"Benning"

Oil on canvas

40 x 50 cm

1994

I have a very special memory with this picture. It shows the Benning (356 m) at Grossbottwar.

It should have been the third or fourth time that I painted 'en plein air' in public space. I drove my car to my chosen location so as not to have to carry all the utensils. I was aware that I was disregarding a traffic sign that clearly forbids driving on motor vehicles. At some point I saw a suspiciously green car slowly driving in my direction in the corner of my eye. A man in uniform got out and came to me and said "Hello". My heart almost slipped into my trousers with a guilty conscience and already saw me pay a fine of 20 marks. Then, to my complete surprise, the policeman said: "May I look a little over your shoulder? I just started painting and I can definitely learn from you ..." As I said: I was a bloody beginner myself!