Pampoenkraal
Durbanville, where I do quite a bit of work is right on the edge of ‘town’. One second you drive between houses and scho0ls and next thing you are in between vineyards and wheatfields. I had some time this evening and remembered a place called Pampoenkraal where I have often wanted to stop and paint. I guess that roughly translates to “Pumpkin Paddock”. The main road is lined with Oak trees and the dip is full of poplars and gums – not an indigenous tree in sight but still beautiful with a big field of what looks like wheat. I found a place to stop just as the sun disappeared behind the clouds over hills of Bloemendal and set up my kit. There was a chilly wind blowing and I did not have a beanie – which is an essential for me. Here is what I finished just as it was getting too dark to see:
This is on a half sheet of Arches 300gm rough – 560x380mm (22.5×30 inches)
Definitely a place to visit again if possible.
A misty day
It has been a very strange day in the Cape Flats. It was bright and sunny at dawn but low cloud moved in and hung around all day. I had a meeting in Cape Town and had time for a 20 minute surf at the Pipe which was brilliant. The waves had this beautiful shape and the sea was glassy. And in the thick mist I could not see the shore at all. A bit disorientating really. All too soon I had to rush up the beach wash my hair in the cold shower (I usually rinse off with my wetsuit ON in winter) and roar off through the traffic completing my dressing process.
When my meeting was over I went back to the Pipe to complete what I had started. I put on my wet wetsuit (eeeeee) and trotted down through the mist. The sea had turned big sullen and a little brutal (for me anyway). I had a couple of waves but after an hour or so I saw something dark in the water which I thought was a seal and decided that was enough. As I was getting dressed some guys came out saying they had seen a 2m long shark. mmm – anyway.
I had my stuff and went down to the shoreline and set up. The mist cleared around the mountains but it was still so damp that the paper got this big conkle while I was still fiddling with my brushes and stuff. I tried to keep each part of the painting separate with some success. However I wanted to add some darks to the mountains – but (hold your nose and go “eeeeee” – ja that sound) it was not to be . The paper would just not dry enough – so I did what I could.
I had seen someone walking down the beach when I came up from surfing and I added them to the painting. And while I was painting I met a whole lot of friendly people – which is always fun.
It was almost dark when I packed up and the moon was up. What a beautiful evening.
The painting is on a half size Arches 300gm cold pressed (560 x 380mm) – what do you think?
Du Toit’s Kloof Pass
Yesterday I had business in Paarl and went up the N1 north into Du Toits Kloof pass to paint a scene I have wanted to do for ages. I parked at the hotel and crossed the highway and walked up the hill a short way to set up. I used a full sheet of Arches (560 x 760mm) which was a new experience. It was so nice to stand there with a big squirrel hair mop, splashing the colour on. Man! it felt good.
Eventually I had leave the painting half done because the paper would not dry and I had to get back. This is how it looked when I left:
and this afternoon it looks like this:
On reflection I reckon I would like to have achieved something like this with the first wash. Bold! I need to go more bold with those first washes.
And I want to do something about how I carry stuff. I carried these ungainly boards and sheets of paper with my art box slipping off my shoulder. mmmf – time to get organised.
I plan to complete this painting here in the studio as I am not sure when I will get out there again.
Sinead in Franschoek
Last week after hiking up to view the snow in the mountains above Franschoek we went down to the town for a coffee before driving home. I was frustrated at going up with palette and paper but no brushes so I sat and sketched the people at our table. In the end I only had time to paint fair Sinead before everyone jumped up and headed home:
At first I was not going to post it but have decided to put all work up – so
It is not too bad I suppose.
Here is a photo of our lunch spot. It was all too vast to capture on film:
A well spent afternoon at The Pipe
The Pipe was flat as a pancake this afternoon – well there were some tiny waves. I took my watercolour stuff down to the beach as two guys went down with surfboards. I asked them if they knew something I didn’t. Well they said they were really desperate – and I can understand that. As it happened they seemed to have a lot of fun as I heard them whooping and cheering as I got down to much more serious business. ahem!!!
I stood down at the shoreline again and painted the Steenbras River mountains across the bay. I painted a larger sheet of Arches and enjoyed using my squirrel-hair mop. I spent quite a bit of time trying to capture the cloudy skies over the mountains. As I was finishing off the tide pushed in and a few waves lapped over my feet and up the beach. I got colder, till I realised I had a polar-fleece pull-over tied round my waste and a beanie in my pocket. mmm – absent minded me. Well at least this time I remember to take brushes, unlike my trip to the Pipe yesterday AND my walk up the mountains the day before.
A few people stopped to chat which is always fun.
Here is the watercolour:
This is on 300g Arches Cold Pressed and is 380x560mm.
Uitkyk stroompie
The night before we hiked up to Spout Cave last weekend we spent the night at Uitkyk cottage with friends. It was Jacqui’s birthday the next day and I had time to sit at the stream below the house and paint this water colour, just before it became to dark (and cold). So this is her birthday gift. I forgot to take a photo of the watercolour and have only just managed to get that done – which is why it is a little dated here.
It was great sitting on the edge of the stream hearing the water splash down the rocks and watching the colours change. As I sat down the last ray of sunshine shone out through a crack in the crags in the background.
Touw River
On Wednesday, as prepared to return to Somerset West from George I took some time to wander up the Half Collared Kingfisher trail to do a painting. Actually I would have been happy to sit in the Winter sunshine and watch the cormorants working up and down the river. But I found a pleasant view looking downstream from the lookout on the river-bank. The forest glistened as the sun rose above the hills overlooking the river. I took a video of the watercolour as I worked. I am getting used to working around the camcorder. So here we go:
The painting it 280x190mm on Arches Cold Pressed (300gm).
I am reading Nita Engle on how she creates forest and river reflections. Soon I want to give her technique a whirl.
Wayne – take II
Here is a watercolour I did from the painting I did on the beach and from memory – kind of the way it should be hey?
Still not what I wanted but – another step in the journey…
phew – long day – time to kip
Fisherman at The Pipe
This is Wayne. I went down to the sea today to paint the waves, following a suggestion by K. There are no poles to create an interesting foreground – BUT – there was someone fishing from the shore which I thought would be a worthy change. As I set up my stand he noticed me and turned to watch. When he saw I was sketching he stood still with a smile on his face and his rod in the crook of his arm. What an excellent model. I motioned with a thumbs-up and he nodded.
I completed the main part of the painting and he came up to chat with me and his mates, who had watched the watercolour start. He told me he fishes at The Pipe in the North-West wind though he had not caught anything that day. He said he catches kabeljou and steenbras (both of which are lekker to eat) amongst others. I offered him the painting but had to bring it home to photograph it to post here – so we arranged that I would leave it at the Orange Cafe over the road to Duckies.
And here is the painting:
it is painted on Arches cold pressed – 28x38mm
