Downstairs XIV and XV

Two Rooms at Two Castles

These two paintings were done entirely with palette knives, without the use of brushes.

While recently re-reading the famous book "Alla Prima" by Richard Schmid, I came across his advice to practice more with a palette knife. This idea seemed both fantastic and daunting at the same time:

"...There is no limit to what can be done with a knife. The best way I know of to learn how to use it is to lock away your brushes for several weeks and paint only with a knife. I warn you that it will be extremely frustrating at first, but don't give up. The difficulty is normal. If you haven't used a knife before, you will feel like you are crippled - like a right-hander doing everything with the left hand or vice versa. However, it is worth every ounce of pain and effort. The ability to use a knife well is like having a whole new language..."

So, I needed to try it out, and I must say, it is not only tricky and frustrating but also great fun. I love it so far, and I hope I will use the knives often. The palette knife creates loose strokes by design, resulting in impressionistic effects, unique edges, and blending, especially on small surfaces. You are almost compelled to leave out the details, which makes this challenge a fantastic way to learn to paint loosely. I’m glad I gave it a try.

This time, I chose to work on two historical interiors since I still have many photos I took that I could paint from.

While these interiors are not exactly "downstairs" rooms, I believe they still fit my Downstairs series. The play of lights and shadows still intrigues me, as do the geometric shapes and perspectives of historical interior architecture.

The first painting depicts a corner room in the gallery of the medieval Castle Hernen. I was drawn to the simplicity of the setting, enhanced by two sources of light (one of which is not visible). It was a rainy day during my visit, so everything had a greyish tone. Let it be "Downstairs XIV", oil on canvas 30 x 40 cm, alla prima, limited palette.

The second one is the interior of one of the rooms in De Heringastate (Poptaslot). I did another piece last year (titled Downstairs XII), and I am still deeply impressed by the place and its story.

Let's call this one Downstairs XV, oil on acid-free cardboard 24 x 30 cm, alla prima, limited palette.

View the finished paintings in my gallery.

Exhibitions:

- Driedaagse Expo at Stalhuus, June 2026, Hollum
- Valta's Downstairs at Museum Sorgdrager, October - December 2026, Hollum

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