Wednesday 27 December 2017

A portrait commission delivered

The last days before I left for my holiday to visit family were rather frantic. This time it was a little more crazy. A dear school friend asked me to paint a portrait of her grandson - and please could I bring it with me to South Africa! 

Fortunately the portrait fairies were on my side and the portrait was completed without too many hassles. Since the painting, in oils, was still wet I needed to construct a box that would allow it to be transported safely in my suitcase. 

The portrait has now been delivered and I’m pleased to say my friend is delighted with the painting. 



James - oil on linen panel 12” x 10” 

I hope that you have enjoyed the holiday festivities. 

I’m off to the mountains for a few days...

Thursday 21 December 2017

Seasons Greetings

A short but sweet post to wish you and yours the very best over the coming holiday season. I am so fortunate to be visiting family at this time and my hope is that you will also share special time with your loved ones. 





I have been able to spend some time sketching the places I am visiting. Somehow, for me, drawing enhances the memories and makes each experience more meaningful and special. I’ve been using a Travelers Notebook with sketchbook inserts and lovely MD (Midori) paper which is perfect for writing in ink. The lovely people at Bookbinders have everything for the TN and stationery enthusiast. 



Black Travelers Notebook and Noodlers Konrad Flex fountain pen. 

We have been travelling to the Northern part of KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Vidal, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park a World Heritage site. It’s wild and unspoilt and I am privileged to be able to enjoy the animals and dune forests up close. 



Causaurina Pine forest


A shady refuge from the heat of the day. 
Bookbinders have everything for the TN and stationery enthusiast. 

Tuesday 5 December 2017

A Favourite Cafe gets a makeover

One of my favourite cafes is French & Mor, Dawn Cresent, Albany Creek. It’s a few minutes drive from my home and close enough to collect coffee for the artists who come to the Studio. (We do like our creature comforts) 

Recently, the Cafe has undergone a makeover - new flooring, smart tiles and a fresh coat of paint. Today I stopped for a quick coffee. The transformation was complete - lovely hanging baskets with ferns and trailing creepers and new displays with Christmas decoration completed the new look.

The new look called for a sketch. I used my new Pelikan Smoky Quartz ink (I was the lucky recipient at a lucky draw at Bookbinders on Sunday) Smoky Quartz is Pelikan’s Ink of the Year. It’s a soft brown and very smooth to use. The lines are soluble when just drawn but after resting for a while seem to be quite stable.

I’m not yet geared for “on the go” colour so the watercolour was added when I returned home. 


The sketch in my Travelers Notebook.



a little colour.

and French & Mor with fresh va va voom...