With more of the recycled plastic water bottle butterflies finished on my ‘Rhenosterveld’ artwork, I’m getting lost in the composition and have had to slow down to let a section dry before tackling the next bit. Taking inspiration from Joan Mitchell, an American Abstract Expressionist artist whose aggressive brushstrokes and vivid colour were used to convey emotion. Much of her career was spent
Detail of ‘Rhenosterveld’ in progress. 100cmx100cm. Acrylic and recycled plastic water bottle butterflies on canvas. We are watching, with a touch of alarm, the spike in Covid cases along the Garden Route. Of more concern are the number of people who we know who are infected. So far, while they are ill, they are recovering. My blood sugars. For whatever reason, out of kilter. I
Red, black and a medium mix for the red squares on my chromatic black painting. The blue squares have blue added to the black and yellow is mixed with that to create the green squares. The studio technique, used by Ad Reinhardt in his black paintings. Using acrylics, I didn’t get the absolute matt finish of his paintings, however it still provides an
‘Horsing Around’, one of my paintings from Nieu Bethesda Sold and heading to its new home at the Bangladesh Ambassador. Gorgeous summer day, with a touch of rain before the sun turned the estuary into hues of brilliant colour. Fabulous display of summer flowers on the walk around Leisure Island. Heat, the arch enemy of chocolate and keeping the studio cool the new challenge heading
Chef Hirsch menu of scrumptiousness. Chèvre fried with bread crumbs on tomato, tarragon herb salad and sherry vinaigrette. Tuna tonnato with capers, olive oil and other bits with seared tuna and crushed coriander seeds. Lamb marinated in Z’atar, Sumac & olive oil, with roasted garlic aioli. Huge amounts of wine that made navigating home a tad messy. East Head walk with Prince, who wasn’t
White on White 100cmx100cm Acrylic and recycled plastic water bottle butterflies on canvas First attempt at sticking the recycled plastic water bottle butterflies to the canvas a failure. At least, neither the canvas or the butterflies were damaged. Worked out a system to keep them in straight lines using a wood strip secured with clamps as a guide. Finding gaps in the mark making butterflies amongst
‘MM’ oil on canvas 50cmx60cm, my study of Manet’s painting ‘Before the mirror’, which he painted in 1846, has been included in the SCAVA “Old Masters” exhibition that will open on the 17th November. Mist hanging low over the mountains made for a pretty, if a tad nervy ride. Zero visibility with my glasses coated in mist. Followed Craig’s bright socks hoping that he
Studio apartment antics. Coq au vin. A starter of veg soup, with a hint of Durban curry heat and fried Chorizo croutons. Finally happy with the recycled plastic water bottle butterfly mobile. It’s effect under the uv-light fabulous. I won’t be doing any more, as they are incredibly time consuming. But, pretty. Production line of butterfly painting for ‘White-on-White’. The butterflies sorted into groupings according
‘White-on-White’, or perhaps I should be calling it the ‘Absence of Colour’?. The addition of acrylic Matt medium to the white paint, creating the contrast between the Agnes Martin inspired bands. My eyes feeling like I’m in a snow-storm, white-out! Graphite lines, a guide. Infuriating in the smudges of grey in the increasingly annal fixation with line and purity. The flex in the canvas,
Forest Oil on canvas 90cmx120cm Special Recognition for ‘Art of Outstanding Quality’ at the 10th Annual International Landscapes Exhibition. Chosen from 740 entries and 27 different countries around the world. The Forests, bursting with spring flowers. Yellow, purple and white blossoms. I wanted that slightly misty, ethereal quality to my painting. Summer lightness, and brilliance. Without being insipid. That touch of Paul Cézanne, yellow and turquoise. White-on-White. Preliminary