Art-hop in August

A little while ago, I went with a group of art students to visit some Galleries in Johannesburg. I'm always blown away at the talent on display and other than inspiring me to look further, see deeper, try harder...I was inspired to simply.....STOP thinking.....quieten my mind and just look!

I pour so much thought into the fine detail of my work (and almost every single aspect of my life actually) that I miss the essence of it. I'm just producing a picture (I'm so busy trying to live that I'm not alive). The day I finally manage to get someone to sit in front of my paintings with a box of pop-corn, feet up!.... and watch people walking across the canvas, through colourful flower lined streets and leaves falling from dancing branches and smell the cold salty air coming off the sea or hear the call of the fish eagle in the distance without seeing it ....only then, will I begin to believe that FINALLY, I am a true artist.

The art I saw that day was very diverse, very morally and ethically challenging (especially for some of the older Fundamentalist Christian students :o) ) but thought-provoking non-the-less. The artists got the reactions that they had intended...shock, horror, amazement.

My favorite Gallery is the Circa and its neighbouring Speke Gallery. The Everard Reed Gallery is the one gallery where I believe every artist wants to exhibit but holds little attraction to me. Commercialism saturates the very walls and one senses the 'business' aspect rather than the 'art' . Then, the UJ Gallery, is the one place I would visit before going to any other in JHB. The art is often totally off the cuff and crazy and brilliant and intriguing and makes one ask oneself: "whaat on earth is art????" I love the entertainment value and also being challenged on every aspect of 'me' the artist and 'me' the person.

One of Angus Taylor's sculptures. I LOVE his work


This was at the Speke Galery. I cant remember who this artist was, but it was one of the biggest charcole drawings that I've ever seen...beautifully done.

Noreen on top of the Circa Gallery. Beautiful views, the top floor provides chairs to relax and just absorb the experience. Angus Taylor often exhibits his works here because the space offered is huge as are some of his works. There's a story behind this gallery which appeals to me too.

This is another very poignant piece by Angus Taylor, depicting an elephant with a gazillion blazing arrows stuck in it....also at the Circa.

I'm off in a few days time and will be going to many galleries and am rubbing my hands together at the thought! Today I got an email that the SCA is having a one day exhibition at the Westminister Cathederal on the 19th of November and I've been asked to exhibit. I'm very honoured and blessed but gosh, I feel like a pimple when I see what is out there.

I need to focus on my dream now..Its big, unreachable sometimes, but for me, so real.

London Journal 2009

I was looking for contacts, addresses and street names for my impending trip and I discovered this..... and had a good laugh! My 2009 London journal ! Perhaps there are a few things in here which aught not to be shared but my age and current journey has rendered me (to a certain extent) immune to opinion!

A dear friend was so right....drawing/painting what you see makes a memory so much more vivid than a photo....perhaps because you are using more than one of your senses while recording something. I've only included a few pages but this is what I did then and intend doing now, on this next trip. I am going with a fellow artist and friend who is also a framer, art restorer and best of all, a teacher with a wealth of knowledge and passion for seeing and recording art in everything she sees. This promises to be an enlightening and interesting trip.

I really haven't been in a great space over the last two weeks. There has just been so much on my mind, not only linked to emotional upsets and misunderstandings and weird things which have complicated my life( and perhaps shouldn't have) but the events of the exhibition have also been somewhat overwhelming. I never expected any of this!!

At one stage over these past few days....and even today in fact.... I honestly though I was losing my mind (the little that appears to be left of the cognitive bit!) I have torn up drawings of my dreams, destroying them rather than trying to understand them...I have scribbled down others that where soooo disturbing, I have had a desire to do things that are so inexplicably odd and out of character for me. I think that perhaps my brain has been flooded by mutant hormones .... natures sudden and cruel way of letting me know that this is my body's, my 'normal' life's swan-song....changing me from a 'productive' woman into a strange, demented 'sports-model'. Hell...where to from here??!!!......In a soft rocking chair knitting baby Jerseys with bat-winged specs balancing off my nose....or sitting on a wooden porch with a stick of smoking hashish hanging from my wrinkly lips. (God strewth....now THAT'S a mental image!!!) Ooooooohhhhh, I'm not ready for this, any of this....whatever 'this' is!

Right.....off to the chemist.!!

AN EXHIBITION

PEACE IN POVERTY

THE GIFT

BLESSED HOPE

Do you ever have one of those strange days when the things that happen to you are inexplicable??

Well for me, today, was one of those days!!!

For some reason, the first thing I did when waking up this morning, I took a look at my emails on my phone...with one eye open!!

