Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Jacaranda Series

This concludes - for this year anyway - the jacaranda series of 4 little (25 x 25cm) oil paintings, that will be going onto the Arts & Crafts Fair at the end of this month, and with the weather we're having, had better be the last of new oil paintings for then - they will just never get dry in time! The flowers are falling like rain, too, and new green leaves sprouting. Soon the pods will fall, and then the tiny stalks, then the leaves and then the long stalks... it never ends with jacarandas - as we know too well, because some clever built our house's swimming pool right underneath one - a constant slog to keep it clean!
This is the opposite side of the koppie from which I painted the view of little Melville houses - this looks over the suburb of Emmarentia. Someone had considerately blasted a hole in the rock to begin work on their driveway, so that I could get a glimpse of the North-facing side - these houses have a wonderful view, which on a clear day must go all the way to the Magaliesburg.
Coming in on a wing and a prayer,
Look below there's our field over there.
Though there's one motor gone
We will still carry on,
Coming in on a wing and a prayer.

10 comments:

Vivienne said...

Oh how beautiful, and the lovely poem to go with them, which I have not read before.Such exquisite work and images. Lucky people at your fair to have a chance to own these. Much love.

Gillian said...

Wow! C, these are all so beautiful! I love the rich reddy-brown colour of the trunks and branches in contrast to the mauves. Yes indeed the Fair is lucky to have these to show off. Well done! Are you "purpled" out now?!!

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks VP - the poem for our pilot Dad and his brothers, and comrades - very simple, but must have been whispered often, or to that effect.

GH, I AM purpled out - there's a reason the season only lasts a couple of weeks!

Vivienne said...

For Poppy Day, of course!
It is marked well here, but Anzac Day the bigger event.
Did you see the photo of the old chaps in London...112, 110 and 108.
We remembered Uncle Alan and Philip's grandfather, killed in WW1 in East Africa, before P's mother was born.

Cathy Gatland said...

...and Granny Iris' brother Ira Home Vinnicombe at Delville Wood. I didn't see photos but heard one old chap from WW1 on the radio. I wonder how the world would be different had all those young men lived?

Vivienne said...

Indeed. I think Ira was killed after Armistice ... a bitter tragedy. WW1 was said to have taken the flower of English Youth. Have you ever read "Testament of Youth" by Shirley Britten?
The new jacaranda avenue is my favourite... somehow the traffic circle just makes it sing!

Gillian said...

We watched news clips of memorial services all round the world. Yes, saw the centurion veterans, quite amazing! Uncles we've never met because of the war - Ira, Alan. Granny Jeanie saying goodbye to THREE sons... Of course I thought of Dad & OUR MOM in their uniforms. (Mom drawing maps on silk cloth that were sewn under the lining of airmen's leather flight jackets in case they got shot down and had to figure out where they were.) I meant to post photos of them on my blog - I.L.M. but Stef had homework on the poot and I got tired (still battling daylight savings time - that ONE HOUR throws me off.) I thought of Dad standing at Vincent Park Shopping Center in East London with his tin, taking collections and handing out paper poppies. The 3 years we were in EL it was a heart warming thing to see!

Cathy Gatland said...

I'll look out for that book, V - I think that last is my favourite too - maybe the series approach working...getting to know the subject better!

It all seems so much more poignant, Gin, now with sons of our own - they were so young!... I saw those silk maps featured on an Antiques Fair programme - not terribly pricey, but very sought after, especially if they looked a bit battle-worn!

dominique eichi said...

BEautiful series on Jacaranda.
There's an street here (San Diego) that has the same feel maybe when they are in bloom I will go there and paint.
Love your talent.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful series! I will always rememebr PTA for its magnificent jacarandas! Good luck on the arts and crafts show...
ronell