Since May, a pair of Blue Cranes has settled on Silvermere. It is really quite unusual that they have made themselves at home here. Yesterday, while hanging out the washing, I heard their wistful calls and saw them circling high overhead. Usually we only see the occasional visiting cranes just passing through. We used to say that they were a rain omen, one of the many that farmers in our part of the karoo use to predict the rains. I have taken a few photos of ‘our’ pair, and felt inspired to paint them again, for the first time since way back in 1995 & 1997.
Two Blue Cranes
In those days, we saw big flocks of them in the Caledon district, and several paintings followed. But, more recently I photographed a flock that we saw on a trip home from the Nieu Bethesda district. This big watercolour depicts the cranes in the landscape where I saw them. The other 2 sketches were drawn from photos of our new resident pair of beautiful and graceful Blue Cranes.
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.
I was honoured to be asked to contribute one of my karoo paintings to be used as a backdrop on one of the 4 floral displays that made up the South African Chelsea Flower Show Exhibit. Here is the painting used, and the link to the article that shows the karoo side of the display. See the newspaper article here. This is the featured painting.
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.
Paardelaagte Farm Landscape. Watercolour 340 x 530 mm.
On the 12th July we travelled to a neighbouring farm, Cyferfontein to buy mealies for feeding our sheep. There were some wonderful scenes around the farm that I photographed, and more on our way home along part of the Orange River as far as the farm Paardelaagte. I returned home fuelled with inspiration for painting a set of the beautiful scenery we encountered. I am not really sure if I am finished, as there are a couple more scenes that still tempt me; but I thought it an appropriate time to post these six pictures anyway.
Cyferfontein Farm Studies. Watercolour. 2 x 350 x 250 mm.
While painting I listened to many wonderful sermons from a host of enlightened and eloquent preachers, and I am delighted to have access to their insights into Scripture, and the Holy Word of God. Many of the sermons are available to download free of charge. Here are a few of the links: R.C.Sproul, John MacArthur, David Pawson, Free Audio Sermons.
View of Kramberg from Aylesby. Watercolour. 350 x 500 mm. Cyferfontein Jerseys. Watercolour. 350 x 250 mmWinter Pasture. watercolour. 250 x 350 mm.
