PAINTING AFRICAN NGUNI CATTLE

I think it was in the nineties when I first picked up the book, "The Abundant Herds"  at our local library. Written by acclaimed author Marguerite Poland and social anthropologist David Hammond-Tooke, describing the almost poetic names that Zulu people gave to their Nguni cattle, beautifully illustrateded by Leigh Voigt.

I  was stunned by the quality and quantity of watercolor and oil paintings adorning the pages, currently in the Oppenheimers' Africana collection.

It was a couple of years later when I was asked by a lady from Ubombo, who was part of a project called MAMA AFRIKA, to paint Nguni cattle onto plates, which she would then glaze and fire.

This, of course, sparked the idea to paint some Nguni cattle in oil. These were my first two Nguni oil paintings:

They sold within two weeks of putting them on the Internet, so... many followed!

My husband, who takes a keen interest in my art, and is often a very helpful critic, prompted me to paint some Nguni with the Ubombo mountains in the background:

I did a series of numerous  Nguni watercolours, of which below are a few examples:

I also printed and sold these as greeting cards.

In 2012 I did my first 'big' Nguni painting.

This was the reference photo I used (I took it one morning after returning from the Curio Shop at Shakaland, Phobane Lake):

I often prepare my painting digitally before I paint it, which is what I did in this case. This way I sort out the composition, eliminate unnecessary detail, focusing on the subject of interest, using harmonising colours in the process:

Some of the animals were dehorned, so I had to give them horns. I also changed the ears of the beast in the front, as pure-bred Nguni don't have hanging ears like that. Once I started painting, I had to tweak the background a couple of times, before it worked.  This was the result:

"Coming Home", 1500 x 900mm,  Oil on Stretched Canvas (SOLD)

I've since done two other big Nguni paintings, both from photographs supplied to me by local journalist, Larry Bentley, which he took at the Tugela River.

"Reflections", 1500 x 900mm, Oil on stretched Canvas.

The latest group that I did, was a smaller one:

"On the Road", 1000 x 350mm, Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas. (SOLD)

For other recent Nguni paintings, as well as prices, see my website. 

Follow me on FB to see paintings as they 'come off the easel'.

I've recently taken some beautiful photos of Nguni herds in the Nkandla area and am itching to transform them into paintings. It is a very mountainous area; here is a typical scene:

My next Nguni painting will be Nguni painting number 61!

NGUNI at the TUGELA

I firstly have to thank local journalist/photographer, Larry Bentley, (find his Facebook photography page here) for his kind permission to use his photograph of Nguni drinking water at the Tugela, as a reference. I saw the picture in the newspaper and asked him for permission to paint it, after which he supplied me with the original on a disk.

I spent about a month on this one - MUCH less time than the previous BIG Nguni painting. :-) 

Here it is:

Nguni at the Tugela River

1500 x 900mm

Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 

A SPOT OF SHADE

When we were travelling back to Windhoek from Walvis Bay last year, the bus kept on overheating and having to stop, until another bus in the opposite direction could supply it with an appropriate spare part. At one of the stops I had the opportunity to photograph these cattle seeking a little bit of shade. I love these typical  Namibian acacia trees and had to paint this scene:

A Spot of Shade

Watercolour

265 x 175 mm

   

NGUNI HERD - finished at last!

This is a large painting and took me rather long to complete - mostly because I worked on it intermittantly over about three years. I must say I do prefer projects that can be completed in a week or a few days, but I did want to do a large Nguni painting, and I even have a plan for another one!

I first painted the Nguni cattle in with acrylic, after drawing them on the canvas, using a grid.

Then I did the background in oils, as oil is so much easier to work with when blending.

I wasn't happy with the background, so it got changed, and I added some stones:

I did some more work on the background, until I was happy with it.Now the leading Nguni needed some alterartions on it's horns, ears and face, and patterns on its skin. After that I repainted all the other Nguni in oils, and also added finishing to the horns and hooves. Oh, yes, and the stones needed some more finishing, too!

Nguni Herd Coming Home

Acrylics and Oil on Canvas

1500 x 900mm

Matching Nguni Painting - alone again!

