COMMISSION COMPLETE!

Here is the result of the mixed media experiments - a set of three paintings with the Boubou bird as central theme:

BOUBOU - set of three

Mixed Media

(Collage, Acrylic, oil)

300 x 400mm each

SOLD

A closer look at the first one in the set:

You may want to see the blogpost about the previous, large painting that I did for the same B&B.  

Mixed Media Meanderings

In the process of investigating the possibilities of fulfilling a mixed media commission around the theme of a specific bird, I made a collection of small trial artworks:

(This was something that I did do in the earlier part of the year, so I wasn't completly unproductive, you see... ☺. These were not the only experiments, either!)

The last one on the right was the winning one. I have made a set of three, which need some finishing touches before I can show them. - Coming soon!

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM

"Keep the momentum in your business.

Stop-start takes a lot more effort than

to simply keep the momentum."

Dani Johnson

Keeping one's painting momentum is the same -  lot easier  and more productive than to regain momentum after you've lost it. I have to confess that I lost mine for the early part of the year. Interruptions of all sorts just slowly eroded away at the time I had available to paint. I had to sit down recently, re-prioritise and PLAN time to paint again. I found it very helpful to write down all my time-stealers and other hindrances on a sheet of paper, decide which ones I was able to change and how I was going to do it. Looking at a few websites with tips to deal with "Artist's Block" was also helpful. After brainstorming  and gathering some ideas and pictures of what really inspires me at the moment, I really did feel a lot more inspired and was ready to go!

I did a few quick acrylics to get the creative juices flowing. They still need some work done to them - I might add collage and some new detail. Here is one:

And - lo and behold: another interruption! We went to St Lucia for the weekend. I managed to sit and scribble down some wings while sitting in the shade of one of the rocks at Mission Rock.

This is quite consistent with my theme of wings and flight that I'm working on. The time out in the sun, with the gulls, was very refreshing, though, and the colours of the sea never sieze to fascinate me.

Here is an acrylic of seagulls that I finished recently:  

Frame Filled

I had a mat and frame looking for a picture. The colours were very suited to a Nguni, so this is the one I chose and painted:

  

Nguni 50

Watercolour

230 x 195

And here it is in its frame:

Nine Bird Watercolours Complete

I actually completed them in November last year and they have been safely delivered to a thrilled client! They are all painted on white 300gsm Bockingford watercolour paper. In some instances I was able to use my own photographs as references, filling in detail from web images. For others I used, with permission, photographs by local well-known bird photographer, Hugh Chittenden.



Red Backed Mannikins
Watercolour
260 x 360 mm



African Fish Eagle
Watercolour
260 x 360mm



Green Twinspot
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

 


Malachite Kingfisher
Watercolour
260 x 360mm



Giant Kingfisher
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Brownhooded Kingfisher
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Whitefronted Bee-Eater
Watercolour 
260 x 360mm



Little Bee-Eaters
Watercolour
260 x 360mm



Greater Doublecollared Sunbird
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

 
 
Greeting cards with prints of the above artworks are available. Contact me @ ewade@absamail.co.za

Being a bird lover (Besides my four parrot-pets, I am currently raising an orphaned Cape Wagtail, hoping to release it back into the garden), it was really a joy to paint these birds. I plan to do more bird watercolours - maybe soon, as I have a commission for three mixed media artworks with birds as a theme!

SEPIA WILDLIFE TRILOGY

I've recently done three wildlife paintings in neutral colours. I had tremendous fun, first painting the backgrounds, and after that adding the drawings of the animnals and continuing to paint until the paintings were complete.

White Rhino Mother & Calf

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

600 x 450 x 23mm

 

Buffalo Portrait

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

600 x 450 x 23mm

Elephant  - Out of the Woods

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

450 x 600 x 23mm

Grapes in Enamel

These two still life paintings evolved from very brightly coloured, to more muted, peaceful still lives.

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

200 x 200 x 35mm each

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

I'M STILL PAINTING!

No, I haven't stop painting!!! I haven't been posting much of what I've been painting, because I'm working on a series of nine watercolour birds and would like to show them together, once they are all finished, as they are actually done as a commission.

Then I've also been having lots of fun creating some acrylic and oil paintings for our annual local art exhibition in September. Once that is over, I'll be posting all of them! There is one large Nguni group painting, two small still life paintings, a bunch of roses and some wildlife!

So - lots of paintings coming up!!   

Tibouchina Home

I completed this painting a while ago. It was a commission and since it was also a birthday gift, I waited until the birthday had transpired before showing it on my blog. 

The inspiration behind the painting was the flowering Tibouchina tree in front of the gate. These trees grace the roads of our little forest town during early autumn. We have one in our garden, too!

As I haven't painted these trees before, I thought I'd do a practise run to see which media would suit it best. In this little sketch I used watercolour and acrylic.

The photo  reference I was working from, was taken on an overcast day and on the photo the composition was much darker on one side than on the other, and thus, visually heavier on one side. So I did another small watercolour sketch to solve this compositional problem.

Then I finally did the A3 watercolour painting:

2 Ashby Road

Watercolour

360x240mm

    

Eagle's Wings

Another Fish Eagle - and probably not the last one!

Eagle's Wings

Acrylic & oil on Canvas

650x510mm

SOLD

"Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men stumble and fall,

but those who wait on the LORD

renew their strength,

they rise up the wing like eagles,

they run and are not weary,

they walk and do not faint."

Isaiah 40:30,31

Flight of the Fish Eagle

If you love Africa, there is a very good chance that you love the call of the Fish Eagle. They are synonomous! Though not the largest eagle in Southern Africa, they are very majestic. They always remind me of the promise in Isaiah 40:31

...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Here are two fish eagles contrasted with backgrounds containing an element of mystery.

Flight of the Fish Eagle II

Acrylic & Oil on Canvas

355 x 250 x18mm

Flight of the Fish Eagle I

Acrylic 7 Oil on Canvas

305 x 250 x 18mm

   

BEACH BLUES

Although I wouldn't admit it, and absolutely INSIST that I prefer the bush to the beach, I suspect that I have a secret love affair with the sea, that my heart hasn't informed me about.



I clearly remember a period in my life when, due to circumstances, I wasn't able to go to the beach for a few years, except for once a year for a day - and that while living only about 80 km from a decent beach, or 40km from the sea, as the crow flies. I remember shedding actual tears during this time, longing to just feel the sand between my toes, and the salty water washing around my ankles. (Body surfing would have been even better, of course! )

That situation has now changed, and one can easily become blazé, but currently I'm really looking forward to our next time at the beach.


So here it is:

Beach Blues I

Acrylic on Mountboard, 190x140mm

 

Beach Blues II

Acrylic on Mountboard, 190x140mm

Friends Inspire

On her last visit to me, an old friend (younger than me, but we've known each other for years!) gave me this set of beautiful containers. They were such an inspiration to me that they found their way onto a painting:

Three Posies

Watercolour

295 x 210mm

"A friend loves at all times"

Prov 17:17

Petunia Pleasure

Inspired by a commission that I did last year, I am continuing to enjoy painting purple Petunias (Blue Lace, as they are aptly called), this time in a more simplistic way:

Pot of Purple Petunias II

Watercolour

165 x 200mm

SOLD

Petunia Face

Watercolour

110 x110mm

SOLD

The above designs will soon be available on greeting cards.

Mounted prints can also be ordered. (Contact me at ewade@absamail.co.za)