Life moves on

This blog has followed my life...in a way.

 

First, I was happily settled on the West Coast of the Cape. I toured the area, made paintings and blogged about them since 2009.

 

We say things change, but it is not only "things" that change. After I lost my husband in 2013 "I"  changed! I could not get myself  to visit our favourite places. I re-invented my art and changed to the themes of flowers and rabbits. My youngest daughter was ill and I spent many months visiting in Durban, which was where I got to know my lovely granddaughters well, and met with those cute rabbits.

 

I attempted a few blog posts. You will see that the last one was in December 2016. Two years of total standstill followed that post....the reason was that I lost my beloved youngest daughter early in 2017. Friends, I am fine! Thank you for sharing your tears and prayers with us. This hurt is not something that goes away but I have made new plans, the only right plans!

 

I sold that large rambling house. It was "adopted" by wonderful owners! I bought a small unit in a retirement centre close to my grandchildren, where I can see them often and can also give them the best art tuition possible.

 

Of course, I do not have a studio now, and larger painting assignments are "out".That will not stop me from doing watercolours and teaching watercolours. I want to teach you too and shall design some courses.

 

Let me just post some of my watercolour works first, and in the next post I will announce some learning experiences you may want to attend.

 

Being from Tropical Durban, hibiscus flowers are my signature flower.
We are surrounded by many types, large, small and double

Painted recently to instruct a student. I love white lilies,
 which fits so well into the blue/white colour scheme I now live with.

Mixed flowers, an old favourite...
I love doodling posies on cards too

Evergreen popular protea, a nod to the area
of the Cape which I have left behind.

A very fast self-portrait in watercolour

More hibiscus

 

 

Anyone for watercolour classes? Let m know!

 

To see how the children's art classes are going, click on this link and while you are there, how shall I change the overwhelming blue pages? Your advice, please!



 

 

 

Stitch Cartoons: One-of-a-Kind Personalized Paintings by Artist Marie Theron

I believe in sketching. I will sketch what I see in front of me, but often I will draw in an automatic way without thinking. Out of doodles like that, new ideas are often born. And so, for the last month I have been doing stitch cartoons. These are somewhat related to sketching the little wooden artists mannikin. So my models are faceless and has the same proportions always. These works were also born out of American Tole in which I gave lessons during the 1990's.

Stitch Cartoon personalized for a lady who devotes her life to the rescue and care of
Bouvier and Airedale dogs. Some of the darlings she would not even put up for adoption
and I showed her with 5 Bouviers. This is the first of  a set of  4 as part of a commission.

To have your own stitch cartoon made is easy. Contact me on the e-mail given on this blog. Tell me about your hair color, favorite clothing, hobbies, pets and likes and send one or two photos. I do not do a portrait but  I will summarize in paint what makes you "you". The cost is 75 USD plus 20USD for shipping from Durban, South Africa. Or ZAR 550 plus R25 postage. If South Africans prefer a courier service, the delivery cost is R62.50. Medium and size: Paint and ink on wrapped canvas 8 x 8 (20cm x 20cm)

Personalized stitch cartoon for a South African author and illustrator
who loves antiques and very large jewelry. The proteas on the wallpaper is a reference
 to her home near a Cape Town mountain and the boots relate to her first career as a shoe designer.

One-of-a-kind personalized stitch cartoon (in the shape of a garden angel)  for an American lady who
loves Yorkies and gardens, angels, red barns and flags, long colorful skirts and long earrings!
 It was a most enjoyable commission

The Piketberg Conebush and other Proteas

Proteas, those hardy plants native to the Western Cape, Southwest Australia, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, New Guinea and New Zealand, have been around since the days of the dinosaurs! Here in the Cape Floral Kingdom 330 species are growing against mountains and in sandy nutrient-poor soils.

