Those Magnificent Men

I joined our sketching group on our second trip to the Museum of Military History on Saturday - our first being four years ago, amazing we've been meeting that long, with two original members and a few newer ones along the way.

I wanted to sketch the Spitfire that last time was in the middle of the display area, my Dad  having been a Spitfire pilot in WWII. I couldn't find it and presumed it had been taken somewhere for an exhibition or for maintenance, so started sketching this plane from the 1st World War, a Scout Experimental 5a (SE5a) of the Royal Flying Corps. Sitting there squinting at its details in the dimly lit hall, you can't help but feel the ghosts of the young men that were brave enough to go up in these then revolutionary and flimsy looking flying machines. The straps that held them in, the tiny wires they'd adjusted wing angles with - as my focus moved to the background and I added the propeller of the plane behind it, it dawned on me that that was the Spitfire huddled in the corner... ah well, I was enjoying the play of light on the ribs and bones of the older plane. I ditched the water(aquash)brush  that I've been using, and its scrubby colour - great to mix up some juicy washes with a real brush. I feel the need to find a way to enjoy sketching again - it's been getting a bit mechanical lately (ironic to try it on machinery!)


I wanted to make a quick second sketch before leaving, so with a loaded brush just put down the main shapes of the BMW 'Afrika Corps' motorbike without getting too bogged down in the detail. These were used by the Germans in North Africa c1942, this one rebuilt from spare parts donated by collectors and from spares shops.

These are some of the other sketches done - you can see them all here on facebook and get a better idea of the whole museum.

It occurs to me that I sometimes pick old songs and movies as titles for my blog posts, that some younger visitors may never have heard of before - this one's from a movie that came out when I was ten, and thought was the funniest thing I'd ever seen.

Changing Newtown

These are admittedly pretty ugly sketches of a hard-to-love section of town (I'm learning to!) but it has been fascinating to watch it change.

I didn't know at the time I started sketching in this street last year how much those old grain silos in the background were going to be transformed over the next nine months. I noticed that they'd started cutting windows in them once I started drawing them in this first sketch (below) that I posted last August.

I went back there to sketch a couple of months later to find that more windows had appeared, and shipping containers were piled on top of the silos...

...and last Saturday when my sketching friend John and I returned - in the top sketch - curtains are up, pot plants and paint... a whole new block of accommodation called Mill Junction for nearby Wits and University of Johannesburg students! I'm not sure what the green circles on top are, maybe something to do with its green and energy-efficient claims.

Impala Stampede

I went with a small group of Joburg Sketchers into the city on Saturday, to the financial district on Main St. I wanted to draw this sculpture which is a replica (or restoration?) of one created by Herman Wald - commissioned in the 60's by Harry Oppenheimer in memory of his father Ernest. The iconic original bronze was located nearby in the Oppenheimer Park, but during a stage of urban decay and neglect was vandalised and presumably sold for scrap.
Anyway, here it is now, looking beautiful  - joyous in summer, as I last saw it, with fountains playing and agapanthus blooming. But on this autumn day with a chilly wind whistling round the tall buildings, me sniffing and snorting with the back end (I hope) of a rotten cold and the statue mostly in shade, all seemed a bit deserted and forlorn, with the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court peering sternly through the grasses. The security guards who stopped to chat assured me that during the week it's a hive of activity, so perhaps I'll go back when it's busier (and in summer when it's warmer.)
The only other interaction I had was with a rather unsteady fellow who wanted to discuss politics with me, but couldn't quite remember the politician's name he wanted to talk about - and also omitted to remove his earphones so couldn't hear my point of view if I'd had one. All in all not the best ever day out sketching, but at least I can tick the Impalas off my to-do list!

Anniversary Special

                     

Bruce and I astonishingly reached 35 years of marriage last week, and celebrated by taking a trip -♫♪♩♬ just the two of us ♫♪♩♬ - to the little town of Clarens in the eastern Free State, just 4 hours drive from Joburg. It's a place I've always wanted to visit, being renowned for its scenic beauty and its bounteous artistic community. No wonder artists gravitate there, the surrounding countryside is breathtakingly magnificent and I certainly felt the pull of becoming a landscape painter. From the car window I did attempt one quick sketch of some of the enormous sky, which looked like a supremely adept artist had wielded a giant paintbrush of infinite blues across it. How inadequate were my little bag of materials and dabbings.

       

 It was, however, our anniversary, so I couldn't spend our time sketching while my beloved amused himself, but did a couple of hurried scribbles here and there, mostly for my own memory banks (if I don't sketch it, how will I ever remember it?)

We hiked, and drove, and explored the nearby Golden Gate national park where I tried to capture some shy baboons. Not as used to cars as some troops we've seen, they lolloped off as soon as they sensed they were being watched. I could watch and draw them all day, such characters, so full of human characteristics!

