BUFFALO BEAUTIES

One of Africa's most dangerous animals, and a member of The Big Five, the Buffalo, compels respect and admiration, its muscular body and huge horns symbols of brute strength.

One of my first artistic efforts with the Buffalo as subject, was this sketch I did a couple of years ago:

Pencil on Paper, 360 x 520mm

And then I sketched the Big Five in pencil, measuring 1 meter in width ......... STILL AVAILABLE!

Pencil on (white)Paper, 1000 x 660 mm

A group of Buffalo in their natural habitat, which I painted in oil:

Buffalo in the Bushveld.  Acrylic and oil on canvas. 720 x 470mm SOLD

When we visit the Isimangaliso Wetland Park near St Lucia, we almost always see Buffalo.

Photograph - Buffalo near Cape Vidal.

I caught this one rubbing on a scratch post; how do you like the expression of utter bliss on his face?

Photograph -  Buffalo near Cape Vidal

   

Something that fascinates me about painting Buffalo portraits, is their unique facial features, more so than antelope, for instance.

Buffalo Portrait. Acrylic on canvas. 600 x 400mm SOLD

Buffalo Portrait II, Watercolour on Paper. 530 x 360mm. 

After completing the watercolour portrait, I felt like painting it again, but on canvas, and bigger. So I started by doing a few small acrylic sketches, testing the colour combinations, and, very importantly, the underlying structure, or composition (light/dark patterns). Which one do you prefer?:

I went with Number Three. Granted, it still underwent some changes in the actual process. :-)

I did the underpainting on 90 x 60 cm canvas, which I quite liked as an abstract in itself:

I then added the buffalo!  Finally, here is the completed painting:

Buffalo Portrait III, Acrylic on Canvas. 900 x 600mm. SOLD 

And, while the going was good, I did another Buffalo portrait. I really enjoyed working on this size and format: See what I mean about every Buffalo face being different?

"Great Aspirations" - Portrait of a Young Buffalo. Acrylic on Canvas. 900 x 600mm.

HIGH PROFILE - THE PAINTING PROCESS

Just completed: another giraffe portrait, this time in profile:

"High Profile"

Watercolour 370 x 270mm

My process is one of overlaying colour in several layers. I start off with a pencil drawing made using a rough grid dividing the page in sixteen squares. I then lay in the main areas of colour with fairly wet watercolour with a 1/2 inch flat brush.

After that I work in specific areas with a rigger brush - anything from no 0 to 3, depending on the subject matter. When painting animals or birds, I use a very dry brush, which I use almost like a colouring pencil, making the strokes in the direction of the hair growth ( or feathers, in the case of a bird). I often use a damp brush to soften edges of painted areas.

It now becomes almost a game of "find the differences" between the reference picture and my painting. I concentrate on the shapes and shades of colour.     

The very last step is to add the highlights in the eyes, and a few white hairs where necessary. I use white gouache and a fine brush for this. I also used a thicker damp brush to gently lift some paint off the center of the eye-ball to simulate reflections and create depth. (some of the eye-lashes were made by using a toothpick to drag some of the wet paint outward during the stage when I was painting the dark around the eyes.) 

A VIEW FROM THE TOP

Another portrait - this time of an animal with a view from the top!

Giraffe Portrait (RESERVED)

Watercolour

370 x 270mm



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Arts & Music @ Pappanui

HOSPICE (Charity Organization caring for the terminally ill) organised an Arts & Music day at Pappanui, an interior decoration shop in Mtunzini, last Sunday, 8 August.  There were about 15 art stalls and music ranged from the "Senile Sisters", the "White Zulu" and a modern day  Elvis, to a local gospel band.

The music certainly made for a very pleasant atmosphere and kept fair goers hanging around.

New artwork that I exhibited at my stall included:

 

Cheetah. Watercolour. 165x265mm.

 

Transkei - "Hurrying Home". Acrylic. 200x250mm

SOLD

Transkei - "Little Fisherman". Acrylic. 200x250mm

SOLD

And, for extra atmosphere in that beach cottage:

 

Sentiments of Sunny Seas - I

Acrylic. 200x150mm.

SOLD

Sentiments of Sunny Seas - II

Acrylic. 200x150mm.

SOLD

    

Zebra in my Lounge!

Acrylic and  Oil on Artboard; 509 x 610mm

I did this Zebra recently on special request from my husband,

and it is currently decorating our lounge!

A to Zebra

“So you see! There's no end to the things you might know,

depending how far beyond Zebra you go.” - (Dr. Seuss Quotes)

So I started  a new wildlife series at Zebra!

I intend lingering with the zebra for a while 

(in between Nguni!),

but I also have other wildlife plans up my sleeve!

Here are the first two:

Watercolour 165 x 165 mm

Watercolour - 175 x 175 mm

SOLD