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

decadent strawberries

Freddy Faroff was a little boy, head in the clouds, quite a dreamer - most often unawares of his surroundings. The fairy king wanted to teach Freddy to be more attentive of his immediate vicinity. Therefore the fairy king send Freddy on an arduous journey. He gave Freddy a leaf of the Lily of the Valley flower. This was a magical leaf that could enable Freddy to fly or sail or travel any which way. Freddy had to find the answer to this intriguing riddle :

Red outside and white within,
golden spots upon my skin;
sharp sometimes but often sweet -
you must travel till we meet ...

The answer was nowhere to be found. Freddy's travels eventually led him to Mars. There he visited a green grocer's market and found the most exquisite fruit. And then it dawned on him : the answer to the riddle! He discovered that one need not have to search Mars for something that grows in your own back garden.

Oil on board. 230 x 300 mm (23 x 30 cm)

Ons afskopgeleentheid vir 2009 is ‘n werkswinkel by die Breytenbachsentrum op Donderdag 22 Januarie 2009 en sal om 18h30 begin. Ons gaan buite werk en ons hoop dat dit ‘n heerlike warm somersaand gaan wees. The workshop will be presented by Domingo Fyle (Peter). Peter is a sculptor and works full time at the Breyenbachsentrum where you will see him covered in dust busy chopping, grinding and sanding wooden hearts. Peter gaan demonstreer hoe om ‘n beelhouwerk uit ‘n stuk optelhout te kap tot by die finale afwerking. Boonop gaan elke deelnemer ‘n houthart ter waarde van R30 kry wat jy dan kan versier na jou keuse. Verf, vernis en mosaiekteeltjies sal beskikbaar wees vir versiering. Dit is ‘n belewenis om vir Peter te sien werk en ‘n wonderlike geleentheid vir ons om self ‘n beeldhouwerk uit ‘n stuk hout te kap.

Join us afterwards for snacks and a glass of wine or juice. Costs are R10 for members and R30 for non-members. This is a great networking opportunity for artists and crafters in the Drakenstein municipal area and a bargain at only R30!

Die Bestuur het besluit om hierdie jaar ‘n jeug kunskompetisie aan te bied vir laerskool leerlinge in die Drakenstein munisipale gebied. Ons wil graag die kompetisie aanbied rondom ‘n tema en wag vir voorstelle van lede. Verdere inligting hieroor sal Donderdagaand 22 Januarie 2009 aan julle gegee word.

Please let me know of classes/workshops/exhibitions or any other news which we can advertise in our newsletter and at our monthly meetings. Hierdie tyd van die jaar is almal lus om met iets nuut te begin en dit is ‘n goeie tyd om jou klasse te adverteer.

Ledegelde beloop R 60-00 vir 2009 en elke lid ontvang 'n houtsleutelring met die kunsvereniging se logo daarop gebrandskilder deur Elmarie.

First school day - 2005

Today we went shopping for school things. And my thoughts went back to 2005 when my daughter went to school for the fist time.

Lize's painting

Lize (10 years old) attended an art class three weeks ago. She painted this protea in a blue glass bowl.

Liefde is soos kwiksilwer.
Hou jou vingers liggies oop
en dit sal in jou handpalm bly.
Gryp dit vas en dit sal meteens weggly.

Uit : Die Groot Aanhalingsboek

A Blessed, happy and peaceful 2009 !

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the whole world -- Mother Teresa

Outside our gate ...

Outside our gate in the grass (before it was mowed) I found this little daisy flowers (weed) growing.

The framed painting.

Tulips in a bowl

Tulips are one of my favoured flowers, especially the deep orange colour. But this colour (pink-red) is just so amazingly beautiful that I had to paint them.

Butterflies, buds, flowers, sunshine ...

Spring arrived with a splash of colour and sunshine. We feel it in the air, in our bones, in our souls, everywhere. And what a feeling of freedom - free from the depressing shades of darkness and blowing winds and coldness...

Because I work for a real estate company, Hanlies Properties - doing their office work, including portfolios and website - I enjoy viewing all the photos taken of the different properties. The above photo was one in a very special property - the owner created it, I think she is a photographer.
I think it is a very good composition of different butterflies.

Die raambesigheid is nou eers op die lange baan geskuif.

