Adorning the church

As December has suddenly lurched into reality, I've changed direction and focus once again to thinking about the 'adornment' of our church for Christmas. A friend is getting married there too in two weeks time, so I'm adding to the existing papercut hangings (which she and some other friendly hands helped me to cut some years ago) to make a wedding-theme banner to cover the bare back of the piano. The sketch above is work-in-progress - I am about to start the neck and shoulder straining task of cutting this morning. The motifs are basically of the Tree of Life, with God's hand reaching down as the roots, to the crossed hands of the man and woman within a circle/ring. On either side of the tree is a river, referring to Ephesians 5: 25- 33 about marriage, and I think I will add a wineflask or jug between the water and the vines as a reference to the wedding feast where Jesus turned the water into wine... never quite sure if my creative efforts are theologically sound, but so far noone has raised any objections!
I was inspired by the amazing work of Nancy Chinn, and her book 'Spaces for Spirit' to take the decoration of our little church beyond the usual candles and poinsettia - albeit on a much smaller scale. It is quite a commitment, and I do find it a little daunting to come up with new ideas for all the repeated seasons and festivals - pressures of The Artist in the congregation...

Now for something completely different

Here are a few of the illustrations I've been doing for my friend Jill's book - she and her daughter were bemoaning the fact that bible stories for children seem to be so drearily boring, so she wrote a little dotty poem about The Prodigal Son and asked me to draw the pictures. I've ended up illustrating just about every line, and really having fun doing it - taking some creative licence with what those old testament chaps would have had at their disposal - soccer balls and photographs were most certainly off their radar screens, as, in fact, were radar screens. She is taking it to try out on her two grandsons in Sydney, Australia next week, so I have to get a move on and get a mock-up made. If the little boys really love it, we might try and take it further...
Just playing around again with watercolour paint makes me think that it is my favourite medium - I love the unpredictable things it does, and the also the things that traditional w/c painters frown upon - the 'cauliflower' splodges and drips.

Ice-cream man

Here is the other painting I've done for my 'client'... her mother bought some of mine a few years ago - one that she loves of the ice-cream man, and one of a woman walking through this avenue - so I combined the two and hope that she will like this one. I didn't put in all the shadows that would fall on the figure - they are very dark at this time of year, and the picture is busy as it is, so he looks to me as though he's been juxtaposed, but he does provide a solid focal point I think.
I'm changing track completely today - I started illustrating a children's book for a friend about a year ago, and she is soon to go and visit her young grandchildren in Australia, so I want to finish it for her to take with her. So sploshy watercolours with pen & ink for the next while - I'm afraid I really am (the female arty equivalent of) Jack-of-all-trades, master of none!

Walking the dog

A little group ambling along the pavement. Somebody wants to buy this one, plus one more, though she doesn't like the other 'street' paintings - not happy enough!? So I'll have to go and wander around with my camera and sketchbook to find some pleasant scenes. She is emigrating, and wants to take some reminders of home with her - I think she's homesick already...
This 'sketch' blog seems to be turning into a painting one, but I am glad that at least it does seem to be working as far as mobilising me to paint - that, or the other art bloggers I read who all work so HARD and produce so much work!

Domestic Trio

I think I could have sat in my car and sketched these three, they were so engrossed in their conversation. Legs all stretched out to the left of each other, they could hardly be closer together. The colours look improbably bright, but are part of what I want to capture - I love the gaiety of some of these little groups scattered around the city. The grass looks rather a livid green, perhaps I should tone it down a bit, but after weeks of rain, the lawns have all sprouted into emerald glory (appropriate for our winning of the rugby World Cup a couple of weeks ago!)

Joburg Streets

I have been working on what I think will be a series, of Jo'burg's domestic workers (ie. maids, nannies and housekeepers) during their leisure moments. These women seem to gather quite randomly and spontaneously on pavements and grass verges, in the shade if it's hot, or in the sun if it's cool, and talk and laugh and have a rich community life right on our suburban doorsteps. Secluded behind high walls, and isolated in my little studio, I sometimes feel quite envious of the ready availability of companion and friendship - though of course I am very aware of the privilege of being able to paint in my studio while someone else takes care of the ironing.
The paintings are small - just 25x25 cm - and I try to gather reference photos surreptitiously so noone is self-conscious or poses for the camera. I would like to draw them from life, but am sure that would cause consternation!

The weavers

More garden birds - the little weavers that return every spring to begin their exacting task of building a nest above our swimming pool. Like flying daffodils, the male frantically strips branches bare, collects strands of grass, bamboo, palm and yucca leaves, laboriously constructs the pendulous globes on the thinnest of twiggy branches, only to have them bossily rejected by his drab little mate. He then dismantles the whole affair and begins again - over and over and over until she finally gives the nod.
This year they have built them quite low down in the trees, which apparently means there won't be a very wet rainy season - no danger of floods. So far we've had weeks of wet overcast rainy weather. Hopefully they know something we don't, and the sun will be coming out soon!