Tag: Watercolour

Spring has sprung on Silvermere.

Sweet Violets. Watercolour. 350 x 250 mm

Looking at these pictures you could be anywhere in the world when spring arrives. I am sure most of you recognize the beautiful heralds of the season; the daffodils, the violets and the willow! But this is the karoo, and though the rains have yet to arrive and set the veld alive with colour, we celebrate the newness of the season in our garden as it comes to life with joy. God is good and our lives are made new each day by His wondrous Grace!

Daffodils. 250 x 350 mm watercolour

Willow, Willow o’er the pond,

Water lilies and draping frond;

Darting fish and rushes grow,

Brushed by the whispering winds that blow.

But times do change, and the past it flees,

Our pond is gone, but not the trees;

The birds will come and nest again,

The winds will blow and then the rain.

The Willows stand and grass will run,

Spring will go and summer come!

( My willow poem)

Draping Willow. Watercolour sketch. 210 x 290 mm.

5 Sep 2010
The Feathered Fruit-eaters in our Garden

Acacia Pied Barbet, Redeyed Bulbul & Cape White-eyes. Watercolour.325 x 505mm.

Some time ago I posted a blog featuring the seed-eaters under the title; ‘Feeding the Birds’. I really love the birds, so I continue to photograph them in and around our garden. Those that come to the bird table outside my studio window are a wonderful and colourful distraction. We feed them seeds and crushed maize, bread crusts, grated cheese, dry cooked maize porridge called, ‘Umphokoqo’, and fruit. The oranges have to be attached with wire to keep them from falling onto the ground below.

Crested Barbet. Watercolour & Gouache 470 x 285 mm.

As it is the fruit-salad season at the moment, with oranges and paw-paws in abundance, I have kept the fruit–eating birds happy with all the fruit-skins that they enjoy. The first birds that come for them include; the Crested and Pied Barbets, the Mousebirds, The Red-eyed Bulbuls and many more. The Crested Barbet is so bright and cheerful while all around winter hues still drape the garden in sombre tones of ochre and grey, and the seed-eating weavers have yet to clothe themselves in their bright breeding plumage of red and yellow. Therefore I decided to make a small study of some of these fruit-eaters. The bright and dainty Cape White-eyes are my favourites, so I chose two compositions with them.

Mousebirds with Oranges. Watercolour. 385 x 265 mm.

Cape White-eyes on the Grapevine. Watercolour & Gouache. 290 x 420 mm.

17 Aug 2010
A Pastoral Study of Winter Colours

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 mm

Winter Pasture. watercolour. 250 x 350 mm.

28 Jul 2010
A Trio of Orders

Styger Farm House. 7may10. 700 x 500mm watercolour.

It has been impossible to link these three paintings with a theme, other than that they are the latest big orders that have challenged me since the last post was written. All are completed and have gone off to the respective clients. I did not schedule an exhibition this year, so have been blessed by these 3 good orders. How bountiful is the Lord in taking care of our needs!

Karoo landscape with Guinea Fowl, 21may10. Watercolour, 700 x 500mm.

Eighteen Animals Required. 23june10. Watercolour, 700 x 500mm.

29 Jun 2010
Sheep May Safely Graze

Today I finished two paintings that brought to mind the beautiful Bach melody, ‘Sheep May Safely Graze’ , from his Cantata 208.

'Rain clouds over Bethulie.' Oil on canvas. 800 x 630 mm.

If you haven’t heard it or can’t remember it, you will find many lovely versions on YouTube.

Our sheep here on Silvermere do not graze safely, unfortunately. Predators like jackals and lynx are a constant threat and an ever increasing problem that has driven many neighbouring farmers to change over to cattle ranching instead.

'A Shady Tree on a Hot Day.' Watercolour on Pastel Paper. 290 x 475 mm.

How comforting it is for us to know that we have an all-powerful Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, who cares for us. He overcame Satan and rescued us when He died on the Cross, and rose again for our sake. No matter how we are tested and challenged, He is our everlasting Saviour and Protector;

11 “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. 12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!”

-Ezekiel v 11–16. (NLT)

12 Apr 2010
Mother Patrick, St Patrick’s Blue, & a trio of Blue Studies.

It has been interesting how this post has evolved from the initial seed of an idea that revolves around my recent interest in blue shadows. Many artists will avoid using green paint straight from the tube, so the challenge is always to depict greens in a painting with subtle mixes of blue, yellow, and a third balancing hue like red, brown or magenta.

Sable Antelope and Marula Tree. 500 x 700 mm Watercolour on Saunders Waterford 300g.

When painting trees, blue is ideal for the shade areas, and balances the effect of sunlight on trees. The French Impressionists skillfully created green by juxtaposing blue and yellow paint to create the illusion of green.

Roosterhoek Farm House. 250 x 350 mm. Watercolour. (Sold)

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17 Mar 2010
An Architectural Study.

Church exterior, partial view

Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Burgersdorp Gereformeerde Kerk.

Three plaster plaques details.

In commemoration of the Burgersdorp Gereformeerde Kerk’s 150th Anniversary, I have undertaken this architectural study.

The Organ Balcony

It was a challenge and a unique opportunity to study in detail, and marvel at, the exquisite craftsmanship evident throughout this extraordinary old church. There was so much time, patience and attention to detail during those early days. Everything, from the wooden pulpit & pews to the plaster detail on the domed ceiling; from the stained glass windows to the grand old organ, were carefully and intricately crafted. Everywhere, there are signs of the skills that went into each part of this beautiful building; even in the belfry where a set of bells rings out the tune to Psalm 116 on the hour, every hour, and the main bell is decorated with intricate patterns of vines and roses, hidden away where no-one ever sees, – ah, but God sees! It is a tragedy that skills of this standard have died out so long ago! All we are left with in this disposable age, is architecture, masonry and carpentry that is austere and functional. Building today strives for the minimalist-modern style that is invariably, basic and impermanent.

