Finally 20 minutes

Today we had torrential rainfall and the studio was nice and quiet.

Finally I could set my timer to do "20 minute paintings" I have been so busy with preparations for my classes, meetings, preparations for next schoolterm, catching up on work etc. that I hadn't even be able to find time for 20 minutes works. I was craving for some "me" painting, don't get me wrong, I am happy doing what I do, but sometimes I feel like I am forever making samples (which are quick paintings in their own right of course) but they are not really "my" paintings if you get what I mean ? They are technical examples for the students to learn from, so often they are not completely finished either, to show the process rather than just the finished work. So when my friend Jane Spakowsky came up with the solution of doing 20 minute paintings, I really felt like doing some. But wow, is it HARD !!!!! 20 minutes goes by so quickly when you're doing a portrait......I normally spend quite some time fiddling on portraits until I am happy. But... well, eventhough I was itching to change some things or add some things, I stopped when the buzzer sounded and here she is :

"Miss Sadie with Flowers" - 29 x 38 cm on wood

and then I quickly did a cardboard box for another sample becuase I still had to prepare for next week which is schoolholidays here and I always run art classes for kids in the holidays : A peacock

 

The Secret Life of a Funky Bird

This is the latest spread in my Coptic Journal. A fresco style page on the right (that proud little Peacock Chicky) and the other side and the little insert booklet is matched in colours and paints. I wrote a bunch of inspirational quotes and did a funny little bird collage/painting in the centre insert. Just wanted to show that even with the traditional fresco style you can do some unconventional colours and designs, and hey, I just had a lot of FUN ! and that is what it is all about right ? PLAY pLaY Play ;)

a Cinderella Story

Quick, quick, she's late, she's late....

She started out as a Marie Antoinette

she ended up more like a Cinderella

among many other materials

I used the "old stone wall technique"

She is on 15.5' x 20.5' Marine-wood

(that's what they use here to build boats with, hehe)