Windmills

A windmill is a nice subject to draw. It has an outstanding form which is very recognizable and gives it a presence of it's own. There are several styles to draw a windmill. It can be done in color, as you can see above, or in black and white with pen and ink. This last technique is my favourite, because it pays more respect to the subject in my opinion. Usually forms follow function, but in this case drawing style follows subject.

Both mills are situated in Leiden, a Dutch town. Molen De Put is a re-build mill in the center of the town near the house where Rembrandt was born. The mill is a replica of the one in which Rembrandt´s father worked.

The other mill, drawn in black-and-white, was build in the 18th century and once situated far outside the old towngates to keep the farmland dry. It is still operational, but only for touristic purposes.

Swiss Knife

The Chinese are known and respected for many things. One of their activities is to make products which look very similar to the originals which are their inspiration for making, but due to very low labourcosts the Chinese are able to produce a product at a much lower (or consumerfriendly) price. For instance: they even have artists making pictures which look like the famous Dutch landscape painters of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, but at a fraction of the original price!
So why not make a copy of the worldfamous Swiss Knife? Ceci nést pas un Victorinox.

Dutch Treat

Last Christmas I made an old Dutch treat: apples baked in puff paste. The recipe is very simple and the result is very sweet and delicious. What does one want more in life?
After removing the skin and core of the apples I've putted a great deal of sugar, cinnamon and raisins into the apples. With almondpaste on top and bottom of the apples I folded the puff paste around it and baked them for about twenty-five minutes in the oven. As allways they were eaten in no-time by family and friends! I only had time to make a quick snapshot of these three. So I must admit I didn't draw this sketch in "real life" but by (digital) photograph. I hope you don't mind and that they look tasteful enough to give you an idea.
In the old days my father always had trouble making these apple bowls in our bakery. Somehow they mostly bursted in the oven because of too much heat and less time, I think. It's important not to have to high temperatures when you put them in the oven. Just give them a little time to get used to the heat. That works best (as with most things).