Sanlam Portrait Award 2015

The wait is over - the organisers have announced the Top 100 and the Top 40. Congratulations to those people! Unfortunately for myself, my portrait was chosen. But that is okay, I know there were many more than 100 that were absolutely stunning and the judges must have had a very difficult task in deciding which ones to choose.

One of the rules of this competition was that the artist should know the model. Whom better to choose than one of the few people that I've known for my whole life - my earthly father. When I saw him sitting in their sun room relaxing with my cat, Pablo, peacefully asleep on his lap, I just knew that is my portrait. I immediately got my camera and took a few pictures.

My "model" was not posing for this portrait. He was there - in the moment. That was real. That was his life at that moment. And that made my portrait so very special for me. That was personal.

When I started painting, I enjoyed every second. I enjoyed it more than any other painting that I have done!

Am I disappointed that my painting didn't make the top 100 and the top 40? Yes. Am I disappointed that my painting did not win? Yes. It would have placed my art in a whole new category. My name would have appeared in many magazines and all over the web. It would also have been nice to walk away with R100,000 as prize money. Yes I am disappointed, I am human.

Am I going to allow this to let me think less of my self and my art? No. I will work harder. I know God is in control. He is the author of my life and He will reward me at the right time. I will try again, and again and I will get better and better until one day that award will be mine!

Winter Winelands Art Exhibition

The Tank Gallery, Stellenbosch Hills

The opening of our Winter Winelands Art Exhibition last night was a huge success. I would guess that at least 50 or 60 people attended in spite of the very cold weather. Once inside, each received a welcome drink. The tasting area was open for wine tasting and we had some delicious platters. The fireplace warmed the whole interior and created a very warm and relaxed atmosphere.

We are a total of 8 artists who are exhibiting there for the whole of June. If you missed the opening, gather a few friends and drive out there, you will really enjoy it. You can book a wine and biltong tasting which you can enjoy with the beautiful art. Maybe you get inspired to also buy one or two art pieces.

A total of 4 art works were sold last night which included one of my own. For those who are not near Cape Town, I have prepared a page on my website, Painted Canvas, with pictures of all of my paintings which are on display. If you wish to buy one, please send me a mail with your details. I will then check with the gallery if it is still available and we can take it from there.

Here follow a few pics of the event:

Rose of Sharon

When I was asked if I am willing to do a painting that can be auctioned at a women's day event in August, I immediately thought of flowers. I always think of roses first, since they are my favourite flowers. However the more thought I gave to it, the more I wanted to do a flower that is not only beautiful but also symbolises something deeper.

In the book Song of Songs in the Bible, Solomon talks about the Rose of Sharon. He says: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley." Because that passage actually points to Jesus as the rose of Sharon, for me it symbolises purity and beauty. I therefor decided to do the painting of the rose of Sharon, since it also fits with the woman Solomon describes in Proverbs 31 of noble character and whose worth is far more than that of rubies.

Although there are different opinions as to which flower was described as the rose of Sharon, most wise people say that it is the Hibiscus.

Not only is it a very beautiful flower, but the play of light and shadow makes this a very beautiful painting.

New Beginnings!

It's been more than a year that I have last posted anything on this blog. My apologies. The thing is just that I took a break from painting the greater part of last year. I felt like my art wasn't improving and together with a lot of other stuff happening I just felt I needed a break.

Looking back I realize that it was a good decision. All of a sudden it feels as if things are moving forward and falling into place. There are possibilities of doors opening at galleries - nothing concrete yet, but at least people (other than my mother) is showing interest in my art!

Over the next week I will mention more about that. What I can say is that I have to / want to do at least 7 new paintings before June that will be exhibited at a group exhibition on a wine farm near Stellenbosch. I am also working on 3 paintings that will be auctioned for different charity causes later this year.

Hopefully I will have time to post regularly every week on this blog. Here are pics of a few of my latest paintings.