Category: Rural Life & Karoo Landscape

Ngunis among Acacia Karroo

Three Ngunis & Acacia Karroo

Having grown up in a family of botanists, it is hard to separate myself from the African bush and beautiful flora that was a big part of my youth. Acacia Karroo is a species of thorn tree, that is unique in that it grows naturally around here in the karoo, where we live in South Africa, and is also to be found around Salisbury ( Harare) and many other parts of Rhodesia, (Zimbabwe) where I grew up. I never really pursued a botanical career myself, as did my brother, John Burrows (http://www.bknr.co.za/), who has written several wonderful scientific botanical books. I also don’t have many tree books, except one old treasured copy of, “Trees of Central Africa” by Keith Coates Palgrave. This book plate of Acacia Karroo, is beautifully painted by his mother, Olive H. Coates Palgrave.

Acacia Karroo / Sweet Thorn. painted by Olive H. Coates Palgrave

I do not aspire to being a botanical artist like my talented sister in law, but this pencil sketch was done in the spirit of this study.

Acacia Karroo / Sweet thorn. Pencil sketch.

I wanted to explore the visual contrasts between the Acacia Karroo, and the Nguni cattle that are often seen grazing amongst them. The patterned hides of the Nguni cattle, against the network of white thorn-covered trees was an interesting contrast, and the focus of this series of these 3 paintings.

Nguni Herd in Acacia thornveld.

Thorn Bush Ngunis

15 Apr 2013
Gallery pictures from the 2012 challenge

Windmill & Weeds. Watercolour. 400 x 320 mm.

The Old Fowl Run. 400 x 320 mm. Watercolour.

Lamb Siesta. Pencil and grey wash. 400 x 320

Bicycle under the Tree. Watercolour 400 x 320 mm

Excelsior Cattle. watercolour. 400 x 320mm

Warthog skull on a chair. watercolour & pen & ink. 400 x 320 mm

View of Spitskop. Watercolour 400 x 320 mm

Old Cypress at the Gate. watercolour 400 x 320 mm

11 Feb 2013
Karoo landscape with Ngunis.

After receiving another Nguni painting order a few months ago, I was determined to find a new herd to use for this composition. Although I have loads of pictures of Ngunis from various sources, and Nguni stud books going back almost 10 years; the animals in all the various sketches I made, did not relate to each other. This sounds like an insignificant detail. But in order to throw a good measure of life and enthusiasm into the painting, I felt the need to find a fresh new herd. I subsequently heard about a renowned Nguni breeder not far away on the farm ‘Gelykfontein’ between Venterstad and Colesburg.

When John and I paid him a visit, we were totally captivated by all the wonderful Ngunis that we saw and photographed. As a result there were loads of inspiring photos available for this composition.

I then went ahead enthusiastically, and printed up a small batch of photos to start with some new sketches; but as often happens when things go so well, my computer crashed and all my photos were trapped and inaccessible!

The computer went off to Johannesburg for repairs etc, and I was left with only that initial batch of photos that had been printed. How fortunate that I had those at least; and it was enough to get going and build up a satisfactory composition, and at least I had the fresh inspiration in my mind to launch into the project.

Karoo landscape with Ngunis. Oil on canvas. 1250 x 900 mm.

I naturally enjoyed using a karoo landscape and background for this painting as it is the countryside we live in, and love ; and the cattle seemed quite at home where they were placed in the scene. Getting the composition right, is always challenging, with considerations like the direction of the light and the way the eye travels in and on towards the distance. There were several times when I wished I had access to all those other lovely photos on my computer (still in Johannesburg). However, it is amazing that it worked out quite adequately in the end, and I have a faithful Lord to thank for that.

20 Sep 2012
A few plein-air sketches with John

Road over the ridge. Watercolour and pen & ink. 370 x 280 mm.

During John’s recent visit to the farm, we went out sketching on a few occasions. However, I was understandably distracted by my new grand-daughter, Chloë !

John spent more time on his plein-air studies, all of which they turned out really well. For those who can access our Facebook page, they can be seen here: http://www.facebook.com/africanpainting?sk=wall

Shed and stable sketch. Watercolour. 370 x 280 mm.

Through the gate sketch. Watercolour. 370 x 280 mm

1 Aug 2012
Nguni Herd Returning Home

Exactly 5 years ago to the day, we took a trip across the karoo from Beaufort West to Fraserberg, Calvinia, Loeriesfontein, Springbok, Pofadder, Koupan, Prieska and Philippolis .

While we were visiting Poffadder, we took a couple of trips down towards the Orange River to Pella and Ontseepkans. On one of these trips we passed this scene of a herdsman bringing his cattle home. It was evening, and the soft glow as the sun went down, shone through the dust and that striking scene has been imprinted on my mind ever since.

