Bootvaart, Den Bosch

It's getting warmer outside, so sitting somewhere to sketch what I see no longer seems an uncomfortable plan. But that has little to do, really, with why I've started making more paintings about my beautiful city. Context is essential for anything, especially art. That's why I write the title, the date, and the number on all my art. You might claim not to care about what's behind an art piece, but knowing some outside information will change how you look at it -- even Rothko shouldn't deny that his story significantly helped people appreciate his art, even if he might not have liked it. So, I'm trying to paint my context: I've made many art pieces about my family and will continue to do so, but I want to shine a light on the great city that made me. So here is the perspective from a bench near the town hall, next to the water, where many people take boat trips. These trips only happen during part of the year, but when I sit there, I'm always afraid one will come by and invade the privacy of my home. Especially during the time of year I'm most inclined to take the time to sit there. I guess it's hard work: loving a city.