Artworx

In November 2016 hubby Pierre and I joined a group of fellow artists on the KZN South Coast to pool our creative resources and energy to grow our art.

For the past eight months we met once a month in a different home each time. We decided on the name, - Artworx, which illustrates the diversity of our group, Ages ranging from 24 to 72 give us a wonderful, wide perspective on the art world.

We have created a FB page, https://www.facebook.com/Artworx-1865711880355247/
(please follow and like) and working towards an exhibition in December 2017.

 Celeste vd Merwe discussing her work at our last meeting.

 Pierre at his favourite occupation - painting in our studio at home

 Pierre, Sharon and Gerhard relaxing before our meeting at Lynn's home.

One of my early portrait commissions for Derek Corns from Kimberley.

Welcome back

After a very long absence, I am back, hopefully to stay.

So much has happened in the past couple of years. New beginnings and endings. Much to do and see.

As always, my beautiful, sub-tropical garden is a constant source of joy and inspiration.

School at Night/Night School

There must be few places which feel more deserted than a school building at night. I am sitting at my desk at 6.48 pm, waiting for my son to return from a hockey match. I had the crazy idea that i could get lots of work done while I wait, but it has turned out to be an exhausting excercise. I have been here since 7.30 am! The windows reflect the interioir of my classroom instead of revealing the seaview and trees outside. Fortunately I am no longer on the top floor of the main building where the Art rooms used to be. I did manage to compile the brief for the Grade 11 mid-year prac exam and assessed a couple of source books, chatted to my son in Cape Town on google-chat and caught up on some blogs.

More Shweshwe

I love the way in which some of our local designers have incorporated Shweshwe in their designs.

Shweshwe

http://www.dagama.co.za/ I have not blogged for so long... Now that the weather is changing, and it is no longer so hot, I feel like gardening and sewing. This made me bring out the fabric and a lovely piece of Shweshwe with Nelson Mandela's image on the border. I have not decided what i want to use it for, but I am sure something will come to mind. i have been Googling some sites on Shweshwe and the DaGama one is the best so far. http://ideasmag.co.za/craft-decor/shwe-shwe-pumps

New Ideas

Pierre and I have been busy, busy lately. Strange how one's creative energy seems to come in waves and then subside for a while. i have learned to accept this as the natural way of things - so instead of fighting it and forcing the issue, I go with the flow - so to speak.

The weather is still really extreme - 30degrees (C) forecast for tomorrow and the humidity to go with it! At least it is cooler at home.

I have had this urge to paint a lot of canvases deep red .
After thinking about it, Rothko's Colour-field Pianting comes to mind.
red seems an odd colour to choose in this heat, but I just did it. 

I learned this trick from Rob Wareing at one of his painting workshops years ago. To avoid the stress of a white canvas, cover it with a colour wash and then work onto it. You can leave as much of the wash visible as you wish or cover it completely.

WATCH THIS SPACE>

A new year with much promise

It has been a particularly wonderful time at home - this Christmas holiday. A real Indian Summer with lazy, sunny days at home.

David and Michelle became engaged which made it extra special. We also have a new grand-daughter, Abigail, and a new grandson due in two days' time. The family is growing and there are just more and more to love.

Ansa, my friend since 1985, paid us a surprise visit today too, and we chatted for hours. it was great to catch up. We also made lots of plans for the new year.

Another gorgeous Etsy find

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78445275/organic-cotton-canvas-box-bin-organizer?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F78445275%2Forganic-cotton-canvas-box-bin-organizer&utm_content=etsy_finds_121511&utm_campaign=etsy_finds_121511

Beautiful

Browsing through Etsy this morning i came across this beautiful LeMuse shop. (even though it is the middle of summer here - and really hot! - it caught my eye.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeMuse?ref=seller_info

Springcleaning

I am so relieved not to be going away for the December holidays this year. I have had time to slow down with dignity this year, instead of the frantic rush to get things done in record time.

