Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Together we make a difference

Done from my imagination – W&N watercolours on Arches 300gsm

One of the paintings I did, stuck indoors during a week of rain. No field sketching, so painting in my studio is the next best thing. (Read the story that inspired this painting)




.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

The corner plot

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm

Not far from us on the plots in El Jessee (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa) quickly referred to by some as LJC plots! is a smallholding known as “the corner plot”. It is well-known for its seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables which are available direct from the owners. And if what you are looking for is not in their store room, they send someone to pick it for you direct from the lands.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

I go to Nature...

... to be soothed and healed . and to have my senses put in order 

These earrings have been SOLD - thank you Debbie!

Hook Earrings from my 'Earth' range of jewellery. Inspired by my White Karee (Rhus viminalis) tree, the leaf is crafted from copper with patina (I use BlackIt) added for a vintage look with White Karee seed-pod earring, an Indian Silver bauble hanging from a short chain. Displayed on a large Rose Quartz crystal.

Hand-crafted from copper and silver solder . the copper assists in energy flowing more freely

.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Summer heat

“Ah, summer - what power you have to make us suffer and like it!”
- Russell Baker

W&N watercolour on Amedeo 200gs multi-media paper 

So far we've been experiencing a very hot summer here in Tarlton (south Africa), with temperatures deep into the 30's Celsius. If I want to do any gardening, it starts at about 6am and the rest of the day I spend in my studio, in front of the aircon, painting.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Echeveria imbricata in wooden crate (SOLD)

 W&N watercolour on small Bockingford 300gsm (5½" x 7½" – half of A4) (SOLD)

Echeveria imbricata in a wooden crate.



.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Electric blue hanging basket


W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Do you have a favorite garden flower that always seems to have its head in the dirt, especially after a heavy rain? This flower may be the perfect candidate for a hanging basket!



Thursday, September 10, 2015

Warthog sketch - Special!


A fun sketch done in ink with Pilot Black Calligraphy Lettering Pen and watercolour on Ashrad sketching paper

The most commonly seen wild pig of the African Bush, Warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) are day animals and spend most of their time looking for food and are normally found in family groups. They feed mainly on grass and roots, but also take bulbs, fruits, carrion, insects, scorpions, earthworms, centipedes and bones.

They are members of the same family as domestic pigs, but present a much different appearance. These sturdy hogs are not among the world’s most aesthetically pleasing animals—their large, flat heads are covered with “warts,” which are actually protective bumps. Warthogs also sport four sharp tusks. They are mostly bald, but they do have some sparse hair and a thicker mane on their backs.

Buy a Greeting Card on RedBubble!

 Warthog sketch Greeting Card (also available on other products)

.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Amber Stained glass pendant


Who can resist a beautiful piece of stained glass? Buffed into a symmetrical shape, encased in silver solder and adorned with silver wire. Comes with a silver rope chain.

.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Autumn - wonderful time of the year!

A small W&N watercolour in Moleskine 200gsm watercolour sketch-book

Autumn (fall) in South Africa (mid-February to April) offers the best weather of the year. Very little rain falls over the whole country, and it is warm but not too hot, getting colder as the season progresses. In Gauteng, autumn is fantastic, with hot sunny days, blue skies and warm, balmy nights.


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Winter at the pond

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

I think we have an icy winter ahead of us. We've had a lot of rain and already some of my plants are showing signs of frost-bite.

Monday, April 27, 2015

A farm gate

W&N watercolour and ink sketch on Bockingford 300gsm 

I just cannot drive or walk past a farm gate or fence without stopping to photograph or sketch it! And I'm especially partial to barbed wire fences! This is a farm gate on a friend’s smallholding in Tarlton (Gauteng, South Africa)

Monday, April 20, 2015

Small paintings in a sketch-book


Just taking a break from all the sales talk! I have this small, hand-made little sketch-book with satin-finish linen paper, which is exquisite to paint in. The paint takes on a life all of it's own when it his the paper and the outcome is always unexpected! But it is very unforgiving, doesn't take well to pencil or ink and cannot erase on it at all. So whatever gets put down, that's it! But I just love churning out these small little 7"x5" paintings!















.

Friday, April 17, 2015

The road to a friend

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

The road I take to visit a friend in Hillside (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa)




.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The road West

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

An Autumn scene on the way to Rustenburg.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Winter is looming

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

The season has changed and we are into lovely autumn days, but here in Tarlton (Gauteng, South Africa), some trees are already in winter mode, having shed most of their leaves. I feel it’s a bit early, maybe a severe winter ahead?

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Such Geraniums!

Memory sketch – W & N watercolours on Bockingford 300gsm 

Such geraniums! It does not become us poor mortals to be vain—but, really, my geraniums!
- Mary Mitford, ‘Our Village’

Geraniums in a tall Everite pot that I used to have in my previous garden (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa), from the days before Asbestos was banned in South Africa in 2008. These pots were extremely popular in South Africa and had a perfect surface for painting, either with PVA or enamel paints. Painted with PVA, they would weather into a lovely vintage look, getting more beautiful as time passed. I’m just wondering what the company Everite produces now….?

Asbestos once accounted for three percent of the value of South Africa’s minerals. South Africa was previously the fifth largest supplier of chrysotile, produced 97% of the world’s crocidolite and 100% of all amosite.

Friday, April 3, 2015

En route to Magaliesburg

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Whenever I go to Magaliesburg (Gauteng, South Africa) just 13km from us, I choose to take a short-cut through Spring Farm and although it is a gravel road, I do away with lots of traffic and getting stuck behind trucks on their way to Rustenburg or Botswana and, to top it all, I see lots of wildlife. It’s a route we used to take with the horses during my horse riding days.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...