Magnolias

My bother in law commissioned these paintings for my sister as Christmas presents. I hope she likes them. I loved painting them and the colours came out just as I imagined they would. They are also my last paintings of the year. Tomorrow this time I will be sitting on the beach :)

See you in 2009!

Magnolia 3
original oil on board 60x60cm

Magnolia 4
original oil on board

Boots painting

I realy enjoyed this week's Different Strokes Challenge. I love painting shoes, so I was quite impressed to find a photo of workboots as the theme for the week.
Sadly this is my last challenge painting for the year as we are going on holiday. I had a great time the past few months doing different paintings every week and being challenged with themes I would not normally consider.

Looking forward to new challenges in 2009!

Boots
original oil on board 30x30cm

Orchid Painting

On Sunday we had over all the family for lunch before everyone leaves for holiday. I decided to give everyone a painting for Christmas but that creates a lot of empty walls to fill. I painted this one to fill one of those empty spaces :)

Orchid 1
Original oil on board 30x60cm
SOLD

Some pictures from our recent exhibition

The garden looked magical with all the fairy lights and paper lanterns.





We even had a flute player to provide lovely background music. We were worried about the weather as is was raining almost every day before the exhibition, but on the day the weather was perfect.



Some paintings

Here I am with Hettie (on the right) my fellow organizer, friend and great artist. She was so kind to open up her stunning house for the exhibition.

We had a wonderfull time and are already planning events for the new year.

Can't wait!

Painting Class

Yesterday we had our year end party at painting class. I love these ladies, they have become such good friends and painting partners.

Snaks and wine.

We all paint miniatures for the function and then draw numbers to receive a painting as a gift.

Gooseberries
My contribution

On the Pier

I finished this painting last week, just in time for our much anticipated exhibition. I had the picture for quite some time and couldn't wait to start painting. I like the soft colours and peacefull feeling of the scene.

The exhibition exceeded all our expectations. This was the first time we arranged it and people were amazed at the talent of people in our neighbourhood. I will post some photos as soon as I get them.

Sitting on the Pier
Original oil on board 30x60cm

Different Strokes Challenge

I can't believe almost a week has gone by and this all I have to show. The challenge is a great way of forcing me to paint. This painting is part of the Different Strokes blog challenge.

The real reason I haven't been painting as much as I would like, is the time and effort that goes into arranging an exhibition. We have now grown to 16 artists and 3 jewelers! All the preparations are now in place and we are just waiting for the artists to bring their work on Friday. I am realy excited, it is going to be a great opening party with friends.

Walker
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Different Strokes Challenge

This was the challenge on Karin Jurick's blog Different Strokes for last week. I am always looking forward to Wednesdays when she posts the photo for the next week.

I enjoyed doing this one and I think next week's one will be a real challenge. It is of a woman walking past a shop front.

This has been a fun filled week planning the upcoming exhibition for next week Friday. What started out with my neighbour down the road and myself has grown to 14 artists! It should be a lot of fun. Can't wait!

Shadows
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Invitation

This is an invitation to everyone in the Pretoria area who wants to see some stunning art. I am having an exhibition with a group of artist friends who all loves painting.

Come an enjoy a fun filled evening with us.

ps bring your cheque book :)

Figurative Paintings

After all the paintings I have been doing these past few months I feel that I have finally found a style that suits my way of painting. I start all my paintings on a dark background and work towards the light. I also prime my canvas with a type of filler that gives a wonderfull texture to support the dry brush technique that I use.

Blue Denim 1
Original oil on board 38x75cm

Blue Denim 2
Original oil on board 38x75cm

US Capitol Painting

The weekly challenge on the Different Strokes blog for this week was well connected to the US elections. Even though I am in South Africa I couldn't help but also get excited during the run up to the elections. Congratulations to Barak Obama, may this new era in American politics be good to the people of this earth.

US Capitol - Washington
Original oil on board 30x30cm

New Signatures Exhibition

My paintings was part of Portchie Gallery's "new signatures" exhibition this past weekend. I sold my 3 red "poppy" paintings and am gratefull for the exposure they give new artists.

Some of my paintings at the exhibition

These are some of Thea Burger's paintings that was also on show. I just love her use of colour and carefree way of painting. Go and have a look at her lovely blog.