The trick, of, course, is not to swap one kind of business for another.

I am forcing myself to slow down and spend time - with family, pets and to just soak up my surroundings.

Christmas is upon us and in this time of Advent, I am approaching "cleaning house" from a different perspective. It has become a time of spiritual cleansing and dusting out of cobwebs, preparing for the celebration of Christ's coming.

To all of you out there - may you have a Christmas filled with blessings, grace and joy.

Pierre and Ryno decorating the tree.

even the rat had to be included.

Living on the coast tends to make one forget about the beautiful valleys and scenery a ston'e trow away.

My husband took this shot a while ago.

Exam packaged and sealed!

The prac exam is over - hard to believe that this group of pupils will never do any art in my classroom again.
I have been down this road no less than 20 times, but it always remains exciting to see the growth in my pupils' work over the three years they spend with me - some even four years if i have them in Grade 9.

Have a look at some of the work on the school FB page.(PSHS)

Paper Play

The exam is continuing without a hitch, and I have completed all my admin. Now it is time to play.
I decorated my paper swap envelope(below) ready to be mailed to Orit Kahana in Israel with this beautiful portrait.

 I use my son's old school exercise books as collage books. I don't cover up all the contants as it sometimes works with the pictures and textures I use.

 I make photocopies of anything that has an interesting pattern or texture. For the cover I have used a photocopy of an embroidered doily which belonged to my late mom-in-law, "Gogo" (Grandmother in Zulu)

I have combined a line drawing by my youngest son, Pierre with a photo of me and my grand-daughter

My maternal grandfather, "Oupa" Japie Venter was a sheep farmer from Dortrecht in the Eastern Cape. He spoke fluent Xhosa and had a tremendous sense of humour, He also told wonderful stories, especially "Jackals en Wolf"

After retirement he and my "Ouma" Engela traveled the country in their VW Beetle, staying with their children and other relatives in turn. Oupa was a keen freshwater fisherman and we ate fish for breakfast every day on holiday at Nature's Valley when they accompanied us there. he caught fish in the Groot River (the Lagoon as we knew it)

"Ouma" did beautiful crochet work and collected small shells which she attached to the edges of doilies and tea-nets. She also travelled with a box of shells collected at the seaside and carefully washed - her personal treasure.

LaWendula: Tables, corners, shelfs, places of creativity

LaWendula: Tables, corners, shelfs, places of creativity: Parts of my home. Hope you enjoy to see what it looks like at LaWendula’s. January 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 ...

This wonderful woman has been my inspiration for 2011. She arranges the paper swaps which have been the most art fun I've ever had. Look at her blog and feast your eyes!

prac exams (again)

Our Grade 12 Visual Arts and Design classes completed the first of three days of the National Senior Certificate prac exam today. It is always a relief when they are all present and get on with their work without too much panic. Their time-planning is so much better than during the trials prac exam and it is looking good.

Vis Arts

Design

 

PUPS VISIT THE BEACH FOR THE FIRST TIME

The two Pierres take Onyx and Dookie to the beach

First swim in the sea.

VENETIAN LADY

I love painting people and I am fascinated by the human face. This is the first of what i hope to make many of, portraits inspired by Renaissance paintings of Venetian ladies.

Venetian Lady - oil on canvas

Mixed media self-portrait



I loved creating this collage. My Grade 9 pupils made mixed-media self-portraits so i made one too.

My tests came back negative - thank the good Lord! I am so grateful and can now have a restful, creative holiday.

Here we go!!!

So, since i last posted a blog, I have been for my annual check up with my oncologist. We decided that a colonoscopy is the way to go.

The radiation treatment I received 6 years ago most likely caused damage to my colon, and the procedure will enable them to see what the problem is.

Then it is diet change or treatment of some kind. I am at home today for the prep. (Don't ask!) and going in for the procedure tomorrow morning.