Drawing at the Rijksmuseum

Finally, I made some time to visit Amsterdam, and more precise the Rijksmuseum.

They provide sketchbooks and pencils to get you into drawing several objects,

instead of taking pictures with your phone.

Ha, that's just something for me!
I like the architecture and the fascinating painting work of these old buildings!

art lab in the museum with a wall of drawings

I like to look up... especially in churches or old buildings,

and this ceiling is a beauty.

I think it is the lines and curves and the patterns all combined into one!

Of course the paintings in the Museum are also interesting to look at, many Breitners, Rembrandt of course, and some of the Cobra group.

November in Amsterdam - city life

Also on my wishlist: a day in Amsterdam, 

visiting some shops and enjoying the architecture and vibrant energy of the city.

 How I enjoyed the autumn colours, the people and tourists, having coffee and cake, and strolling through shops as Sukha, Het Grote Avontuur, Hay, &Klevering, De Weldaad and so on.

Returning by train we enjoyed the sound of the piano in the Central Hall of the station: 

a place for spontaneous concerts, four girls were singing...

 It has given me new inspiration, 

making pictures is a good way for me to practice my perception of perspective, 

colour combination and people.

nice store: restored!

A couple of weeks ago I went to good old Amsterdam (I have lived there for almost 6 years) to make a tour in the city in the area of the Haarlemmerstraat. I read a lot about all the small shops in this area, which are often owned by artists and designers.
One of them is RESTORED, www.restored.nl, a nice little shop where a collective of young designers sell their hand-made products, for instance bags, chairs, wallets, scarfs etc. Small shop, but unique!
Another one I really liked in the same street is Het Grote Avontuur, the interior was very creative with attention to detail and with some humor in it too.
Accidentally we ended up in a real Amsterdam-market, I don't know whether it was de Noordermarkt, or de Lindengrachtmarkt... but those people... down-to-earthhabitants of Amsterdam. They made me smile...