‘Kei River’ 100cmx100cm Recycled plastic water bottle butterflies on canvas. Can’t get the ‘guerrilla’ glue I use for attaching the butterflies to the canvas. A tad stressful! Particularly, with shaking hands for the ‘instant’ glue version. The Estuary feels as though it has filled with yachts. An armada of masts against the sunset. Forest and beach walks on gorgeous summer mornings. Our wild Border (Bur) Collie not
'Mongoose' Acrylic on canvas 20cmx20cm The paintings in the Nyathi Series progressing. Each small work, it's own character. I'm now 'chipped', a continuous blood sugar monitor with a new insulin treatment regime to bash me back into the green zone. Added risk of hypoglycemia (particularly on long rides) so an emergency glucose pack, and baby-steps in the introduction of the additional insulin. Quite a job keeping
‘Dancer’, Oil on canvas 60cmx90cm, hanging in the Studio Apartment. My painting 'Before the Mirror', by Manet part of the 'Masters 2', at the George Museum SCAVA end of year exhibition. David Higgs inspired, ribeye braaied on the Kamado Jan in thyme butter, with Jack Daniels & butter, peppercorn cream sauce with mushrooms and Parmesan. In the studio garden, the fuchsia’s are in flower. Keeping a careful
Crepe Suzette's (the keto-crepe recipe) Started a large canvas for an abstract interpretation of the sea. An under painting in acrylic on the raw canvas that begins to define the movement of the piece. Another few paintings in the Nyathi Series. With another 30 paintings required for the compilation I'm working towards. Having fun with different subjects; Leopard Tortoise, Warthogs, Elephants and Guinea Fowl. Looking right
Thrilled that my 'Lotus', Acrylic and recycled water bottle butterfly painting, has been Shortlisted for the 2021 Innibos National Craft Award. Entries in all disciplines, from grass-weaving and ceramics to beadwork, wirework, wood, jewellery, paper, fabric painting and printing, quilting, leatherwork, pewter, glasswork, embroidery and mixed media were invited. Small cheetah painting. ‘Woes’ Acrylic on canvas 20cmx20cm Not very clever trashing my iPad by dropping it down the
Fly Fisherman Oil on canvas 20cmx30cm I used a light application of translucent Raw Sienna (Winsor&Newton) to add depth to the water, before adding the light ripples to complete the painting. Rillettes de Canard. Delicious. Served with Steenberg MCC, and Pinot Noir. Perfect. Rillettes (Ree-Etts) in which seasoned cooked meat, or fish, is shredded and combined with fat into a soft pate. Served at room temperature, spread
‘Lotus’ 150cmx200cm Acrylic and recycled plastic water bottle butterflies on canvas 150cmx200cm Drawing inspiration from the Abstract Impressionist painter, Joan Mitchell and the painting I did of Lotus flowers in Hanoi, Vietnam. Joan Mitchell’s work, Abstract Expressionist and Action painters. Rooted in her emotional response to nature through memories, orchestrating her paintings in energy, mood and emotion. Collisions of colour that are exuberant against the natural,
This a salute to everyone who has survived and endured a year of uncertainty with Jan Raat’s award winning COVID-19 lockdown artwork. ‘Hold the Open Heart', Oil on Newspaper and Canvas 100cmx150cm by Jan Raats is an 'LICC Official Selection’ Winner, singling it out as ‘one of the best’ in the 2020 Edition of the London International Creative Competition. This piece is painted on
A small recycled plastic water bottle butterflies art work commission, with the Lotus flower as inspiration. Didn’t think it would work as well as it did at the small size. The large work still progressing, although I wasn’t expecting that it would need an additional 200 butterflies! Italianalicious dinner. Charcuterie, Melon caprese salad, Keto Gnocchi in sage butterGamberi alla Busara. Also tried the pork
‘Lotus’ Acrylic and recycled water bottle butterflies on canvas 50cmx60cm. A study for a larger work with a softer approach to the saltbush mark-making on the recycled plastic water bottle butterflies. A more restful composition that uses the translucence of the plastic to better effect. Joan Mitchell’s influence in the colourful, compositional rhythms and vivid emotion that takes inspiration from the lotus flowers of