MEET VAN GOGH IN
AMSTERDAM!
In June, 12 artists from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan along
with their art teacher, Christins Thoen learned about the fruitful yet tragic
life of Vincent Van Gogh. All, yes all
of his paintings are in Holland, except for a few dotted in famous museums
around the world. “Vincent” as he signed his works of art and prose only sold 1
painting in his short life of 37 years! The will of his sister in law was that
all his paintings, many which came from the south of France we kept in Holland,
his birth country. Thus, we managed to stand before many of his famous chef d’euvres
in both the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Kroller - Muller Museum in the
Hogue Veluwe National Park. Tears came to her eyes when Christina stood before
her favouite “Café la Nuit"
The week was full of information gathering from our best
ever guide in the Riyksmuseum where we learned all about Golden Era of the Dutch
Masters like Rembrandt. The “ Night Watch” came alive under Roberto’s guidance. Our sketching time captured Amsterdam’s
bridges, bikes, canals, windmills and even a rendition of Vincent’s sunflowers.
Of course there was time for shopping and dining in Amsterdam’s brown cafes -
all international food but with an abundance of Indonesian restaurants. We
tried the Rice Table!!! We enjoyed a beverage in the bars of the Red Light
district and frequented many of the other museums like the Rembrandt Haus and
My Lord in the Attic (a Catholic church in hiding for 200 years). The Bridge Hotel on the Amstel was our home
for this week. It was conveniently located next door to the CASA Theatre where,
guess who, Jude Law was performing in “ Obsession”. Cool that some of us (not
me!!) saw him out for his daily run in the morning!
Our weather did not cooperate all the time for us, but when
we were outside sketching it did! Thanks to Christina for her wonderful
instruction in making all of us feel that we were the creating our own
masterpieces for life!