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21 Feb 2010
The First Study of our Silvermere Meerkat Family

Meerkat Family, Watercolour & Gouache on Grey Canson Pastel paper. 620 x 430 mm.

‘Meerkat Manor’ on Animal Planet has been my favourite Soap Opera on TV for as long as the series has been running. So you can imagine how delighted I was when our own nomadic family of Meerkats set up home ( for a short while) behind our farm shed. There is a small broken window at the back of the shed, just big enough for my camera lens. I could sit there on the Lucerne bales, with my camera positioned through the hole in the window, and the meerkats were totally oblivious to my presence. So I spent many a happy hour photographing the antics and dramas of our own little meerkat family. It was very entertaining and I am delighted with the good photos I was able to take. There hasn’t been much of an opportunity to really explore them with my paints, but since the pressure of the exhibition is over, I have done a few paintings and sketches. Needless to say many more will follow, but here are the first ones: (more…)

4 Oct 2009
G.K.Chesterton and the Donkey

Donkey. watercolour. 225 x 160 mm

To return to that marvellous word, ‘serendipity’; the Warthog post and the Roses post were inadvertently linked when the warthogs tried to get into my rose garden, which you may recall. This time, the last post is linked to this one by this quote from one of my favourite authors, G.K.Chesterton :

“Can the Lion lie down with the Lamb and still retain his royal ferocity? That is the problem the Church attempted: that is the miracle she achieved.”

But the reason I chose Chesterton for this post was a favourite poem I remember from my youth, about the Donkey: (more…)

23 Sep 2009
The Lion, the Lamb, and the Exhibition.

The Exhibition in Port Elizabeth was our first in almost 2 years. It was a mere 3 days but the Lord blessed us with a successful show, and a trouble-free trip to PE and back with our overloaded old trailer. Also we have so many family and friends, new and old, to be thankful to for making it a wonderful weekend. Our son, John, also came from Johannesburg, to help us with the Exhibition. As we hadn’t Exhibited in PE since March 2006, it was wonderful to have so many of our old friends and patrons coming to visit us.

For those who haven’t seen our Exhibitions before, you may like to see the set of photos that we took, and for those that were there, thank you for making it so memorable!

John drawing. PE,Walmer Park Exhibition ’09

Card stand and tables. PE,Walmer Park Exhibition

4 corner rooms & 4 entrances made up the exhibition. Tables in the centre.

View from the outside of the display, Centre Court, Walmer Park.

John (husband) at one of the entrances,& the big Nguni painting that sold on the last day.

Another outer corner view. Walmer Park Exhibition Sep ’09

Travelling home ! 7 Sep ’09

After the painting of the roses in the last blog-post, there was little time to paint much before the big framing operation. John framed 22 new paintings for the Exhibition. However I did manage a couple of quick paintings,.. (more…)

8 Sep 2009
Feeding The Birds

The regular ritual of feeding the birds inspired this latest set of pictures.

Sketch of The Birds Feeding

Several years ago we raised guinea fowls from eggs found in the Lucerne lands, and rescued them before the tractor went over their nests. We set them under broody hens, which successfully reared the large clutches of young guineas. When they grew up, they re-joined the wild flocks that live around here. But they always return when they get hungry, and many of the other weavers, sparrows and doves have enthusiastically taken to the daily feeding and arrive in large numbers to mingle with the guinea fowl.

Three Guinea Fowl arriving for feeding time

A quote from the Evangelical priest and scholar John Stott who wrote a sermon series called; “The Birds our Teachers”.

“Jesus himself referred to birds in his famous Sermon on the Mount. According to the old English version he said ‘consider the fowls of the air’, but in basic English this is a command to ‘watch birds’. When Martin Luther, the great 16th century reformer, got to this verse in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, he became quite lyrical. He wrote: ‘Let the little birds be your theologians … We have as many teachers and preachers as there are little birds in the air’. So I’ve sometimes said in rather jocular fashion that I’m developing a new science called ‘orni-theology’, – the theology of birds.”

'Feeding The Birds', (50 x 70 cms)Watercolour on Saunders Waterford.

Overheard In An Orchard

Single Guinea waiting for the seed

Said the Robin to the Sparrow
“I would really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”

Said the Sparrow to the Robin
“Friend I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.”

–Elizabeth Chaney – 1859

24 Jul 2009
A Study of Nguni Cattle

Since the 11th march 2007 I have developed a fascination for Nguni Cattle. On that particular day I visited the farm, Rooipoort of our friends Carl and Rentia Malcomess. There I photographed their herd of Nguni cattle with the plan to paint a composition of the herd in the landscape of their farm. I started with a rough sketch here.

Then I composed and painted the final watercolour for them.

Since then I discovered that there was another herd of Ngunis, so with the help of the farmer, Hannes Haasbroek, I acquired a substantial photo library for future Nguni paintings. However as 2008 turned out to be an year of no painting, the idea only returned on our trip to the Baviaanskloof in May. Passing a farm at Mondplaas, near Jeffrey’s Bay, I saw a wonderful small herd of Nguni. This was the spark of inspiration that got me going again. (more…)

30 Jun 2009