So I have been on a quest to replicate it as I remember.

It may have taken me 5 years to get around to it, but I am glad that the urge has been satisfied at last.

Nguni Herd Returning Home. Oil on Canvas. 1500 x 740 mm.

30 Apr 2012
Mondplaas Ngunis re-visited

Mondplaas Ngunis revisited. Oil on Canvas. 953 x 1520 mm.

19 Nov 2011
Hofmeyr Road Donkey Cart.

Hofmeyr Road Donley Cart. 500 x 700 mm watercolour.

25 Sep 2011
Karoo Interlude

Karoo-scape. Watercolour. 500 x 700 mm

When I first moved to Silvermere way back in 1978, I never thought I would get used to the vast treeless nature of the karoo landscape. It was such a dramatic change after all the wonderful woodlands of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) where I grew up. As my father was particularly interested in botanical research and the trees in particular, we travelled extensively around the country to collect leaf specimens of tree varieties for the Herbarium in Salisbury (Harare). It was such an all consuming interest that our whole family became familiar with identifying the tree species with ease. My brother,(John Burrows) was particularly inspired, and has made a career out of this passion for plants. He has written several botanical books and continues to travel widely throughout southern Africa collecting, recording and photographing various plant species for his research.

Karoo hills & windmill. Watercolour. 325 x 235 mm.

However, despite this heritage, the vast, barren and expansive nature of the karoo has inadvertently crept into my heart. It has become one of my most stirring and favourite painting inspirations. I never tire of photographing it as we crisscross the karoo on every available little holiday adventure. We have travelled so many of the little dirt tracks & farm roads to find new vistas and quaint treasures that would make good painting subjects. We avoid the main tar roads as often as possible, and have covered most of the central & eastern Karoo, as well as Namaqualand, the Northern Cape and the Freestate. But there is always something new over the next horizon, and I doubt that my appetite for these beautiful arid landscapes will ever be exhausted.

Karoo farm road. Watercolour. 700 x500 mm

30 Aug 2011
Sheep Study Two

Here are a few more sheep sketches and paintings.

"I know you're there" sheep sketch. watercolour & ink on cartridge. A4

I have an enormous online library of quirky and entertaining photos of sheep taken over the years; and now that photography is digital, it is so easy to capture moods and attitudes at every available opportunity, without the costs of printing them all.

'Two Ewes & a Lamb'. 350 x 250 mm watercolour.

There was a time when I spent far too much on frequent trips to the nearest Foto-First (200 kms away) in Bloemfontein.

'Ewe with twins, cold winter morning'. 325 x 240 mm. watercolour.

But now, with the aid of a trusty printer, I am able to only print what I want to paint, at the moment when inspiration strikes.

"Ewe with twins sketch", watercolour and ink. 320 x 240 mm

It was difficult to choose just 4, for this set, but I really must move on to some other subject matter now. I can’t imagine there are many of you out there who are so entranced by sheep as I am, so I promise to put sheep aside for the moment!

24 Jun 2011
Sheep

Archives.

1 Mar 2011
Sheep study one. Resting against the workshop wall.

After browsing through all my files of sheep photographs, I was itching to paint sheep again. Even though there is a limited market for sheep in the art world, I am absolutely enchanted by them and all the painting possibilities. I would love to paint an entire series, but realistically it is probably not a good idea! However, since when were painters driven by good sense? So call me crazy, but here is the first.

'Sheep resting against the workshop wall'. Oil on canvas, 850 x 650 mm.

In the long hot days of summer when a woolen winter coat is not really appropriate, these sheep find the wall of the workshop nice and cool for their midday siesta.

8 Feb 2011
Nguni Study Revisited

Nguni Cameo. Watercolour 500 x 350 mm.

After the big oil that I painted and sold in 2009, I have not painted Nguni’s again. So, a recent Nguni inquiry inspired me to compose another BIG canvas. I have a photo taken many years ago, between Pofadder and Pella, of a cattle herder with his herd. This is my inspiration for the new painting. However there are many logistical considerations with this painting as the entire herd of cattle are walking forward in a tight group, and most of my Nguni photographs are not suitable. These two paintings below were studies made of the few I do have, and now, I must go and visit Nguni farmers in the district to glean more photographic reference. It is a mighty challenge but an enjoyable one all the same. The painting at the top, is just a small unrelated pair of Nguni that caught my attention.

Nguni study 1. Watercolour 380 x 270 mm.

Nguni Study 2. Watercolour. 380 x 270 mm

28 Sep 2010