Thursday Group

Every last Thursday of the month there is no formal lesson and you get to work on your own painting. It is always interesting to see what the others are busy with at home.

Hantie. This is a new artist at the studio. Looking forward to get to know her style and see her develop during the year.

Vivia. She is not scared to experiment and paints stunning figures.

Ronel. She is an amazing artist who has been painting for many years. She started and finised this painting this morning!

Alet. Another artist who has been painting for years. I love her stills. In this painting she used rust paint on the pot. An amazing effect.

Millie. She always comes up with these wonderfull pictures. You never know what to expect.

I include some photos of the studio

Elmarie (standing). Our wonderfull teacher and even greater artist.

Can think of no better place to spend my Thursday mornings.

Birthday Girl

The happy face of a girl who is seven today. My daughter Lana.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

My kitchen garden

I am in the prosess of redoing the small garden outside my kitchen. Actually there was nothing to begin with, just some dead grass. I made cement slabs in December. In some I cast a recess to do mosaics. The mosaic slabs are bright and cheerfull. The idea is to make it a funky, arty garden. This is a place I look at so often during the day and I want it to be colourfull, inspiring and fun. Will keep you updated on the progress.

I warned you - not a thing going on!! But just wait.


My first mosaic slabs. I love them!

Scared of the Parrots
Original oil on canvas

Another painting in the children series. I love this painting. The colours are vibrant and the girl is so cute with her striped sox. Hope you like it to.

Thursday Group Paintings

Sorry for the lack group photos today. My camera's battery was flat. What a let down!! because there were some stunning paintings.

• Today we started on a red background and used cement paint over a crackle effect.
• Colours used is green, red, yellow ocre, burnt umber and white.
• First step is to concentrate on the shadows using burnt umber on the pot and red mixed with green on the flowers.
• Spread the colour on the pot using an oil and varnish mix and start bring in white on highlight areas.

• The flowers are done in shades of reds and pinks with white for highlights.
• The background is started with the burnt umber at the bottom changing to yellow ocre and whites.
• Using the cement paint as a base gives wonderfull texture to the painting.

Vivia's lovely painting

The rabbits

Swinging with the Rabbits

Original oil painting on stretched
This is one in a series of paintings with kids as the theme. I love painting children. I can use bright colours and place them in interesting settings.

Art in the Park

Went to Art in the Park yesterday. Had a lovely time under the willow trees with fellow artists. Response from the public was so positive and encouraging. Sold only 3 small paintings but I am confident sales will pick up. It may take a few visits for people to become used to my art as it is very different from the more traditional artists there.

Art in the Park

Very busy getting ready for Art in the Park tomorrow. I have only sold my paintings in galleries but decided to try the art and craft route. It is held in a beautifull park in Pretoria SA where families often go for picnics. Lost of trees, a stream, a dam and wonderfull warm sunny weather. Should be a great day even if it just to be outdoors and chatting with friends.

Apart from my bigger paintings I made some smaller ones as well. I really enjoyed painting them.

vespa
pears
teacups

Thursday Group Paintings

Today is the first time I am including paintings from my Thursday painting group. All the paintings are small (10cmx10cm) and done in oils. Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed painting them. All the ladies are very excited to have the paintings published on the internet.

Vivia's painting

Lynnette's painting


Millie's painting



Ronel's painting




Tessa's painting

Today's lesson

Today's lesson was all about the use of colour. Looking at these paintings it is amazing that the only colours used were yellow, purple, black and white. By mixing these colours you can create wonderfull greens, pinks, lilacs etc. The canvas was painted in a bright purple.

• Start by using the darkest purple on shaded areas.
• Use darker greens for background shaded areas.
• Then start adding lighter tones next to each other.

• Now start blending the colours and adding where you think it is needed.
• Begin shading the petals of the daisies focusing on where the light is falling.

• Finish of the painting by adding thick white paint on highlighted areas adding leaves and doing the insides of the flowers.
  

Parlotones

Went to see the Parlotones last night. What a show!! Front man Khan Morbee gives a magical, energetic performance, seldom seen in South Africa. Defenitely a show that I will remember for a long time. Go see them if you have the opportunity or buy the new album!

A World Next Door To Yours is the latest album from the South African Rock band The Parlotones, released 28 September 2007.

Keep on rocking!!

http://theparlotones.com

Oil on stretched canvas.

Oil on stretched canvas



Oil on stretched canvas.

I got the inspiration for these paintings from a wonderfull artist called Kimberly Applegate who does only chairs. Have a look at her magnificent paintings. http://kimberlyapplegate.com./

Blue jeans and a sad doggy

Original oil painting on stretched canvas.

I loved the image of the sad dog in the previous painting so I just had to paint another one. I am sure to paint some more in the future.

Red sox and the sad doggy

Original oil painting on stretched canvas.

Another one in the series. I always try and bring something fun into my paintings, either with colour or the subject. I love the red sox and black school shoes in this one.

Girl with the green shoes
Original Oil painting on stretched canvas.

This is one in a series of "headless" figures.
I love the soft pastel colours in this painting. It gives a real feeling of tranquility.