Holland Landscape Painting

Travel photographs give me fodder for future paintings, like my bike ride through villages in Holland. 

During our travels to Holland, I took lots of photographs while cycling along the pathways. There were the luscious green grasses, and intermittent sunlight spilling over the thick puffy clouds. Still, when in Holland, one must take photographs of the traditional Dutch windmill landscape, which I will paint once back home!

Holland Windmill Bike Ride (Pastel) by Minaz Jantz

The Dutch landscape painting I titled 'Holland, Windmill Bike Path' is painted with a soft pastel on UART sandpaper (size 12" x 18"). This painting’s original photo was taken while I was riding a bike, trailing behind Jim’s bike, with one hand holding my camera while trying to focus to take pictures… I call this style of picture taking… ‘Drive-by shootings!’

Our bike day trip started at our Bed and Breakfast in Delft, traveling from one quaint town to another, stopping for excellent coffee and fresh, organic pastries, while visiting the local ducks in a little village called Schipluiden… just try to say that one!

Schipluiden Duck

Schipluiden, Best pastry & Coffee

Schipluiden, pastry shop, and village streets.

We got back on our bikes, continuing our Dutch journey while completely losing track of time. Our stomachs were growling and demanding refreshments, so we decided to stop in the super cute town of Maasland, where we found a local pub. We ordered Dutch food and beer, accompanied by a side dish of great Dutch hospitality. With our bellies full to the brim, we decide to start heading back on a long ride to Delft, further burning off our dinner and beer while chugging along, growing increasingly tired, and predicting a sound sleep to come! NO wonder the Dutch all look amazing with everyone biking everywhere they go!

Delft's history is famous for two things... The master painter Johannes Vermeer, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Vermeer, is truly the most incredible oil painter who masters light. Secondly, there is Delft dinnerware and pottery that many of us have seen at one time or another, featuring the recognizable, familiar blue and white patterns on fine white porcelain. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delftware

If you're interested in viewing photographs from our trip and my personal journals, which include tips and links, you can visit tripnaround.blogspot.com.

To view more landscape paintings, go here...

Go Dutch!... Minaz