Friday, June 12, 2009

Damp sunshiny day

Winter in Joburg is usually as dry as a bone - your hair crackles and flies, you get nasty static electric shocks when you touch door handles and each other, and though the air may be icy, you can always find a sunny spot to curl up, thaw out, and doze in... but this week, it has rained and rained and rained, so my sketchercising outdoors came to a halt. I know I can't expect sympathy from you who live in much wetter climes, but rain and cold bring out the quivering wimp in me!
However, this morning the sun emerged and I put on my tackies and hotfooted it down to the dam. A few metres on from the stagnant pond is the edge of the main dam [which was built on the farm called Emmarentia (after the farmer's wife) at the end of the Boer War by returning landless farmers] where I sat to draw and paint the ducks, and then the broader view from the same bench.
After the rain, everything seemed washed clean and the damp drippy foliage was full of sparkles and subtle herby smells - beautiful and worth the few wet days - but the clouds are building up again, and I think I speak for most Joburgers when I say That's enough!

14 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

Cathy, your paintings were well needed by me today after buckets of rain yesterday evening through the night and fog today. Not typical for my part of the world but it does happen. I do love fog as long as I don't have to drive a long distance in it. Your freshness in the paintings shows, with a seemingly "wet" light - is that possible? Anyway, love them both and like the bit of history added in.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

these are two lovely sketches Cathy...love especially that one duck's very attractive backside. you have all my sympathy with the rain, I understand completely! We, on the other hand, had abreak today with beatuful sunshine, I could even go and paints some poppies plein ai. now that I've done my poppies, I wish you all the sunshine next week!
Ronell

Art with Liz said...

Hi Cathy, seems as though we've swopped weather this week as we've had fantastic warmth and SUNshine! Love these sketches and the lovely sparkle of the water.

laura said...

Cathy, these are ab fab (absolutely fabulous)--the water in both is so perfect; even has the look of sunshine-after-rain! Your willows and ducks are superb as well.
Cold rain is the very worst. It's been unusually rainy here-it raineth everyday!--but at least it's warm, and this morning, when I got caught out in it, I actually found myself enjoying it.

Charlene Brown said...

It sounds like you'e having the kind of winter we finally emerged from, about a month late, in March. Your treatment of today's washed clean environment is just lovely -- hope the dam stays looking that pleasant for a few days anyway.

Isabel said...

love the second sketch best as it seems much freer and painterly but love the first composition we're backing in Mauritania it is summer here but if there is any rain will be in the next few months hope you get the sun soon

Gillian said...

A quick hi from Oregon where it is cool and overcast too. We had lots of rain last night - gentle and constant. The countryside is just beautiful. Roses in Salem in full bloom - stunning colours. Your w/c sketches are beautiful, as always.

RH Carpenter said...
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Cathy said...

I love the two sketches, but particularly the second one. It's so fresh and watery... well no wonder with all that rain!

Penny said...

love these sketches. Wish I had known where you live, my sister has just left for Johannesburg en route to other parts and I think has 5 days at the end of her trip, she was terrified of going on her own.
Must put you on my list of blogs.Thanks for the comment.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

I have so enjoyed catching up on your posts but what fascinates me is your own personal language ie 'sketchercising' - it says it all. Love the pencil figures. Sorry entry turned down but it happens to us all - most of the time!!!! Love the 'feel' of your Joburg weather report and the light sketches.

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks all for your comments and commiserations - have got suddenly busy but hope to be back soon.
Joan - sketchercising is Katherine Tyrrell's term she invented - she's started a new group on her Travels with a Sketchbook blog.

Suzanne McDermott said...

Your watercolor sketches are charming and unique! The palette gives a wonderful sense of mood!

lolly-jolly said...

OH the second painting is so lovely i just die for aplace like this here so calm, comfortable, warm and i don't know what else. Beautiful!!!