Happy New Year wishes.

For the new year, the paintings on exhibition in the studio have been changed to fit into a new theme; Small, simple steps.

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh 

Terry has used her magic to create a word painting for the exhibition, and I now have an Artist Statement to go with the bio.

A tad grubby after a morning paddle. Polly not so sure about the surf-skies and paddles, or the seal flapping lazily in the water near the jetty where the tide had delivered a smorgasbord of fresh fish.

Who would have that such a small painting could be so demanding. The dingy insignificant in the face of the elements. Reinforced by pushing the composition up in the canvas, cropping the mast. My hand taking strain from the daily painting. 

Quite a lot of people through the studio, and if everyone purchases the painting they love, then I will meet my – self imposed – financial objectives. Half of the small 20cmx20cm paintings have been sold.

I didn’t factor into my expectation of ‘success’ for the studio, all the people who have simply loved being amongst the paintings that have lifted their weary, or troubled souls. I guess, an ever higher standard to achieve than sales?

Sweltering in paradise, and I’m fighting with my painting. Nothing too unusual about that, other than I have two going on at the same time, which is never a good idea for me. One is a simple catamaran on the lagoon. Except, I can’t get the proportions to work properly, and it’s a tad small for my fingers. Planned that way, to concentrate on simple lines. The other painting, is of green and turquoise swirls in the sea. A more abstract sort of painting, as a study for the extra larger canvas I have lurking. This one, I have no idea what I’m doing!

A picnic on the beach at Thesen for New Year’s Eve, with braai fires and tons of vegetable type things, spread on the magic picnic carpet. Amazingly, we were awake to see in the year and even did it with a dance or two! 

A miraculous year it will be.

Hobie Fun

Oil on canvas 20cmx20cm