I'm not going to try and do a chronological catch-up, too much work and I have to spend less time on the computer - this sketch was done in May at one of our USk 10x10 workshops, 'Through the Windows' led by Lisa Martens, from Joziburg Lane (now called Hangout Jozi) where I did these sketches, only out of different windows, and looking down.
I felt like a rather illicit voyeur as I squinted down at a section of the Faraday Muti Market, which I've never had the courage to venture into myself. A traditional African healer's market, or hospital, it has animal - both common and highly endangered - and herbal products on display and traditional doctors that prescribe potions and lotions of herbs, spices, bones, flesh and more to cure every ailment or life problem. If you have a strong stomach you can read blogger 2Summers personal account, or google the market and find out more. Fortunately the area I could see below me consisted mainly of grains, herbs or husks laid out on mats in the sun and the 'bush meat' was hidden from my squeamish birds-eye view. People came and went to consult the sangomas and traditional healers for age-old remedies and spiritual and supernatural help; a Don Quixote-like figure poked and slashed at covered piles of who-knows-what with his stick as sellers sat calmly watching - and the 21st century rushed on past on the M2 highway above.
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6 comments:
Cathy, I liked this sketch. Reading your text with the post it struck me how much we live in a world of opposites and extremes and that makes the sketch even more worthwhile. I must confess that I struggle with drawings / sketches from high viewpoints - one day I'll get it right! Many thanks again , David
Thank you David for your observations - those extremes are sometimes very clearly evident here in Johannesburg when you move out of your regular orbits, for which I have urban sketching to thank! High viewpoints are challenging, but the same principles apply really, of drawing what you see, not what you think you see - good luck!
Good to have you back Cathy, missed my little fix of Jo'burg.
Lovely detailed sketch Cathy! I do hope you will carry on recording your "sketching life" here on your blog - although I don't comment much, I always enjoy your sketches and the accompanying stories.
Thanks Bev and Maree - I am getting lazy with blogging, but I miss the proper recording of what I've been doing (becoming important as more and more marbles get misplaced!) and I do miss old friends like you who keep coming back, thank you!
Great sketch; I like the way our eyes can wander from the busy anonymous roads in the background to the more personal and human scene in the foreground.
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