Wednesday, February 11, 2015


Many thanks to the artist who created this African inspired wall frieze in the Rokerij coffeeshop! It became the perfect backdrop for a group of friends taking a break in Amsterdam. This scene unfolded at the Rokerij coffeeshop nearest Amsterdam's Centraal Station. Captured first in ink, this watercolor attempts to capture the colorful, casual nature of friends meeting and preparing to smoke together.

Seated on coiled bales of rope, the group is engaged in the process of preparing a joint. For Europeans this means breaking up the marijuana or hashish, rolling a filter tip and breaking open a cigarette.

The introduction of tobacco in the joint allows for a proper burn, and is a method for regulating the strength of the joint. When increasing the ratio of tobacco to hash in a joint, for example, the joint becomes less strong. By contrast the American method is usually to roll a "pure"joint consisting of marijuana alone. This is all academic to man's best friend laying in the foreground. Having trotted through Amsterdam he is more than happy to take a well deserved nap!

Watercolor ( 30cm x 40cm )