We had planned a proper painting session in Amsterdam, especially since the weather forecast promised to be wonderful. We try to alternate between nature plein air sessions and urban ones: in our small group we already have both lovers of open fields and those who prefer the city. So we take turns choosing locations to keep things fair and fun for everyone.
But as always, when you plan something carefully, it inevitably goes a little differently.
Some of us left very early—around seven in the morning, I think—but due to various circumstances, both within and beyond our control, we only managed to start painting around 1 p.m. At first nothing went smoothly: we even mixed up who was supposed to pick up whom. But eventually everything worked out, and we had a wonderful painting day! The weather was unusual for November—at times it even felt warm.
Plane trees and a street café with the Rijksmuseum in the background—that’s such a typical Amsterdam scene. The plane trees hadn’t shed their leaves yet: yellow-brown, sometimes almost copper, with thinning crowns that revealed the beautiful buildings around Museum Square. I immediately liked the people sitting under their shade, and the whole picture formed in my mind at once. All that was left was to paint it.
The Rijksmuseum, with its ornate architecture, gave the whole scene a distinctly Amsterdam feeling. A café could be anywhere, but I wanted it to be clear that this moment was happening here, in Amsterdam. Tourists hurrying to the museum, people strolling and enjoying the warm weather, locals chatting with their unique accent—all of this should be felt when looking at the painting. After all, that’s why we create art.
Irina even painted the seagulls—they accompanied us all day with their calls and added to the atmosphere perfectly.
Everyone's studies turned out completely different—each of us has our own level and our own way of seeing.
We’d love to have you join us next time! The more people, the more fun. Your level of experience doesn’t matter at all—what matters is a good creative spirit
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