Thatched Roofs in Holland - Travel Sketchbook Drawings

I never expected thatched reed roofs in Holland and yet almost everywhere we went, especially in the countryside, we saw them. Some were all thatch, others half-thatch and half-tile. I think today they do it for tradition, but in the past it was the cheapest and most readily available roofing material. I'm guessing that the thatch roofing experts today make a lot more money than the ones in the past!

This is a beautiful thatched roof farmhouse in Holten in the province of Overijssel. The thatched roofs are very thick and neatly trimmed off around the edges. I would love to see one actually under construction. It must be a time-consuming process but looks wonderful when finished.

Most of the common homes had a combination thatch and tile roof with the thatch on the top half. The thatched part was always capped the same way, with a dark red tile mound that ran the length of the ridgeline.

Many homes had this "camelback" style design. When I asked about it the explanation was simply that the larger part of the home with the high roof used to be an attached barn for animals. Most of course have now been converted into part of the living quarters. Can you imagine bedding down in the same house with the cows and pigs?

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A few Holland Sketchbook Drawings - Giethoorn Netherlands

I've decided to start posting a few random drawings from my travel sketchbooks each day. These drawings were done on location in The Netherlands. They are not necessarily designs for paintings, but more of a personal record in word and picture of my own experiences as I travel. Some will undoubtedly end up as painting reference.

In Giethoorn Netherlands, sometimes called Holland's "Green Venice," the houses sit on little islands separated by a series of long narrow canals. Vonders, or footbridges allow residents to get to their houses.

The residents of Giethoorn have little canals that serve as driveways to their barns. Of course part of the barns are used as covered boat houses for the family means of transportation.

Sometimes the homes with thatched reed roofs would have a tiny cook house out to the side which had a little cook stove and tile roof. They say this was much safer than cooking in the main house due to the possibility of the reeds catching fire.

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Farewell to the Windmills of Holland

Bicycles, windmills, and water -- we won't soon forget Holland.

Well, we're finally back home in Utah and trying to adjust to the time. It's always a sad farewell when our trips come to an end. But My head is loaded with memories, and my travel sketchbooks are full of drawings -- now it's time to paint.

We spent 24 hours on the road and got in very early this morning. We flew out of Gatwick to Atlanta where we cleared customs and had to change planes. Kind of an ordeal because of the long security lines. We also had to retrieve and re-check our baggage. Nellie's suitcase had exploded and we had to tie it up with rope. From Atlanta to Los Angeles and then via United commuter into St. George where we were (as always) surprised to see that our luggage had made all the connections too. We got home at 1am and crashed. It's such a contrast between the deep greens of Holland and the desert reds of St. George, but it's good to be home.
Roland and Nellie under the wooden shoes in the open air folk museum in Arnhem.

Nellie, Barb and Tricia wear the bright orange colors of the Holland soccer team.
Enjoying Pannenkoeken at a local pancake house.
Nellie grabs the pruning shears and gives a demonstration for the gardeners at the Royal Palace in Apeldoorn.
Barbara relaxes with a handsome guy she met at the Palace

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Photos from Holland - Trip's End

Sketching in Holland's "Green Venice" in the town of Giethoorn.

We're back in England after two weeks in Holland and we have internet access again (hooray). After a week in Zeeland, the south Province of Holland, we zigzagged all over the north part of Holland exploring the towns and soaking up the culture. Holland is amazingly beautiful, and is the cleanest country I've ever seen. The tidy farms and well-kept farmhouses are only rivaled by the Amish Farms in Lancaster Pennsylvania -- and they are Dutch too! After dropping Barb and Tricia off at the Deventer Train Station this morning, Nellie and I drove the Picasso rental car back down to Belgium where we got lost in Brussels. From there we caught the Eurostar train under the English Channel for London -- then by train to Horley where we are staying at the Rosemead Guest House. Tommorrow morning we head back to the states from Gatwick Airport. I can't upload photos from here, so I will do that when I get home.

Roland eating olen bolen at the Tholen Molen

Okay we just had to shoot this picture of Roland's olen bolen (a dutch pastry) at the Tholen Molen (windmill). We came halfway around the world just to do it.

Jim, Barb and Nellie on Kerkstraad (Church Street) in Tholen where their ancestors lived.

When in Rome...Nellie and Tricia take to the bikes just like the Dutch do. The Dutch people ride bikes everywhere, in any dress, in any weather. It actually is a great idea.

