winter rain . . .

The view from my desk in the office - cold and wet ...

For the past few days we've been trapped inside the house or the office. Our first winter rain is falling with wind softly blowing while some of us is still trying to find signs of autumn / fall. Winter sliped quietly past fall and suprised most of us. But I love the winter rain and cosyness of home and making some wholesome soup and stew, and reading, knitting, sewing . . . in front of the fire. And my 10 year old does not want to wear shoes in the wet. She loves the feeling of water under her feet, a feeling of being free.

quiet easter weekend . . .

We had a quiet easter weekend at home, enjoying each others company and the grace of God. One of our ten year's old house-wifely chores is to set the table on weekends. Sunday lunch was no exception. She was very excited because as she stated, Jesus is alive, and it is also her table theme. This is what she came up with. And candle light.

still in the pink . . .

We have been living next to the same neighbours for about 15 years now. And for all those years my neighbour plants cosmos every year - cosmos and sweatpeas. I tried a close up of a cosmos (oil on canvas board). Does this look like a cosmos? What do you think?

I am also working on the following painting - it still needs a lot of work.

a time to knit and a time to paint and a time to . . .

There is so many things I want to do - knit, paint, sew, read, gardening, go for a walk . . . But always first things first : house cleaning, washing, cooking, homework . . . (I hate making beds).

At last I have finished the Libby, pattern from "a friend to knit with". I still have a lot to learn about knitting but slowly I'm getting there. 

And we had a search for big buttons, at first we could not find buttons here or in Paarl. At last we found these buttons in a tiny hide-away shop here in Wellington.

I love the swing in this cardigan, maybe a bit to big for Lize but she says she loves it, specially the colour and the roominess, and the long sleeves - it covers her hands. Her slender body looks good in this style.

And now to the paint brushes . . .

Drakenstein Art

The April Newsletter can be read here.

Please make a BIG note in your diary to attend our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Thursday, 16 April 2009 at 19h00 in the Breytenbach Centre, WELLINGTON. We need as many members as possible to attend this very important meeting. This is the meeting where you will have your say as we need to choose our new committee.

We have invited Mr Craig Carbutt, the Rural Outreach Officer of the Cape Craft and Design Institute to our AGM. He will speak on the use of recycled material in the making of craft products and will give a Powerpoint presentation on the workings of the CCDI. This is an opportunity for all artists, crafters and craft designers to find out more about the CCDI and how they can assist you. In the meantime, please visit their website http://www.ccdi.org.za/ – there are loads of information on the site which can be valuable to you.

sewing for a change ...

My 10 year old knows exactly what she wants - no trousers with elastic.
I used a Burda pattern for the pants. And she loves it.

I changed the legs to this.

The zip is in the left side. The pants fit very neat on her little body, maybe one or two millimeters too wide, but this is the way she wants it - not too tight.

watercolour workshop

Saterday, 21 March, I attended a demonstration on watercolours by the well-known artist Wallace Hulley. It was unbelievable how comfortable he used only three paintbrushes (each one a different size) and only four colours (ochre yellow, french ultramarine, burnt sienna, cadmium red). We were amazed to see how well defined subjects, like figures, donkeys and trees taking shape in a very short space of time.

The birth of a painting . . .

What is it going to be?

An African scene (African woman with her donkey)


I am priviledged to be the owner of this beautiful watercolour painting.

tulips in summer

Yesterday (Monday) morning Gwen came into the office with this lovely bouquet of tulips. We were very surprised - tulips in summer? She bought it at a coffee shop cum florist, Kikka.

This orange with the yellowish are my favourite colour tulips. It takes me back about 26 years ago when my husband and I were newly married and living in Stellenbosch. He always gave me tulips (this orange colour) in spring time (September/October). Now he only hugs me - but I still love him.

a first ...

My first attempt to knit with 4 needles! I like these fingerless mittens / fetchings very much and they fit cosy around the pulse. I also like knitting the cable pattern.This was a quick knit! I found the pattern on Ravelry - a free patter - designed by Cheryl Niamath.

drakenstein art society -- march newsletter

Beste Kunsvriende

Ek het ons vorige Nuusbrief geskryf midde in ‘n hittegolf en vandag is dit weer so! Dit is al amper weer die einde van die 1ste kwartaal en sommige van ons het nou eers regtig op dreef gekom. Vir die meeste van ons was dit egter ‘n baie besige tyd en sien ons uit na die Paasvakansie.

Die afgelope maand was wat kunsgebeure aanbetref ‘n baie besige maand in die Drakenstein gebied. Manfred Zylla se werkswinkel en DVD vertoning was baie goed bygewoon deur lede van die kunsvereniging. Die 70-jarige Mnr Zylla is ‘n voorbeeld van hoe ‘n kunstenaar sy talente op ‘n onselfsugtige wyse met ander mense kan deel. Dit was baie insiggewend om te Mnr Zylla se antwoord te hoor op ‘n vraag oor wat hy gedoen het om so bekend te word. Sy antwoord was Nike se slagspreuk: “Just do it”. Dit is dan ook die boodskap wat ek aan elkeen van ons lede sou wou oordra vir die res van hierdie jaar: Just do it!

The exhibition opening of Saron Icons were well attended and despite the power failure, guests enjoyed a relaxing evening with Marlene, Mike and Zylla on the balcony of the Breytenbach Centre. Following this exhibition, is an exhibition of magnificent paintings by Saar Steenkamp. This exhibition is a selection of paintings over a period of nine years after the artist moved from Johannesburg to a farm in the Northern Cape. The exhibition closes on the 14th of March. The next art exhibition in the Breytenbach Centre is by Ingrid Winterbach titled “Soveel tafels soveel hoofde” and opens at 18h30 on the 17th of March 2009.

