Trees near a water in Amerongen # S 86 Painting

The world-famous painter Kandinsky strove to paint his inner world. He wrote a classic artist's manifesto about 'das Geistige in der Kunst'. The inside instead of the outside. In contrast to this is realistic painting, based on nature. That can also be very nice. What is art? You can also paint in the middle of nature, 'en plein air'. With changing light, clouds, sun, shadow, rain, cold, wind, animals and creatures. Painting outside is exciting and wonderful. Breathe in. Don't think, but look and be. In 2003 I painted my first landscape very carefully, so that no one was allowed to see it, in a hidden place. Since then, almost every summer I paint a number of landscapes 'en plein air' near the village where I live, Amerongen. With my bicycle and bicycle cart with paint, easel and canvas, I look for a nice spot, like here at the Lievendaaltje, a rural lane on the edge of the floodplains of the Rhine river. I loved the rhythm of the trees and the reflection in the water. The place was also wonderfully quiet. I try to make such a painting in one go. First one or more sketches with pencil on paper and then immediately with paint on the canvas. After about three or four hours the painting is ready. I hope. But often that doesn't work. It's going to rain or the wind is blowing hard, the sun is disappearing, it's getting dark or I'm being disturbed too much by passers-by who start chatting. Sometimes I come home and the results are disappointing. Then I have to find a new moment. Every time that I paint 'en plein air' it is a wonderful adventure that always makes me happy.