Wondering about how to make towns and places better for walking... again
Note on cities for walking
Bellevue beach
"Can I get your bottle, please" he said, my childhood friend, standing beside me, as I hold the bag, that contained all the bottles we collected since our last walk to the shop
Carlsberg Pavilion
Who came up with building things like this for a factory making beer?
Sitting in history
I pick the motive in the middle, like it, it reminds me of opening the drawer, where my granddad kept all the things he didn't know where to put.
You’ve aged the castle said
Walking up there one early spring afternoon, the crows circling and wind chilling the whole idea of trying to get into the Royal school of Architecture by painting watercolors here
Leaving the old houses be
It used to be a place for gunpowder, I was told. It is still there, even though the old guns are long gone. Now it serves more peaceful purposes, but build so well, and in a way that it can adapt to changing realities
Tiny fisherman’s house
Not many details, just what is needed when off the boat, the small house looks like it can handle a lot of wind. I take out my brushes, watercolor and paper
When coincidence makes architecture
There is a quiet feel to it, the mix of granite stones, wood and simple metal sheet roofs - Even bits from boats thrown in, a bench, and holders for the yarn and tools used on the sea.
A square I know well
There is a bench here, it has a lamp over it, so during the day, and still in the dark Scandinavian evenings, I could continue to paint. I sat watching people walking by and did many street sketches of people from here
The museum of quiet
Could sit here in the afternoons, after the schoolkids had left, and just watch the light, and study the sculptures in the winter days
Cafe in an old church
The stories might be different, but most important is that we still share them
Wind swept square of Justice
Walking past the square on a windy day, getting a cheap cup of coffee and a croissant from the 7-11 on the corner and placing myself so I can paint the place... So many times
Loosing the sky to architecture
When I started out on watercolors I painted the sky, but I lost it studying architecture. Painting the sky was a no-go on the Royal Academy...
Antivirus Architecture as urban design
Can we design and build our cities better to stop virus from spreading
The Art shop around the corner
Through the years I've seen a few art material shops come and go, just here used to be two, wonder if they all went online, or just away?
Rosenborg Castle
Cramped far in the bushes I was all concentrated on my painting when I heard a voice... "Frits! Is that you in there?"
Royal Danish Theatre
Facing out to the central square in Copenhagen is the Royal theatre. I look at it differently since I got a chance to sketch the actors and dancers practice in there
Church wall detail
Painting bricks in Copenhagen while the rich in money rush by, and the rich in time watch the sun between the trees
Christiansborg Watercolor
When living here, you don't think about it much, how central the parliament is placed
The Marble church Copenhagen
I stood on the middle of the place, with Amalienborg, the royal palace on all sides, not able to use my easel ( security) , I had to both hold the paper and paint in the wind
My number one Nyhavn watercolor
Way back I got the option to sell my watercolors through gift shops in Copenhagen ( I gave it up later ). And one of my watercolor paintings was more popular than any of the others... it is this one
Painting in the middle of the stream
The sun in my eyes and surrounded by people, with half an eye on my backpack as long as I could keep my eyes open... even getting my easel stolen, when I closed my eyes on a bench once
Boat under repair forever
When coming back painting on the same spots I realize, that what I thought was a short time repair, stays the same over the years
Black fishing boat Copenhagen
On sunny days the street along the Nyhavn channel is beaming with life and people. Sitting across out of the sun, where the buildings give me a bit of shadow, I paint while listen to the street musicians
Missing the fishing boats
Standing on the quai with my watercolors and easel, looking for the boats... it's not all the same without them
Frits Ahlefeldt: sketchbook and stories 