BELANGRIKE NUUS!!
Die internasionaal bekende waterverfkunstenaar, Wallace Hulley van Somerset Wes kom ons besoek op Saterdag 21 Maart. Wallace gaan ‘n spesiale waterverf demonstrasie vir die Kunsvereniging aanbied vanaf 9h00 tot 12h00. Mense wat sy demonstrasies in die verlede bygewoon het, het my verseker dat dit ‘n belewenis is. Gaan kyk gerus na sy webwerf www.wallacehulley.co.za vir meer inligting. Die kostes beloop slegs R30 vir lede en R60 vir nie-lede. Ten einde die besoek van Mnr Hulley die moeite werd te maak vir hom, moet ons minstens 15 persone teenwoordig wees by die geleentheid. Nooi asseblief jou vriend/vriendin om saam te kom sodat ons ‘n lekker groot gehoor kan wees.

The annual general meeting will take place at the Breytenbach Centre on Thursday, 16th April 2009 at 19h00. This is YOUR opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions and contribute to the success of our association. If you have an issue you would like to be discussed, please phone our secretary, Christina Vosloo on 0828723935 and she will add it to the agenda.

Hope to see you all at the watercolour demonstration by Wallace Hulley on the 21st of March.

Desiree Malan

Voorsitter

country night in colour

for this painting I borrowed the images of the houses and moon from Alida Botma and the sheep from Pieter van der Westhuizen 

action painting -- now framed

flute concerto for the laundry

What a way to practice -- all in the basket!

action painting

"Carnival" - an action painting in contrast to the more detailed and realistic style i normally paint - this one is done in accrylics 

oops ...

I followed the pattern every step -- look at the armholes ! Something terribly went wrong ...

Anneke and I attended a fresh produce and organic market (a first in Paarl) this morning and exhibited some of our oil paintings. The market had a lovely vibe with a accordionist playing cafe music. Many people showed interest in the paintings and for us it was quite an experience to observe the people and what interest them. We enjoyed freshly roasted coffee and cool weather.

Drakenstein Art Society -- February Newsletter

Die kwik staan vandag op 37 grade Celsius en dit is behoorlik warm! Ons mag nie kla nie, want ons het tot dusver ‘n wonderlike, gematigde somer gehad. Ek hoop dat die Drakenstein kunstenaars elkeen op sy eie gebied aan’t KOOK is!

Ons het ‘n propvol en baie interessante program vir Februarie 2009 en ek wil julle aanmoedig om so veel as moontlik van ons aanbiedinge by te woon.

Donderdag, 12 Februarie om 10h00 by die Breytenbachsentrum: Manfred Zylla Videovertoning en portretstudie demonstrasie. GRATIS
Donderdag, 12 Februarie om 19h00 by die Breytenbachsentrum: Opening van Manfred Zylla se uitstalling “Woodcut Portraits of Saron Locals and Icons” GRATIS
Donderdag, 19 Februarie om 19h00 by die Breytenbachsentrum: Aanbieding en lesing deur Trevor Cleeveley oor Kleurteorie. GRATIS
Saterdag, 21 Februarie 14h00 tot 16h30: Pewter werkswinkel aangebied deur Terzia Lochner van die SA Pewter Academy R35 vir lede en R80 vir nie-lede

Manfred Zylla works in a wide range of media including painting, drawing and woodcuts. He sees himself as social commentator and uses his art as a tool to demonstrate and illustrate shortcomings and inequalities within his society, be that Germany or South Africa. He lives and works in both countries. This exhibition consists of a body of woodcut portraits of Saron Locals and Icons.

Kunstekaap het ‘n vennootskap gesluit met Drakenstein en Matsikama munisipaliteite en Manfred Zylla se uitstalling is ‘n uitvloeisel van Kunstekaap se landelike projek.

Trevor Cleeveley is bekend daarvoor dat hy deeglike navorsing doen oor sy gekose onderwerp en sy aanbieding oor kleurteorie sal jou nie teleurstel nie.

Die Pewter werkswinkel behels ‘n demonstrasie en toepassing van die lae reliëfmetode. Elke deelnemer sal die geleentheid kry om ‘n groot vuurhoutjiedosie met pewter te versier. Terzia se werkswinkels was baie gewild by Keenoncrafts en haar program is so vol dat Saterdag 21 Februarie die enigste datum was hierdie kwartaal wat haar gepas het. Bespreek asseblief voor 18 Maart.

The pewter workshop is subsidized by the Drakenstein Art Society and would normally costs R75. Each participant will take a finished product home. Refreshments will be served and it is important to book before 18 March 2009. This workshop will only take place if 10 or more people book in advance.

Bookings can be made by phoning me on 082 862 3649 or 021-8642530 or send me an e-mail: desireem@lando.co.za

Woody Allen (bekende rolprentmaker, akteur en draaiboekskrywer) het gesê:
“Eighty percent of success is showing up”.

home sweet home

Front view of our home at sunset. We have been living in it for 16 years now. A smallish house for 3 generations - father in law of 94, husband and me, and a 10 year old daughter. But we are happy to have each other.

The backyard with the pool for our hot South African summers. The dog, Jessie, also enjoys a cool down. Lize is an outdoor type of girl and enjoys swimming and playing. She was camping this weekend and we missed her tremendously. She came home tired and dirty. Now she is taking a nap. When she wakes we have to get her cleaned and practise for tomorrow's piano lesson.

Strawberries now framed.

A quick painting by Lize (acryllic) - she calls it Karoo birds