We celebrated Nellie's birthday with four orange cupcakes decorated with the Dutch flag. Orange is the predominant color here thanks to the soccer team and the Queen.

We bid farewell to Jim and Barbie at the Roosendaal train station. We are illegaly parked in a bus stop, and Right after we shot the picture the police came and told me to move. I was lucky to not get busted. We then picked up Nellie's sisters Tricia and Barbara who will be our travelling companions for the next week.

I've got lots of sketchbook drawings from Zeeland and we've enjoyed our time here. We are leaving today however for our next week in upper Holland near Deventer. Each day is a new adventure and we don't know if we'll find the internet again, so bye for now.

Now Where Did I park that Bicycle?

I can't even remember where I parked my car at the grocery store. This would be the ultimate nightmare for me trying to remember where I parked my bike. This is the crazy scene at the Roosendaal train station where we went to meet up with my son Jim and his wife Barbie coming from Paris. We'll spend the next few days together as Nellie and Jim try to find out about their Dutch ancestry.

We found the street in Tholen where one of their Dutch ancestors lived in the 1700's. The family continued to live in the same area of Zeeland for many generations. Tomorrow it's off to Middleburg where they will continue their search at the Municipal Archives.I plan to do some gallery hopping and sketching in the wonderful old town.

You want Pictures of Windmills?

They call them Molen in the Netherlands, and they are pretty much everywhere. Most are out of use but treasured nonetheless. Today the huge modern propeller windmills seem to have taken over the actual work and changed the skyline as well. The photo above is of a windmill in St. Annaland in Zeeland.

this windmill is in the town of Tholen where we are staying. These things are a lot bigger than you think.

This pretty Windmill at Oud Vossemeer really stands out above the rooftops.

This is my favorite windmill over in St. Maartensdijk Zeeland. I'm going to go back and study it a little more so I can paint it.

Driving a Picasso to see the Dutch Masters

Yes, we are in fact driving a Citroen Picasso in Holland. It should have probably been a Van Gogh, but oh well. We are now in Tholen, Zeeland, Netherlands staying in "The Waterfront" a wonderful B&B right on the the bay in the town of Tholen. We strolled through the old town today stopping at a couple of great art galleries. At Atelier 28 we met modern "Dutch Masters" Francesco Antonietti and Andrea Cook. Neither are native Dutch, be we enjoyed talking art and purchased one of Francesco's beautiful original hand etchings of a windmill. Inspired by the place we went windmill hunting and I shot photos of four different kinds of windmills trying to study their structure. Of course you will be seeing some windmills in my paintings soon!

Above: Our very own Picasso! Below: Artist Andrea Cook of Atelier 28 poses with Nellie in the studio where we purchased an etching by Francesco Antonietti.


Left: I just had to include this photo of a "Tech Bike" parked outside of a tiny computer store in Tholen. Everyone rides bikes here but this was the most "high tech." (Click on photo to see all the features)

On the Road Again...England

Tough work but somebody has to do it! Sketching at Penshurst

Sorry I have not posted for a week. Nellie and I hit the road last Saturday and have not been able to access the internet since. But that is good, because it means I have been walking with my sketchbook in the English countryside of Kent. Wow, what a green and beautiful place. We have explored several castles and lots of wonderful little villages just oozing old English charm. Watch for web updates later and some pictures from my sketchbook. Ta Ta for now.

Above: Nellie in the little town of Edenbridge where we shopped each day. Left: The Hever Hotel near Hever Castle, our home for a week compliments of my son Jim and his wife Barbara.

Santa Clara Art Show a Success

In conjunction with the dedication of the new Santa Clara Town Hall, a special art show was held featuring the artists from the Mission Gallery and Authentique Gallery.Most of the artists were present and the event was well attended with many pieces sold. My good friends Ev and Jim Goodman purchased my painting "Zion's River" and the Jacobson's purchased "Sunlight in Pine Creek."

My dear friend Julie Rogers displayed her amazing pastels and also did a wonderful oil portrait study of Allison Tenney. Julie won best of show at last year's Women Artists of America show.

Annette Everett working on a small sculpture. She sculpted the main monument outside the Town Hall, while my friend Randy Paul sculpted the water feature. Annette also won the Women Artists of America Show this year. It's fun to be around these fantastic artists.

Randy Paul in front of the water feature he created incorporating Everett's sculpture.