The Netherlands

I’ve loved the Netherlands for a long time, but not for the tourist routes and windmills—for the atmosphere, the people, and the feeling of being alive while cycling from one end of the country to the other.

Before last summer, I had visited Friesland several times—a unique part of the Netherlands with its own culture, language, and reclaimed land from the sea. I used to visit friends there, and in 2003, my pastel paintings were displayed at a small solo exhibition in the charming town of Franeker.

Seeing the country through the eyes of the Dutch is a completely different experience. I was introduced to a farmer’s Netherlands, with cows, fields, and hot air balloons. The canals reminded me of Bruegel, while the small towns evoked a sense of astronomical discoveries. Everything seemed so precise and orderly that I couldn’t imagine any detective stories happening there—only stories about fishermen, herring, hard work, and the dikes. Then came a year of travels, when in just one week I visited Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Delft, and The Hague. And once again, my perception of the country expanded.

How can such a small country contain so many moods?

Last summer, I discovered yet another fascinating side of the Netherlands.

I was invited by Jana to lead a plein air workshop there, and of course, I agreed. Once again, the country revealed itself to me from a fresh perspective.

We stayed near the town of Nuenen, where Van Gogh was born—small villages, onion fields, and amidst all this, pine forests and heather-covered plains.

About 15 kilometers from Belgium, which can be reached by bicycle in just a couple of hours—perfect for a ride through the forests and fields, ending with a beer at an abbey. Cycling along the paths, I barely encountered a soul—just me, the sun, and the occasional rain.

From this place, we ventured out every day for our plein air sessions.

Our program was magical. Lively and bustling Amsterdam; Delft, red-brown and almost dollhouse-like; Noordwijk, a small seaside town; Volendam, an unbelievably picturesque port town. In each location, we managed to paint two works, have lunch, and take some time to explore.

The group was cheerful and easygoing, mostly consisting of people living in Europe. I was curious to learn about the materials used by local pastel artists, how they discovered pastel, and why they chose it. Every exchange was a new discovery.

During these few days, I experimented with paper types I hadn’t used before, tried PanPastel, which has a powdery texture, and worked with old Rembrandt pastels from a previous collection. Surprisingly, the older sticks had a different quality—not as hard as the current ones, with a more complex and interesting color range.

And at the very end, I was gifted some fascinating materials for future experiments.

For example, a fine abrasive that can be added to the surface to create a more textured base for pastel, as well as a transparent primer. I also purchased some mysterious pigment powders to experiment with, along with Tallens and Winsor & Newton gouache—both brands are excellent in quality, with a good paint density and color that remains vibrant after drying.

Plenty of work for the year ahead! I’ve barely tested even 30% of the materials I brought back from this trip.

Thanks to Jana, we quickly ordered large-format Pastelmat paper for more in-depth studies and also bought a new storage box with pull-out drawers for my studio.

And, just like last time, when I returned to Moscow, my oversized luggage—containing my plein air easel, all my paints, powders, and tulip bulbs—got lost somewhere during my layovers. But, five days later, it arrived safe and sound!

By the way, it was in the Netherlands, about 15 years ago, when I first saw a huge selection of pastel sticks in a tiny shop in Volendam. I stood there for over an hour, pulling out and sliding back drawer after drawer of carefully organized pastel colors. So, my love for this country is deeply intertwined with my professional love for the abundance of small, charming art shops—and it has never faded since.

Thank you to everyone who painted with me this summer!

PS: A little secret—there will be another plein air trip to the Netherlands this spring, at the end of April, during tulip season. Stay tuned—the details will soon be available on the Events page!