Urban

This graphite pencil drawing ‘Rotterdam – 14-05-19’ took me straight back to Zuid-Holland. Yesterday’s drawing was of Wijk bij Duurstede. Totally different from theme, not from execution though. This was also done in my hatched strokes style and impressionist of nature. Sometimes I want to study different textures like foliage and then the inner core of industrial Rotterdam. It makes me realize I’m studying contrasts really. Therefore my feelings towards Spring are often mixed. When you walk in the woods there’s just this massive wall of green with no striking contrasts. The sun reappearing I like though but give me some foliage and a building behind it. This time buildings only.

Katendrecht

Enter Katendrecht in Rotterdam. Surely the first time I was there. The district didn’t have a good image. However, I must say I like what they have done to the place. There were plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and all old buildings were renovated. Even a hidden gem for young hipsters I’d reckon. The water is never far away in Rotterdam and there it was again, the river Maas.

Clear view

 I had a clear view on the old harbour buildings on the other side. There  I saw the potential of horizontals, some verticals and a diagonal. The latter is formed by a quay to the right and is a nice touch in what is typically Rotterdam. Everything is straight! Just for the fun of it I decided to throw in a water taxi. That is because they came and went all the time. Also in order to create depth and to set it off against the other side tonally. Some movement also contrasts the inertion of real estate in the back. Last but not least, I kept the buildings across the river Maas quite vague focusing on the overall impression.

Graphite pencil drawing (Pentel 0.5 mm, 3B) on Canson Bristol paper (10.5 x 14.8 x 0.1 cm – A6 format)

Artist: Corné Akkers

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