Another few opportunities snatched while we sampled the Clarens Craft beer, a cup of tea in a café (the Artist's Café of course!),

one of three delicious dinners we had in different restaurants in town... this table appeared to be of brothers and their spouses who eat out a lot together - hardly a word was exchanged! And the couple on the left only had eyes for each other...

and some local residents from the car while Bruce did something useful and necessary. So very much more to draw and paint - one would have to move there to really have a chance to do a fraction of it. But a wonderful trip in every way, not least of all spending dedicated time alone with my very special man! 

Blubird of Happiness

Refiloe behind her veggie stall

View from our café table

Honey and pots for sale

Pastel de Nata!

 The Joburg Sketchers went to the Blubird Wholefood Market on Sunday morning - invited by the organiser, it was nice to feel so welcome! Interesting to note the different reactions to our presence in this upmarket shopping centre after the lively feedback we had in the city a few weeks ago... some surreptitious peeks over my shoulder, sideways glances and generally non-committal. One lady came over for a friendly chat before asking, "you are going to vote for the D.A. aren't you?" so I think she had an ulterior motive!
We were joined by four new sketchers - with one originally from Lisbon, and Pasteis de Nata on sale at a bakery stall, it was lovely to reminisce on the Lisbon urban sketching Symposium of three years ago. Registration has opened for the 2014 Symposium in Paraty, Brazil and I'm sad not to be rushing to put my name down - just too far away and too much expense for a few days of sketching indulgence, tempting as it is!

Market Theatre

Just two of us on our First Friday of the month sketch date last week in Newtown - we walked around to the other side of Mary Fitzgerald Square to sit in front of the Market Theatre to draw. When I sketched here a couple of years ago, it was the up and coming, vibey Market Precinct with art galleries, restaurants and street markets, but it's taken a bit of a backward step with nothing much happening besides being a thoroughfare. Lots of building going on though (hence the construction workers in top sketch), so perhaps it will rise again as a hub of activity and enterprise.

Conversations in the City

Three of us lucky ones who weren't at work on a Tuesday morning went back to the CBD to do more sketches for the Joburg Joburg exhibition which opens on Saturday. It was fascinating for a suburban-dweller to sit on the streets of a normal working day in the city, and to experience the responses that our presence there generated.

Old Standard Bank building and Victory House

Our first stop on a pavement next to some workmen fixing a manhole was fairly uneventful as people rushed past, some comments drifting to us about "iArtisti" with the odd quizzical glance. But later we moved to a public square in front of the City Hall (closed off last week for the filming of the Avengers) where we were more exposed, and visitors arrived thick and fast. Here's the gist of some of the conversations that took place, as I remember them: 

Barbican building and burnt out and ransacked Old Rissik St Post Office, opposite City Hall

Security guard: "Hello ma, I have been told not to allow anyone to sit here"
Me: Oh, why is that, isn't this for the public?
S.G.:  "Yes but you see this tree (a large, elderly palm tree in the middle) - it might fall down and squash you."
Me: Well, it's been there for quite a while, I'm willing to take my chances.
S.G. "There are CCTV cameras all over here, watching us as we speak."
Me: But we are doing nothing wrong, I am sketching here as people do in cities around the world (short explanation of urban sketching)
S.G. "Well all right, but if the tree falls on you, don't blame me"
Me: OK, if I survive, I won't...

Well dressed older man: "Hello Mami, what is this you are doing?"
Me: (short explanation of urban sketching)
WDOM: "Do you sell these things for money?"
Me: No, it's just a hobby, for my own enjoyment and to show our city to the world.
WDOM: "Are you a pensioner? (Me:  >:-O) What do you do for your job?"
Me: I sometimes make drawings for educational books and other businesses that I get paid for.
WDOM: "Oh, you are very rich then... Are you married?"
Me: Yes
WDOM: "He must love you very much to do these things. How long have you been married?"
Me: Almost 35 years
WDOM: "Oh, he knows you inside and out then"

One of two young dudes, as his friend engages my friend Leonora: " Wow, no way! Hello Ma! What are you guys doing here, you drawing this place!?"
Me: (longer explanation of urban sketching as he's so interested)
Other YD, draping himself over Leonora's shoulders: Come take a photo of me with this artist!
After photo, my YD: Can I take a photo of your drawing? Can I take a photo of you? Can I have a photo together with you?  And finally, a stinging parting shot: It's great but ma, you're too old to be doing these drawings...
YD to other YD as they move off: Hey, this is our lucky day!

There were others; some wanted photos, some wanted to know where to buy sketching supplies, some wanted lessons, some got details to join Joburg Sketchers, one went to fetch his little sister from school and brought her back to have a look. Altogether a really happy few hours in the CBD, where you're never alone and ignored - even if rather forthright about how very ancient you are!!