 30 x 20 cm, oil on panel.
Op de Vrouweheide, Ubachsberg (#2). 35 x 25 cm, oil on panel.
Van Tienhovenmolen, Wolfshuis. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.
I liked the windmills.
Banholt. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.
Shed. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.
St. Johns, Maastricht. 30 x 20 cm, oil on panel.
The Border at Libeek. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.
Snow in Libeek. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.
Limburg Farm, February. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.
Libeek Sunset #2. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.
Update: Here are a couple more from the end of the snow.
Snow Melting, Hoogcruts. 25 x 35 cm, oil on panel.
Snow Melting, Banholt. 20 x 30 cm, oil on panel.
As usual, these are excellent, Marc. Do you finish most on site? Or do the majority get tweaked in the studio?
I think Holland must suit you; I love this latest batch. The marks in the snow look as though you’re really having fun. If I had to choose, “Bruisterbosch” is my favorite of this group. The delicacy of the pallet is wonderful as is the handling of the snow in the foreground. Many of these studies look as though they are aching for (much) larger versions. What’s your studio situation there?
Also, congratulations on being a finalist in the January RayMar contest.
Thay are lovely.
Stunning work Marc. Such a great sense of the cold and the crisp winter light.
Thanks all.
Bill, usually I don’t do much tweaking in the studio if I can avoid it. On these I had real trouble drawing from how cold my hands were, so they were heavily reworked in most cases. The only two 100% plein air ones are the first windmill and the ‘Border’ sketch.
I love the first one and that the blades ( right word?) of the windmill are just suggested by the outline. It really works and makes them light as the wind!
These are all so painfully beautiful–is it that they’re winter scenes? They have a loneliness to them. One can feel the cold as if there in person. What are those trees that look like they survived a severe pruning?
Very nice work Marc! Quite a change from previous latitudes. Love the shed! Hope you are well.
Wonderful paintings Marc, the Dutch landscape never looked better.
Hello Marc, how long are you going to stay in Limburg?
Dear Marc:
If Isaak Levitan could see these he would think that you are getting uncomfortably close.
Best regards from Colorado, and stay warm.
Peter
Great work Marc. I really enjoy your work.
Hi Marc, Beautiful work. Great to see your view on Holland. Will you be giving workshops in Holland? I’d love to attend!
Marc these are absolutely beautiful!
They are so beautiful
You mentioned that you reworked these in the studio, but they still have a very fresh look on them. The colours are very sophiscated and poetic.
How do you go about capturing a sunset? At most you have about 20 minutes of similar lighting. Do you set up before hand? Or did you just stumble upon the view and decided to do a painting then? If so, do you work a lot from memory for this type of painting? It’s so breathtaking.
Thanks
Thanks Israel. The trick to sunsets is to paint into the effect. I talked about it in another post here: https://marcdalessio.com/painting-into-and-out-of-an-effect/
The one above was from just in front of the house where I was living. So I could do the sky quickly one evening, then paint everything else with a different sunset effect.
Hi Marc, i admire the landscapes you’ve painted in my surroundings. I live at Eckelrade. Do you sale something ? I love the snow atmosphere that you hit so close.