The forest run, not an option, as I hobble about the place with my Achilles a bother.

The light in the picture of Tlotlo, reminiscent of a Rembrandt portrait. The composition gave me a tough time as it didn’t seem to sit comfortably on the canvas. I changed the orientation of the painting to give the portrait more space to breath.

It seemed appropriate to use the last bit in the tube of Rembrandt Madder Deep. A magical paint colour that I have managed to use for the last umpteen years. I used it for the underpainting of the portrait. A tad radical, however, I read somewhere that Rembrandt used red underpainting for his portraits.

Rembrandt had a Bold Free way, colours layd with a great Body, and many times in old Men’s Heads extraordinarily deep Shaddows, very difficult to Copy, the colours being layd on Rough and in full touches, though sometimes neatly Finished.

-Marshall Smith, Art of Painting 1693

Van Dyk brown over the red, rubbed back to the canvas so the rough weave would refract the light to the smooth blending of the portrait. Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre for the skin tones, with Indian Yellow in the highlight areas. A grey of Venice Red and Cobalt Blue for highlights.

Jazz, sushi and a bit of wine on a Sunday afternoon next to the water. With boats going past, on which, excited Border Collies eagerly awaited their adventure, we chatted about getting a new puppy. Not yet. This despite the wine!

A colourful new exhibition of scenes of Knysna in the studio. Interpretations of the forests and lagoon.

Artful waste collection along the lagoon, as a trial run for the challenge next week. We collected a fair pile of plastic, bottles, sweet and crisp packets and the odd beer can in a 20 minute walk. Doing something with it a tad more complicated.

A day of ‘Work-shadow’, with a young artist trying his hand at finger painting with oils. His interest, portraits. It sure can be a messy business if you don’t have a system that keeps everything separated and spotless, with an understanding of how the paint colours work with each other. Good fun.

A couple of small canvases sold to a collector in Holland. 

Start of the Oyster Festival and the weather has arrived with a vengeance. Rain turning the trails into slush. Glad I’m inside with red wine and a fire.