Proteas are also cultivated for export around Piketberg, and in my painting I am showing Leacadendron discolor, also known as Piketberg Conebush, a native of the mountain. The leaves protecting the bright pompoms which are the real flowers, are a lovely custard yellow with a reddish tint. This composition has been planned in my studio, so to flank the conebushes I have painted in smaller proteas which are found next to the coast: Leucospernum tomentosum (Saldanha Pincushions) and Protea scolymocephala (witskollie). May I just mention that identification is extremely difficult, so if anybody does not agree with my identification, please join the discussion!

I am showing another painting, a large watercolour which I painted in 1993. Large open flowers of Protea cynaroides, South Africa's national flower are shown with the popular Protea repens which never opens completely.

Seven Books about the West Coast

Here are some books that will give you more info, photos and history of the West Coast.

1. West Coast, Cederberg to the Sea by Karina du Plessis and Vanessa Cowling. This is a coffee table book that takes a long loving look at the West Coast, its scenery, people and food.

2. West Coast Cookbook edited by Ina Paarman. Learn about the food traditions and the appreciation of the sea in the lives of the West Coast people.

3. A West Coast Odyssey. This is a fairly recent book already considered as Africana (valuable books dealing with the history of the African continent).

4. Islands by Dan Sleigh. A very thick small-print historic novel giving the background of the various posts for provisions and the relations between the colonists and the San. There are many historic events featuring the West Coast and I am personally upset that the book has no index in the back as there are many bits one would like to research.

5. Wildflower Guide#7 West Coast by The Botanical Society of South Africa: . Endlessly helpful field guide, the book the people living here cannot go without!

6. The Cape Herders, A History of the Khoikoi in South Africa. I found it recently in an Africana section of a bookstore and will be studying it soon.

7. Sasol Proteas, A Field Guide to the Proteas of Southern Africa by Tony Rebelo. I was fortunate in participating in one of Tony Rebelo's field courses.

Here is my list of 12 constant and positive art bloggers who inspire and give joy to others: Internet readers can click, book readers can Google them!

1. Nancy Medina: The most joyous painter on the Internet! Nancy paints and blogs up a storm. Her pug family gives the blog a very precious and personal added interest!

2. Linda Blondheim: Here is an established, much respected and serious artist who still makes time to inspire and share useful hints as well as dole out honest criticism if need be! I would not like to miss one of her informative articles!

3. Kelley McDonald: A fun and original artist who has always something going. She looks at everyday objects and will paint comfort food, party shoes and nostalgic objects with great vigour!

4. Catherine Jeffrey: An accomplished artist who can tackle difficult subjects and all the images that I shy away from: vehicles, electric lamp light, streets wet with water. ....I keenly follow her posts.

5. Angela Shogrun: We all know the rules of watercolour: more than three layers of paint equals "mud". That is before you have watched Angela producing layer upon layer and of pure transparent glittering colour!

6. Maree Clarkson: It may be "slight of hand" but Maree has more hours in the day than normal people. She paints and blogs daily, making us familiar with the Magaliesberg region, with birds and plants all splendidly researched, besides running other blogs and groups!

7. Gwen Bell: The smile and the subjects does it, Gwen's cheerful style shines through!

I always appreciate the fact that Gwen sends a personal message by e-mail to thank me for a comment.

8. Carol Schiff: Delicious creamy textures which everyone comments about! Carol can make brushwork look flowing and effortless! OK, Carol, you are excused!! Carol has already received this award more than once. I must agree that passing it on IS a lot of work!

9. Manon Doyle: How does Manon get 50 comments at a time? Wouldn't we all love to know! Her colourful Expressionism and strong line and colourwork gives joy and has many followers always looking forward to more! Those faces are unforgettable!

10. Liz Pearson: A fellow Capetonian although we have never met. Liz has always a surprize on her blog and paints Table Mountain, portraits and pet portraits will equal ease.

11. Kathi Peters: I found Kathi on Facebook and may have followed her even before I had my own blog. Here you can truly relish daily life on a Maine farm, surrounded by horses, and of course, paintings of horses!

12. Kathy Karas: A decorative artist who paints what only can be termed "very valuable heirlooms". Go there and enjoy her heavenly adorable bears lovingly painted onto old furniture!