I got a mail that caused not only the other eye to open but my spirits to soar! I have been having a lot of doubts about myself of late and I've really had to dig deep to do the simple things that I really enjoy i.e. running, gardening, reading and most of all, painting. I felt myself challenged by my ability and success in fulfilling my role as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, .....artist!

My exhibition in London has turned out to be a real success for me. I exhibited five of my paintings for 5 days, between the 22nd and 26th of July....excluding my 'Last Supper' which was just to large....they didn't have the space as there were a number of artists.

'PEACE IN POVERTY' was voted the best painting or the Art Salon (?) 2011 which has now earned me the privilege of publishing any article in their local magazine.

'BLESSED HOPE' was bought by a Dr Tim Dilke who apparently gave a talk about it, saying he was very moved by it saying that it filled him with hope and gave him a new lease on life.

'THE GIFT' was bought by a Mrs Carmody who was also very moved. Apparently, there were a lot of very good remarks made about my work which they are going to photocopy and send to me.

I am so totally grateful and overwhelmed at this blessing!! I know a few people were praying for me so my first thoughts of gratitude goes to the Lord. The second is to my parents who encouraged me with this exhibition...to always believe in myself, even if...and especially if....nobody else does.

I know that this is not a big deal at all in artists circles...but for me, it means so much more than anyone could ever imagine. I'm a guppy in a HUGE ocean filled with big and beautiful fish...one day, I simply want to be part of the rich diversity.....right now, I'm just learning to swim!

MY SPIRIT, MY CASTLE

The men in my life have just left for their usual Sunday game of golf and I'm thankfully allowed some space and time to focus on my paintings. I spoke to an old school friend a few days ago, a very talented artist and she told me that she went back to work after only a few months as she found the isolation of being an artist oppressive.

Yes, it can get extremely lonely as you are entirely caught up in ones self, in ones own world. You can get so absorbed by your creation, you are surrounded by your own thoughts and imaginings where the colours of your mind cannot be shared and the textures of your heart can only be felt by you. Although it's a lonely and somewhat unhealthy place to be in terms of the necessary social interaction, its a valued and protected space. Just for a little while, you have time to simply 'be', and attune yourself to the essence of who you are...a free-thinking, creative and emotive creature. For me personally, it is a sacred time, to think, to process life with all its joys and dramas and express them a little in my journals and art. I crave this time to myself.

I've yet to come across an artist that enjoys someone sharing their paintbrushes and paints. Depending on the duration and type of company, I too, can get really irritated when my studio is shared by non-artists who are simply inquisitive or want to have step-by-step explanations while I work, of my reasoning as to why I am using a certain technique or colour etc. They do not have the same rationale, spirit, thought process, history, motive, mood or temperament. Explanation is wasted as it is bound to be in conflict with their own opinions. Not a single living human being is the same....regardless of parentage, genetics, seemingly like-mindedness............we are all innately unique!

Speaking to a friend yesterday, I realised that this can apply to everything in life. (and once again I was amazed at the timing of this lesson). We were eventually discussing one of her paintings which she had just painted over and each of us were looking to see what 'picture' came through the light overlay. I saw something and she saw something else.....when we differed on where we saw heads and arms, she said "well its my painting and it doesn't matter what you see". I laughed and thought, 'How true'...about life in general. No, it doesn't matter what anyone else sees or thinks.

There is no prototype in humanity. The story of the Tower of Babel possibly shouldn't be read in the literal sense but in the broader sense. What were Gods motives for creating people who could not understand each other...so much so that they all went their own ways and formed their own nations...nations who eventually waged wars because of 'being different'. So why??

Why is it so important to have the same abilities, the same knowledge. Is it because we are forever on a quest to find a 'kinship'/like-mindedness/familiarity in those around us to simply give us a sense of self? Why is it so important that we need to label someone as something? Is it because we are attempting to validate our own lives or find excuses for our own short-comings by finding fault with our fellow man? There's so much that I do not know or do not understand ....about a lot of things and right now, I'm wondering if it even matters!! My ignorance is someone else's knowledge and vice versa. We were not graced with divine knowledge. The Lord alone knows everything, understands everything.

The bible talks of everyone being given a gift...one that is specially chosen for us. It may take a while to discover what it is and then a whole lot of grace to be able to use it .... but I think therein lies our blessings..our peace and ultimately our salvation.

PORTCHIE

Portchie is South Africa's, and in fact, I think the African continents, highest earning, living artist.

I met this quiet, humble man around two or three years ago, while he was preparing (painting) for an exhibition at the Alice Gallery, close to where I live. A large, very focused but friendly man, who was quiet happy to chat while he worked. His name comes from the time when his father ran a fruit and veg store. He was a chunky kid and he was called Porchie by (I think) the local Portuguese community.

