Painting Summary – De Phenix Zaandam
De Phenix Zaandam by artist Bart Carels is a quiet tribute to a piece of Dutch industrial history. This former rice peeling warehouse from 1913 still stands along the Zaan River in The Netherlands, surrounded by stories of a working-class past and old-world architecture.
Title: ‘De Phenix’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020
Inspiration Behind the Painting
This painting of De Phenix Zaandam was a personal one. It was my brother’s birthday — and he’s always had a thing for old architecture and industrial design. We both grew up in Zaandam, so painting something tied to our roots made sense. The building has a presence: tall, minimal, and weathered by over a century of wind and river air.
Originally a rice peeling company, De Phenix is part of the industrial backbone that shaped the region. Many of these buildings have been repurposed or forgotten, but this one still stands proud along the Zaan. Painting it felt like capturing a piece of living history — one that locals walk or bike past without always noticing.
Painting Process – Capturing De Phenix Zaandam
I started by sketching the building’s outline in pencil. After that, I filled in the sky, then moved to the structure itself and the water. I layered in detail gradually — shadows on the facade, light on the river, texture in the bricks. Instead of exaggerating or modernizing it, I kept things quiet and honest, much like the building itself.
Painting Specifications
- One-of-a-kind artwork
- Medium: Acrylic on canvas
- Size: 24x30cm / 9×11 inches
- Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White