Still life with teacup, jug and lemon

I began a course on Acrylic painting online with Will Kemp Art School.  The idea was to not only improve my painting techniques, but also to explore how to get acrylic to look like oil with all those beautiful shiny glazes and reflected light. The Acrylic pigments I used were as follows: • Titanium white…

A juicy succulent cherry

My juicy cherry was created using the following paints: •    titanium white. •    Burnt umber •    Raw umber •    Cadmium red light •    Cadmium red medium •    Cadmium yellow light •    Permanent Alizarin crimson •    Green gold •    Phthalo blue (red shade) A coloured ground of raw umber mixed with titanium white was painted…

Jug still life – A limited palette

I have wanted to try my hand at still life painting for a while now, but haven’t felt quite confident enough to take on the challenge on my own. It was in school last that I did any kind of still life painting so I was looking for support in the form of online courses…

Fruits of my procrastination…..

We are heading off on our summer holiday in a few days and I hate packing so in an attempt to avoid the suitcases I found a quick drawing project to occupy my time inspired by Fathers Day this last Sunday….. Persimmon {Diospyros kaki} A4 Artists sketch paper Pencil crayon and B pencil Persimmons are…

Baardsuikerbos Protea

Protea neriifolia A4 Sketch Paper Pencil crayon and B pencil When I think of Cape Town I think of the mountain, and the proteas in full bloom on it’s slopes…  Protea neriifolia was first discovered in 1597, was illustrated in 1605, and has the distinction of being the first protea ever to be mentioned in…

Ras al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival

Last week Ras al Khaimah held its first Fine Arts Festival of which I was fortunate enough to be a part of.  The event is designed to introduce the art of local artists like film makers, musicians, photographers, jewellery designers and artists to the community.  It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to…

Disa

I am currently working on a series of botanical’s native to South Africa.  There are such a wide variety to choose from and having a florist for a mother and a horticulturist/forester for a father I grew up with an extensive knowledge of our local flora.  I wanted to draw something that not only reminded…

Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis)

One of my favourite fruits…..  In my country we call them granadilla’s. Passionfruit with skeleton leaf (Passiflora edulis) Passionfruit with skeleton leaf (Passiflora edulis) close-up #1 Passionfruit with skeleton leaf (Passiflora edulis) close-up #2 Passionfruit with skeleton leaf (Passiflora edulis) close-up #3 Passionfruit with skeleton leaf (Passiflora edulis) close-up #4 Passionfruit with skeleton leaf (Passiflora…

Sea-holly (Amethyst eryngo)

The rather curious spiny leaves of the sea-holly, which attract no less by their glaucous colour than their challenge of war. They are positively dangerous and remind me of our ‘marshmellow bushes’ that grow wild on our mountains back home.  We nicknamed them such when having to walk through a knee high forest of them. …

Mushrooms

I quite enjoy drawing mushrooms, but it’s not always easy to capture the feathered, crumbly paper feel they have.  I tried with some of the smoother varieties first.  Next I want to try some of the more exciting toadstool varieties. Mushrooms A4 artists sketch paper Pencil crayons and B pencil Mushrooms close-up #1 Mushrooms close-up…

Spotted Aloe – (Aloe zerbina)

Some plants you just grow up with.  I always find it easy to draw things I have a connection with and know and the Aloe is one of those.  Ever since I can remember there has been one growing somewhere in our garden. My mother would always pluck and smear on the slime from the…