A change of season

Inspired by South Africa, its people and its landscapes, I paint that which is personal to me and touches those around me. Having moved to South Africa as a young woman, more than thirty years ago, I am proud to call South Africa my home. Having witnessed our nation grow over the years, has moved me to the extent where today, I seek to express visually that which words cannot convey. I wish to capture true emotions and to express a strong message through purest simplicity. Ours is a country of stark contrasts, artistically illustrated by our beautiful landscapes, warm-hearted people and the richness in diversity and spirit. It is however, also a country of great inequality, poverty and hardships. These contrasts I try to conceptualise through art and I strive to inspire my fellow citizens to see the contemporary South Africa in its entirety. This is more poignant now than ever before, with the enormous challenges which we are currently facing. Only by standing strong and helping each other can we hope to succeed. I believe it is inherently in our spirit to help those around us and now, it is the most vulnerable in our society that require our help more than ever. When art and life is seen from this perspective, I believe that we can overcome any crisis and hopefully, it may contribute to us even growing closer and stronger as a nation.

The Boy with the Soup
The young boy symbolises the youth and the future of the country. His coat is too big; wearing a coat from another adult hereby representing the past. He has a bowl of soup and some bread in his hands. The soup represents the help from the community and the vital nourishment the boy requires. Without the soup, the boy will struggle to find a future. In summary, we need the past (the coat), with the help of the present (the soup), to face the uncertain future. Despite these hardships, the boy’s expression is not that of defeat, but rather hopeful

We All Belong
The man in the painting is hoping to return to lost, better days. He is cold and he is looking to the soup to comfort him. The blanket further symbolises this. As he stares into the soup, your eyes are draw to the ring he is wearing and you wonder, who his loved ones are and where they are now.

The old man
Too often we overlook the importance of old people to our society. Western culture in particular idealises youth, thereby adding pressure to appear forever young. This stems from problems dealing with our own mortality. I feel we should start to see the benefits that old people bring into our life through the sharing of their wisdom, which they obtained through the years. Let us find the beauty in a face and person that shows signs of a long life lived.

Summer Impressions

“At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun. “

Sandi Gingras

Inspired by the coastal area I live in and my love for the beach and the ocean, these works strive to capture the feeling of the beach and its visitors.

I moved to George in 2002 and fell in love with the picturesque Garden route area. George is blessed to be surrounded by beautiful beaches and a stunning coastline. There’s just something so peaceful about looking out at the ocean and it’s even more amazing to see if you stay long enough to watch the Sunset.

THE PAINTING PROCESS

So how do you start a painting and what are the steps from the beginning to the end of an art piece? This is a question that I have been often asked by my students, as well as many people that are interested in the process of making art .

The painting process is difficult to explain in words, so I thought I share some pictures that I have taken while I was painting a small still life of strawberries. The images will show the different steps from the beginning to the finished work. usually start blocking in the dark colour first and works towards my lighter values. It is also better to block in the larger shapes and I leave the highlights and detail to the end . work After the paint dries for a few days I give the painting a spray retouch varnish before I sent it off or sell it in my studio.

Strawberries in old enamel plate

We picked the lovely strawberries on the Redberry Farm in George, which is a beautiful outing for young and old in the Garden Route .th Before the sweet strawberries were all eaten I decided to make a small 20 x 20 cm still life painting from them. I used oil pains and started to block the main shapes and darks in by using burnt sienna and a little french ultramarine. Thereafter I continued using alizarin crimson, cadmium red, and a cadmium yellow, as well as little viridian green. To adjust the values I used Titanium white.