This cow was the www.differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com challenge for the week. I always enjoy painting cows and this one was no exception. Go and check out all the other lovely cows.

Cow
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Unica Christmas Market

The biggest Christmas Market in South Africa started today in Pretoria. It is the 21st year that the market is held and it just gets bigger every year. There are 250 exhibitors and it is the ideal place to do early holliday shopping.

The market is organized by the Unica School for children with autism. Every exhibitor gives a percentage of their sales to the school.

This is the first year I am participating. I am selling original paintings and prints. I do hope it goes well!

My paintings

Cups and Bowls

I have been working towards a huge ChristmasMarket that starts this coming Monday.

These are some of the paintings.

Cups 1
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Cups 2
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Bowls 1
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Bowls 2
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Children Paintings

Today I am sharing some paintings I have done on children. I adore these paintings. They are charming, colourfull and just a lot of fun.

Smelling the Flowers
Original oil on board 30x30cm
SOLD

Going Away
Original oil on board 30x30cm
SOLD

By the River
Original oil on board 30x30cm

SOLD

Going Swimming
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Learning to Ride
Original oil on board 30x30cm
SOLD

Swinging
Original oil on board 30x30cm
SOLD

The Beach
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Field of poppies

I painted these poppies as a set of 2. The other one has already been sold. I love the darker background against the lovely bright colour of the flowers

Field Of Poppies 2
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Thursday Group

Thursday mornings is the highlight of my week. This is when I get together with other artists and paint different themes using various techniques.

Today we focused on doing a face as this is something that a lot of artists struggle with. We started with the shading of the face and then moved to the eyes, nose and mouth, eventually finishing with a complete painting.

Once again we used the same drawing but each painting is so different from the rest. Amazing how we all have our own style of painting and seeing colours.

Alet's painting

Hantie's painting

Nick's painting

Ronel's painting

My painting

Shoe paintings

These shoes are part of a series I am working on for an exhibition at the end of the month. I don't think I will ever get tired of painting shoes. There are just to many shapes and colours to play with. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do painting them.

Red Sandals
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Red Slingbacks
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Pink Heels
Original oil on board 30x30cm

By the River

I found this as a black and white photo about a year ago. It was laying around and every time I wanted to paint it something else came up. Thursday I decided it was time to just move everyting else out of the way and paint this lovely scene. I am very pleased with the outcome. The colours and texture works well in this peacefull painting.

By the River
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Different Strokes - Bean

This is my version of this weeks photo challenge on the Different Strokes blog.

The photo is of the Cloud Gate Sculpture in Chicago, also known as "The Bean". The sculpture is made of stainless steel and reflects light and the surroundings. I think is is gorgious. Must be amazing to see how it changes with weather and day and night.

Go to www.differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com to see all the other "beans".

"The Bean"
Original oil on board 15x15cm

Wellies

I painted these Wellingtons as part of my "shoe" series.

When I was a little girl these was a tv show about a boy with magical yellow Wellingtons. Since then I have loved Wellingtons. Such a shame we don't wear Wellies in South Africa. I suppose it is an English thing and besides, we don't have so much wet weather around here. Sigh!

So, if I can't wear them, I can paint them!

White Wellies
Original oil on board 30x30cm

Pink Wellies
Original oil on board 30x30cm

South Africa

I spent last weekend with my family and friends in the northern part of South Africa. I thought it would be iteresting to show the diversity of our wonderfull country to the overseas bloggers who visit my site. This is just a simple example but go to www.southafrica.net for all you need to know about SA.

We went to the most northern province of Limpopo.

On Friday we arrived at a game farm. This is the beginning of summer in SA and this area falls in our summer rainfall area. As you can see the place needs rain urgently, they haven't had rain since winter started. It is very dry and dusty but still beautifull with lots of game and beautifull trees. Seeing the trees pushing out new green leaves in these arid conditions is a great reminder of the wonder of nature.

Yesterday morning we left the game farm and drove to Magoebaskloof just 45 miles away. Now you can see why this is such an amazing country. From dry bushveld to the most a mazing misty mountains, blooming azaleas and cherry blossoms. And this is just one small sample of what you can expect from South Africa.