Sinterklaas

A digital greeting card i made for my dear godfather & his wonderful family. 

Prettig Sinterklaasfeest! :)

A special one

As a way of honoring one of the two extraordinary gentlemen in my life, celebrating Father's Day. For my dear Godfather back in NL. I made this ink illustration of one of the most amazing Dutch Engineering works of all time. The Oosterscheldekering in the North of Holland. I was astounded with everything i saw when godfather and i was there for a day tour. Wonderful memories to recall on a special day like today. :)

Oh my stars

Something with a touch of Dutch# Goose NL# Van Gogh inspirations. 

Have a wonderful week ahead!   :) 

By the North Sea

bringing back wonderful memories.. :) 

Nostalgic

A typical Dutch setting..bringing back wonderful memories of my holidays in NL couple of years ago. 

Today i try to gave a break with watercolor and go back to pen & ink. I made this drawing from a snap shot i took in Delft NL.  

time

getting back and something Dutch

It's been a while since i work on my paintings. I have had some projects that's left unfinished..not new to me. :D Well for the busy week that has ended, i am glad to finish one of those oil paintings.  It's from my Dutch holidays, a visit at Prinsenhof in Delft with godfather way back couple years ago. I have had wonderful memories with it- especially the ones when godfather in his own special amusing quirky ways.. (:  did re-enact how the Noble Prince Willem van Oranje was being killed right @ the actual spot of the stairway of his residence. It's nowadays houses the Municipal museum. The old masterpiece paintings are totally grand and amazing. Wonderful memories i so much cherish.And it's always worthwhile to be getting back to painting again. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead! 

Carpe diem! (:

Sinterklaas

Over the weekend i had fun doing this special handmade greeting card for my godfather & his family back in NL. Last year i have had the privileged and was so much grateful for having part of their special celebration for Sinterklaas. Wonderful memories i so much cherish. Hope this gets to their mailbox in time for their celebration this year. Mr. Postman here i come!

I wish you a lovely week ahead of you! :) 

Carpe Diem! :)  

across the window

In a cold rainy Monday morning today i made this watercolor painting from the thousand of photographs i took from my Dutch Holidays back then. The view outside the guest room of my godfather's home sweet home was a beautiful sight i always look at especially at the start of the cold autumn morning there.  It brings me so much lovely memories of Holland to look back.

Carpe diem (:

P.S. I Love you

Extraordinary Remarkable Gentlemen

 

Back in Netherlands for my Dutch holidays, one day @ Dad's home with his eldest son 

& wife watching through good old photo slides of him from his short stay in the Philippines.

 He was 28 then as an exchange student in USC-TC-WRC- in the 80's.

 One slide shows a baptismal ceremony with a young good looking tall Dutch gentleman 

over-towering the rest of the crowd, attentively looking down to the baby.

 My godfather spoke: Do you know who that baby is Mary Jane? That is you! 

And that is how i look after you from the start when you are a baby until now".. 

For some reasons - after 31 years that was the first time i saw my baptismal pictures.
 I would have to be grateful to my late Papa as well..for he makes sure that when he is gone
 for good on earth. I still have a father to fill in his shoe.

My godfather has  been my guiding light. He never failed to gave me so much 
lessons and inspiration in life though he is far across the globe. I am too blessed to have Godfather 
like this extraordinary remarkable gentleman. 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY Dad! Zorg goed voor jezelf. :)

Happy Father's Day to all Dad! 

You are greatly honored today and always for the HERO that you are in our lives.

 "My Father gave me the greatest gift

 anyone could give another person, he believed in me"..-Jim Valvano

Carpe Diem! (:

P.S. I love you

with Vincent

@ the Kroller -Muller museum in the middle part of Holland. Home of 24 masterpieces of Vincent van Gogh and modern art.

I took the advantage of there rules allowing visitors to take pictures of the painting only w/o flash. Regardless i was overwhelmed with happiness. So ever grateful again for this once in a lifetime experience here in NL. A dream come true as an artist. I was with Vincent Van Gogh.. :)

P.S. I love you

today @ Zeeland

Road trip to the country side

 Southwest of Netherlands

The Zeeland bridge

 the largest of thirteen Delta works' dams - Oosterscheldekering

modern wind mills & dunes

on top of the dunes with a spectacular view of  the North sea

on my own walking around town w/a Dutch map for three hours 

was a great achievement for me being a tourist here :)

Historical Museum of Goes

Old church Maria Magdalenakerk

best cappuccino ever tasted and a  Dutch delicatessen  

 absolutely another great experience to be grateful for..  :)

P.S. I love you

that was on my wish list

 I have always loved his works and amazed at his life story.

One of my wish list in life is one day see my ever admired Dutch Impressionist artist works

and today was a dream come true to me.. I was there marvelling at his works! :)

@ my cold & foggy seventh day Dutch Adventure in Amsterdam NL.

"The only time i feel alive is when I'am painting".. ~ Van Gogh 

P.S. I Love you 

Double Dutch treat

@ the cafe today with  godfather's favorite traditional sweet treat
and it's always should be part of his every birthday.

Mondriaan and a lot of century original paintings of the masters in Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

lots of art museums 

  University of Delft Tech where godfather earned his bachelors degree in Civil Engineering  

  The cheese....

Dutch architecture

The Windmills

flowers

and me at the Peace Palace in The Hauge earlier today..

Almost a week here and such overwhelming amazing Dutch treat... :)

Am just as lucky, grateful and blessed to have my godfather and his wonderful kind family

to be my host here in my Holland adventure.

P.S. I love you