Follow the yellow wood road
Oil in canvas
40" x 30" x1.75"
Babylonstoren
Oil in canvas
40" x 30" x1.75"
I was listening to a podcast of a very successful artist explaining why he prefers to work from a photo or pre-drawn sketch when he paints. He said it allows him to focus on the painting and not worry about the details since it is already planned out.
Contrary to him, I seldom know what the end result of a painting would look like and never sketch it out in its entirety, but rather enjoy the process to see where it takes me. Almost always and without fail, I reach to my roots of living in Africa ... the flora and fauna, the birds and the beautiful pattern and fabrics that is so part of the continent.
Scrolling through my phone, I discovered a photo taken while visiting South Africa. A reminder of a special moment in time spend with my loved ones.
Come forth into the light of things
Oil in canvas
40" x 30" x1.75"
Nothing grows when it is dark
Oil on canvas
47.5" x 35" x 1.75
"Nothing grows in the dark" is a painting that I painted intuitively and unlike recent previous works without having a clear idea of where it was going.
To me, it was a milestone as it was through painting this that I started having a clearer understanding of my art and what I would like to achieve through it.
A country far, far away
30" x 30" x 1.75"
Oil on canvas
THE PLAQUE DOCTORS
After reading an article on how bird watching can help people through tough times, I stumbled upon another about doctors wearing bird-like masks during the 1656 Plague in Italy and France.
The clothing worn by the plaque doctors was intended to protect them from airborne diseases. The costume, used in France and Italy in the 17th century, consisted of an ankle length overcoat and a bird-like beak mask, often filled with sweet or strong smelling substances (commonly lavender), along with gloves, boots, a wide-brimmed hat, and an outer over-clothing garment.
During our current Covid-19 crisis, It seemed fitting to place the two different bird-like “treatments” side by side, whether or not they had the science right.
Mixed media, watercolor, collage
12" x 16" on cold pressed paper
Long way home (The Swan)
Oil on canvas
30" x 40" x 1.75
Aside from the fairy tale of the Ugly Duckling, the swan is prominent in literary circles for its presence in mythology. The swan was Zeus’ form when he seduced and made love with Leda, cementing the swan’s ferocity, grandeur, and its existence as a symbol of love.
The swan is also associated with Celtic deities, and appears as a symbol of transience and all things related to change.
The Swan is generally thought to be a symbol of solitude and as a spirit animal symbolizes unity of body and mind.
Swans are creatures of infinite grace, one that is almost heavenly in its appearance. Because of that and their ability of flight, swans are also reminiscent of angels. Many cultures believe that they are a symbol of eternal life and the link between heaven and earth.
Come in out from the cold
Oil on canvas
30" x 40" x 1.75
Return to safety and acceptance, be welcomed into a group ...
The African penguin, also known as the Cape penguin, and South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters.
Once extremely numerous, the African penguin is declining rapidly due to a combination of several threats and is classified as endangered.
Re-imagining History
The more it changes the more it stays the same
Acrylic, collage on canvas
30" x 30" x1.75"
With these paintings I wish explore the dichotomy between new and old by over layering images from vintage magazines and photos with current images or paint, thus creating new narratives or re-imagining history.