Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas fare

The smell of peaches and plums is an instant reminder that Christmas is coming, and these with all the other bright and beautiful fruits in season now feels like wonderful abundance. The one Christmas we spent in the USA in glorious snow, with holly and mistletoe and jingle bells, also felt especially blessed, so I suppose one just appreciates the joys of whichever setting you're in at this time.
It is very hot here now, with a leisurely cricket match on TV in the background, a slow, sleepy feeling as Joburg empties out to the coast, with an occasional splash as someone cools off in the pool. All very laid back, but a busy shopping, cooking, preparing week ahead - with a daughter arriving from London on Monday for the holidays - thanks BA for holding off the strike!

17 comments:

Robyn Sinclair said...

What beautiful watercolour technique you have, Cathy. Stunning. I do hope there is more to follow - your paintings are a real Christmas treat :)

RH Carpenter said...

Love the glow on the fruits - makes me want to take a bite :)

Maree Clarkson said...

WOW! This is really beautiful Cathy! That Litchi is SO life-like, not even to talk about the fruit! And your leaves are TOTALLY exquisite. Well done!

Anonymous said...

Cathy, How wonderful this painting is. I woke up hear in Pittsburgh Pa with 4" of snow blanketing the ground and very cold. Whish I was there in the warmth of the sun. But since I'm hear and your there I' vist you often to feel the warth:)
Cathy I wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday,
Your'e friend,
Linda

laura said...

This is so beautiful, Cathy--all drawn beautifully and so crisply painted; reminds me a Charles Demuth painting.
You would love it here today: we've had a beautiful snowfall!

laura said...

Hi Cathy--Thanks for your comment on my post. I can't explain it very well, so I added a link to a section of Handprint where paint labeling is explained ... Apparently the "names" can be deceiving: though a paint my be called by different names, e.g., manganese or cyan, it may be made of the exact same pigments; the numbers are the pigment numbers.

Rosa Phoenix said...

those peaches look good enough to eat

Carol King said...

What a beautiful painting. I can taste those peaches! And I also love how you handle your greens. Your trees and foliage are always so terrific.

We have just had 12 inches of snow, so we will have a very different holiday. But in any case, I hope yours is happy and fun.

Gillian said...

Mmmm I can almost smell them. Yes,the scent of summer Christmas. That, and the smell of Coppertone -and the sea, which you won't smell in Jozies! So glad A. made it home safely in spite of pending strikes and snow. Your card arrived on Saturday, thank you so much. Merry Christmas to all the Gats. XXX

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Beautiful warm watercolour to greet us at Christmastime. Not only great urban sketches but stunning still life too from your fair hand. I do so admire your work Cathy.

Helen Percy Lystra said...

Lush... your painting made me hungry. Love the lushness of the Christmas tree too. Blessings to you this Christmas.

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks for all your warm wishes - even from some very cold climes! I hope to do a post to wish you all a happy Christmas, but in case I don't get to it (getting a bit hectic here)... I do, very warmly, to those that celebrate it... and Happy Holidays if not.

Art with Liz said...

Lovely and yummy Cathy, and wasn't the cricket nail biting?

caseytoussaint said...

This is gorgeous - I love Christmas in the southern hemisphere. Snow is overrated in my opinion. Enjoy the beautiful weather and have a great Christmas!

Laura Frankstone said...

How gorgeous, Cathy! It reminds me of a Della Robbia garland. Hope your Christmas was festive and that you were surrounded by loving family and friends. And, whew, that was great news about the BA strike, wasn't it?

Cathy said...

I love this sketch, so simple but quite powerful too! Your letchee is amazing!

Teresa said...

This is gorgeous... the fruit just glows!