The World is my Stage

Summer is here in all her glory.
That means the garden needs to be tended regularly otherwise one gets lost in mile high grass!  And summer is when we have most of our exhibitions.  So I've been painting very regularly - early in the morning when it's still nice and cool.  I also have my little TV with me so I can watch that wonderful summer sport - cricket!  India is here at the moment and we are into the second day of the second five-day test.  Cricket is definitely a game you have to understand to love.

I have work on an exhibition at the moment and then on the 1st January there is another one, followed immediately on the 13th and then again on the 23rd.  Different work for all of them!
This is one I'm putting on on the 23rd.  It's of a farm hand who works out in the Elgin area, relaxing in the evening, entertaining friends.

And then there was the death of our revered Nelson Mandela.  Everyone glued to the television sets watching the proceedings - a time of both sadness and thankfulness at what he did for our country.  It was also with great pride that we saw how the rest of the world held him in awe.  I was lucky enough to shake his hand at a press luncheon just after his release from prison.  Rest in peace Tata.

I hope everyone had a peaceful Festive Season and may 2014 be the most wonderful year ever!

Melissa's

Today is holiday here - Heritage Day.  I still haven't quite figured out the meaning, but I do know that it's also known as 'Braai Day' - translated Barbecue Day.  So there's a lot of meat being cooked over fires with plenty of beer to help the process.

I on the other hand, have been attending to my blog inbetween doing a bit of gardening.  Spring is nearly here and the lovely green buds on the trees are out as are some of my spring flowers.  Beautiful.  So, no painting today, but I did paint yesterday.  And this painting is of one of the waitresses at a coffee shop called Melissa's here in Cape Town.  This scored highly at the judging, so I'm quite proud of that!  And thanks so much for always visiting my very under utilised blog!

Morning News

Haven't been to visit anyone, it's late at night and I'm currently between exhibitions!
On Monday there are 2 exhibitions that I need to put work on and I really don't have much work available, having sold 4 last week.  I also have to keep back 3 which were selected for our Annual Exhibition in October and thereafter need to produce another 5 for January!
Isn't life great!
This is one that was selected.

Of a weathered man sitting outside having coffee.  Sitting outside in the cold winter weather because he needed to have his ciggie with his coffee.

I will do the rounds sometime next week and catch up with everyone.  A special thank you for all your great comments.

Cycling Season

I think that I just have to accept that I can't (don't) get around to blogging as often as I should (could).  I miss so much of my blogging friends' work - work that has always been an inspiration to me.

And this winter has been absolutely gorgeous here in Cape Town - a couple of weeks of rain (which is necessary to fill those depleted dams) and some lovely, lovely warm sunshine.  So, apart from the society work that keeps me out of mischief, I have been happily painting in my studio in the back garden (no heating you see!)

Inspired by le Tour de France, I have posted this painting I did a couple of months ago of a cycle tour we have here - The Cape Argus.  If you want to see some amazing paintings of le Tour, have a look at Rob Ijbema's blog - he paints the Tour every year!

One of my Favourite Subjects

It's been a frantic, busy Summer!  And 5 months have just slipped past unnoticed.

The Art Society takes up a lot of my time these days and at this time of the year there seems to be more activity than normal.  We just put our feet up from the exhibitions before Christmas, when there's another one at the end of January to prepare for.  And no sooner has that finished when our first Art in the Park at Groot Constantia vineyards was upon us.

And just before the 'silly season' I was off to Cyprus via Paris!  My son and daughter-in-law finally decided to get officially married in church after 13 years and 3 children.  The wedding was in Cyprus because Barbara's father lives there and what a wonderful wedding and holiday it was, and being with the family and grandchildren was fantastic - Cyprus in winter is worth visiting and the people are so warm and welcoming.  Paris for a day was a pleasure as well - instead of paying for a visa for a direct flight to Cyprus, I used my Schengen visa to visit the City of Lights and spend the day at the Musee D'Orsay.  What a treat and totally recommended.

And of course, in between been doing some painting.  I had two commissions just before Christmas and this rather good looking gentleman (done in watercolour!) was one of them!