Born in 1963, he grew up in a small Free State town called Tweeling, and eventually graduated with a B-Com degree from Stellenbosh University. He began painting as a hobby in 1991 and in 1994 had a solo exhibition where all 100 pieces were all sold. He has since had 57 solo exhibitions, locally and overseas.

Watching him was such an education for me, especially as my style, genre and medium, is so very different to his. His style is full of movement, colour, simplicity, I think, pretty much in keeping with his early childhood.

He arrives at the gallery with boxes and boxes of acrylic paint...a brand not available to any old 'Joe Blog', but which he especially chooses for its high pigment level and quality. Honestly, I have never seen such bright and vivid colours and I think this could be the one thing, other than his very nieve and unique art style, that sells his work. He squeezes copious amounts of paint on a small square 'pallet' (which is actually a small canvas board which he then uses for his final painting at the end of the day) and methodically slaps on paint, creating as he goes. He told me that he does have a clear vision of what he is going to do before he starts...and this is obvious while watching him....almost asif he also pre-envisioned each brush stroke, and slowly but surely, this picture enfolds. No sooner has he put the complete picture down, (which could be up to 1.5x1.5m) then he starts another!! Depending on the size, he could finish up to 8 pieces per day! His sculptures as equally as popular and normally are the first things to be sold at his exhibitions.

I have never really appreciated his style, simply because I have been somewhat 'closed up' in my own. But as with Vincent Van Gogh, who I honeslty didnt appreciate at all, I have slowly began to appreciate, not only his colourfull art, but his ability to market himself by simply MAKING it work.......possibly because I too am evolving as an artist....and as a person.

He BELIEVES in himself. He also believes, as is truth, that there is no such thing as 'right' or 'wrong' art but that the secret lies in its originality.

Vincent Van Gogh ....hmmmmm..... Listening to the words from the song 'Vincent' ...... beautiful and very apropriate words.......almost asif it was written for a dear friend.

It made me wonder:- If you could give your friends and loved ones a single song, which would epitomise them or their lives, .....Which one would it be?????

This is Molly

Ok, so this is Molly.

I'm not a mushy, gushy puppy-hugger, but I do love animals....so shoot me for putting a bit of worthless smarm on my blog.

My eldest daughter and her boyfriend are busy nesting and arrived home with this cute little 'miniature' (my eye) Dachshund...and Lord, yes, she is the cutest almost-human pup in the world.

We were totally un-prepared for this little whirlwind but she has succeeded in manipulating every one's heart-strings...even our male Malawi domestics walk around with her tucked under their arms! If you suddenly discover you have a seventh button on your jersey, look carefully and you will see that its actually a shiny little black nose, ....she dives under the covers and settles into a ball so fast that you don't have the time to think; "dog+bed=no................." and there she stays!

Its ridiculous actually! How on earth can ticks, fleas, worms, mud and hair suddenly become so utterly unimportant?

ALWAYS BUZZZZZZY

I've been busy with three paintings and about to start a fourth...pretty much how I read.....all over the place to accommodate 'space' and circumstances....scattered soul that I am!!!

I spend a lot of time in my studio on my own but have two artist friends who I try and commit to at least one day a week (both delightful fruitcakes) and that normally entails packing a car full of easels, paints and canvasses (or vice-versa)...normally taking the smaller ones which I'm working on for the sake of ease.

Both of them have (understandably) a very different style and technique and both of them inspire me in a very unique way, with the result, my paintings, although still projecting my own uniqueness, shows obvious variants in keeping with the persona and spirit of the person I'm painting with. On speaking to them, this is apparently also the case with them too. Interesting for me, there's a lot of laughter and play with the one and a more serious intensity with the other, which impacts on the colours, brushes and brush-strokes that I use.

I have been invited to exhibit my six remaining paintings from the last exhibition at the Brompton Oratory in London which I took part in in 2009,.... again this July...which includes my 'Last Supper" painting. When I look at them, I cringe...my art has evolved over the last two years in that the word "art" itself, means something different to me. I believe its more of a mental and emotional evolution from within however. Happily, the interest in my painting also seems to have altered somewhat ...by all accounts, and I'm realy hoping and praying that it results in a financial change....sheesh!!!! Let positivity and goodwill prevail.

As with everything else in my life, my art is forever changing and I'm delighted to go with whatever is up for the day. I'm hungry for new methods and experiences which will help me grow and develope as an artist, afterall, learning is always an on-going and exciting process and so, so nessesary.