Nguni 21

Oil on Stretched Canvas

350 x 250 x 15mm

SOLD

I painted the above  Nguni  as a second choice for someone wanting a matching painting to one they had already bought. They did end up taking the first choice. So, I decided recently to paint another Nguni to match it, giving it a better chance to sell.  I wasn't halfway, when the first one sold! Now this one needs a matching painting again!! ☺ (I'm not complaining at all!)

Nguni 49

OIl on Stretched Canvas

350 x 250 x 15mm

Ngunis Squared!

My plan was to paint these two Nguni paintings quickly, within a week. However, things tend to work out slower in reality as what they do in your mind, during the planning stage! A couple of interruptions, some of them very pleasant, like a visit from a friend living far away, didn't speed up the process either! But here they finally are!!!

Nguni 43 - Oil on canvas

450 x 450 mm

Nguni 44 - Oil on canvas

450 x 450 mm

Found a Home....

These two guys have found a home recently and, since I seem to have ommitted putting them on the Blog, I thought I'd show their faces:

Watercolour, 165 x 125mm
SOLD

Watercolour, 165 x 125 mm
SOLD

Bigger Bulls and Birds!

Deviating from doing small watercolours - about A5 size - I have recently worked a bit bigger:

Nguni Group. Watercolour. 365 x 265mm

I love the Ground Hornbills with their big eyelashes, so they found their way onto my next watercolour:  (The female has the blue pouch under the beak and the male has the pinkish tint to his. They are obviously not acquainted with human colour coding for males and females.) 

Ground Hornbills. Watercolour. 365 x 265 mm.

Repetition, Rhythm and Skill

More Ngunis!!

YES!  -  I am painting some more Ngunis!!  ☺

I often like to do the same Nguni in watercolour as well as in oil. The effect can be very different in each case, especially when I change the background colour dramatically, as I have done here. I love the interplay between all the warm, earthy colours - the siennas and the umbers - and how they reflect off the white, defining the form of the subject.

Nguni 36

Watercolour, 165x125mm

Nguni 37

Watercolour, 165x125mm

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Repetition is the mother of all skill! - I learnt that when I had to practise scales every day to improve my pianistic skills!

Besides improving skills, repetition, in the form of rhythm, is definitely the very fibre of music. the same goes for art! Repetition can grow skill, but repetition can also become a very integral part of an artwork, such as the repetitious forms of trees, leaves or grass. Or as pattern in design, like Esher's tassellations. Andy Warhol took it a step further, repeating the same subject, using silk screen printing!

REPETITION is the reality and the seriousness of life.

(Soren Kierkegaard 1813-1855, Danish Philosopher, Writer)

There is REPETITION everywhere, and nothing is found only once in the world.

(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist)

So, be warned! More REPETITION is to follow!!!

Nguni 32 & 33

Two more black & white Ngunis from near Mandawe, that I did  near the end of last year.

The works are currently framed.

Watercolour - 170 x 120 mm

Watercolour - 120 x 170 mm

Nguni 30

Another Nguni that I completed recently: 

Nguni 30 - Oil on Stretched Canvas

400 x 300 x 16mm

A number of my more recent Nguni paintings (both oil and watercolour) are now with the BLOU DONKI gallery in Clarens. Two Ngunis are also currently being exhibited  (over the festive season) at artSPACE in Durban (Millar rd, off Umgeni Rd), as part of their annual "Affordable Art" exhibition. 

Nguni 28 & 29 - the series continues...

I have completed the third in a set of three square paintings of Nguni:

Oil on Board, 290 x 290mm

And here is the first in a set of two:

Oil on Stretched Canvas; 400 x 300mm

For prices or availability, contact me at ewade@absamail.co.za 

Beautiful black-and-white Ngunis

We came accross a beautiful herd of mostly black-and-white Nguni the other day and I couldn't wait to paint them. Here are the first two - I thought the warm background really brought out the black-and-white of their skin patterns.

Nguni 22

Nguni Painting

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

305 x 230 x15 mm

Nguni 23

Nguni Painting

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

230 x 305 x 15 mm

For information on availability or prices, contact me @ ewade@absamail.co.za.

Nguni 21

NGUNI PAINTING

Oil on stretched Canvas

355 x 250 15 mm

R820

(excluding postage)

Nguni 20

NGUNI PAINTING

Oil on stretched Canvas

355 x 250 x 15mm

R820.00

SOLD