Iewers in die toekoms sal ek weer daaraan dink, en moontlik dit 'n werklikheid maak. Indien ek nou so 'n besigheid wil bedryf, moet ek eers aan die praktiese dink. Ek sal dit beslis nie vanuit die huis kan bedryf nie - dit sal meer toeganklik moet wees vir kliente, ek het ook nie die ruimte by die huis nou daarvoor nie.

Ps 37 gee raad en moed. Moenie nou oorhaastig optree nie, hou rustig aan met werk - God weet wanneer die tyd reg is en sal op Sy tyd voorsien.

Intussen is dit nou skoolvakansie (een week) en maak ons reg vir die besige laaste kwartaal van die jaar - musiekkonsert, balletkonsert, en nog meer. Somerskoolklere word nou in orde gekry - rokkies wat te kort geword het, word langer gemaak, skryfbehoeftes word na omgesien, ens.

Alles loop nou op na 'n hoogtepunt, naamlik die lekker lang Desember vakansie waar gesinne bymekaar kuier en saam kuier en net mekaar se geselskap kan geniet, sonder die gejaag na more.

Ek het ook intussen twee skilderye voltooi, die een is reeds geraam en sy titel is "Tulpplesier". Tulpe is my gunsteling blomme, veral die oranjes. Hierdie is pink/rooi, maar baie mooi. Sodra ek 'n foto geneem het, plaas ek dit hier. Die ander ene is 'n klein skilderytjie van 'n "close-up" van magrietjies in die veld.

Ek sal moet begin dink om die skilderye te verkoop - dit gaan net te veel in die huis raak. Ek skram nog weg daarvan, want in elke skildery is iets van mensself.

Nou gaan ons eers lekker koffie drink. Geniet die dag verder.

What a kind and beautiful thing to do

Please read this and thank you for sending this e-mail around for others to read and enjoy.

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way of knowing who sent it, but there is a truly beautiful soul working in the dead letter office at the Post Office.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.

She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:Dear God,Will you please take care of my dog Abbey? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.

A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note: Dear Meredith,Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love

God

Vandag het ek nie rus nie.

Ek dink ek was nog altyd baie konserwatief in my denke en nie eintlik iemand wat risiko's geneem het nie. En nou het daar iets oor my pad gekom wat ek nogal graag sou wou doen, maar sien ek kans om die risiko te neem?

'n Klein gevestigde raambesigheid is te koop. Dit is bedryf vanaf die huis deur 'n vrou met 2 kindertjies. Om die besigheid oor te neem, dit wil se die apparaat/masjienerie, kos R 55 000-00. Dan moet ons een motorhuis omskep word - dit wil se 'n plafon moet ingesit word, die motorhuisdeur moet vervang word, die kamer moet dan geverf en netjies gemaak word, ens. Dit sal ook ongeveer R 20 000-00 na R 25 000-00 kos. Daarna is daar nog ongeveer R 10 000-00 nodig om voorraad aan te koop. Dit bring die totaal te staan op ongeveer R 90 000-00.

Nou staan die saak so : ek het nie die kontant nie, en ek sien ook nie kans om geld te leen nie. Ons het so lank afbetaal aan studielenings en nou betaal ons af aan ons huis en motor. Ek wil ook nie op die huisverband leen nie - ons skuld nog ongeveer R 117 000-00 en ek sou graag dat ons dit klaar afbetaal en dan bietjie die huis opknap.

Ek wil baie graag van die huis af werk sodat ek smiddae by die huis vir Lize is. En Pa is 94 jaar oud en woon ook by ons. Dan is hy ook nie alleen by die huis deur die dag nie.

Nou wat staan my te doen???

Ek glo dat God voorsien en weet wat reg en goed is vir elkeen van sy kinders. Maar ek glo ook dat Hy aan ons 'n goeie en nugtere en gesonde verstand gegee het om besluite te neem. Nou wat is Sy Wil met my? - "Here, sal U my die wysheid en insig gee om die regte besluit te neem. Daar is eintlik net een uitweg, stap weg . Maar ek wil dit graag doen, en ek glo ek kan 'n sukses daarvan maak. En God kan voorsien! Here, laat my berus in wat ook al my paadjie moet wees".