The Owlings portrait of two sisters in watercolor : Magical Realism painting

This is my new painting, titled “The Owlings”

This lovely whimsical painting was inspired by a folk-style portrait of two girls I saw from the 1800’s.

It was a tradtion in former times for parents to place a coral necklaces on children as coral was thought to protect the wearer from ill health and harm.

I love the style of Magical Realism painting, where is the subject matter is often blurred between realism and a strong nuance of the quirky or magical.

This painting is primarily done in watercolours, with touches of gold, silver and coloured pigment ink.

I particularly enjoyed painting the two sisters, as it is a dedication to my own sister and the beautiful spirit of sisterhood…

….who knows what they, and their little totem owls within their arms are thinking?

Paintings like this one are so very special that I only release a small amount of print reproductions of them. The edition of this size print of the painting is only 50 prints and is available for sale here.

The original painting is also for sale – please contact me for more information. Thanks for visiting !

Leda and the Swan : a new watercolor painting

I have finally completed this painting, which I’ve been working on over the year. You can see its progress here. It is based upon Leda and the Swan , the ancient Greek myth of Zeus disguised as a swan who seduces the innocent mortal Leda.

I wanted an African nuance, but ethereal too, with allusions to flight and feathers; the dreaminess of Leda’s imagination as she ponders Zeus’s love…This painting was done in watercolor on my favourite Stonehenge paper, with touches of gold paint, coloured pencil and ink.

I have gorgeous art prints for sale in my online shop, and the original is also for sale here.

What is a Merrow…? Gorgeous Limited Edition Mermaid prints now available..

A Merrow is a gentle Irish mermaiden in Celtic folklore.

I painted this romantic watercolour painting , “Merrow Kiss” quite some time ago, and released it in a limited edition run of prints. It is definitely one of my favourite paintings; I love anything to do with these mysterious mythical creatures whose bodies – half human, half fish, symbolise the feminine connection with imagination, love and sensuality. The prints sold out quickly and due to requests by a number of customers recently, I am releasing it as a limited edition poster print.

This poem by W.B Yeats was my inspiration ~

“A Mermaid found a swimming lad,
Picked him for her own,
Pressed her body to his body,
Laughed; and plunging down
Forgot in cruel happiness
That even lovers drown”

The print comes signed and titled by me with a certificate of authenticity. For a limited time I am able to offer it with free shipping anywhere in the world. You can find it for sale in my online shop Here.

I’ve never reblogged another post before; this beautifully written one had so many important elements that I love: most notably Art and Spirituality ~ that I had to share it!

Awakening to the Dance

“Let yourself be open and life will be easier.  A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable.  A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.”  Buddha Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni

How do you feel about new ideas that appear in your life?  Do they frighten you?  Do they offer you a new perspective that broadens your thinking?

Re-evaluating Your Life

As I mentioned last week, I don’t make resolutions any more, but I do think about the New Year and what I hope will happen during it.  I try to notice what I may be hanging onto that I really need to release.  As I evaluated all of this last week, I realized that I mainly want to continue on the track I’m on now—writing and promoting my book and speaking.  I feel a real passion for it, but I also realize each…

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The Sacred Union of Female and Male : Art of Lovers

The Masculine and Feminine revolve

through nature and life as One.

The Sun and Moon symbolize a great

power of love and balance…

~John Robson of Nitesongs~

Throughout my artistic life I have been drawn to expressing the beauty and power of romance between Feminine and Masculine elements. The Lover Archetypes are inherent throughout all cultures, religions and mythologies, and is woven deep within our collective consciousness and the very laws of Nature herself. Here are some of the paintings that I have been inspired to create in honour of the love that man and woman have spun together in the timeless dance of sacred love, union and deep mutual fascination that is the basis of the creation of human life…

you can click on the images for more information

Lover’s Tryst : a mixed media painting collage of Romance & Poetry

I have been experimenting again with various natural elements and media to create a wonderfully evocative painting full of the Archetypal symbolism of Love, reminiscent of the beautiful romantic paintings of Gustav Klimt and Marc Chagall.

Here I explore the promises, dreams and awakening spirituality associated with the profound union of a man and a woman, the merging of two kindred souls. Below is a detailed image of this collage, with the poem that I wrote which is featured in the painting.

I have painted it on beautiful ivory coloured smooth Stonehenge watercolour paper, using a mixture of watercolours, gouache, gesso, wax, coloured pencils, gold and silver pigment inks, mosaic slices of copper, pewter and brass and dried pressed flowers that I collected whilst living in various countries. This picture mostly has pressed poppies – I also did a Fairy picture a few years ago with wild flower collage and watercolours which you can see here available as an art print for sale: Flora Fairy Painting

This Lovers painting is available as a Limited Edition print at my shop Here:   ~ I will only be making 50 prints in 7 x 10 inch size and I have the first artist’s Proof for sale. I feel that some of the more personal paintings I have done deserve to be released as small runs of limited edition prints – this means that there is only a certain number of these prints produced in a particular size – after they have all been sold no more will be ever produced.

You can see more of my Lover Art if you click on the menu to the left.

Thank you for visiting my blog, and may you walk in Love : )

Unicorn Painting

This was my most recent painting for Redwhisper Studio. As some of you may know, I have moved back from beautiful Australia to my homeland of South Africa. John is still running the wonderful business we created together, only he is now the captain at the helm! He is also immersing himself in his music, and you can hear a selection of his amazing original songs here.

I am following my own artistic journey and will still be creating designs and paintings for Redwhisper Studio when I can. Please keep an eye on this, my website, for more of my original art, paintings, etchings, limited edition prints and jewelery designs as well as mixed media and other hand made items and ideas exploring soulful creativity, Archetype energy and the healing power of colour and symbolism.

This painting explores the essence and symbolism of the Unicorn archetype: guardian of innocence, protector and bringer of courage.

You can purchase a beautiful art print of this unicorn painting here.

Mosaic musings….

Recently I attended a mosaic workshop which is something I have always wanted to try out.
It was a whole day Saturday workshop run by the wonderfully creative ladies at Dish in Johannesburg.
I love the textures and colour expressive of this art form, and the hands-on experience really involves one with the media used.
Tiles are smashed or cut or delicately chipped into shapes and forms, mirrors are used with gleeful abandon as well as the odd cryptic word or symbol…
….and little surprises come out with the grout!

All in all it was a very satisfying workshop and the end result captured the mood of the moment.
The first attempt of what will definitely be many many more joyful experiences with mosaic!

Mosaic inspired the likes of Chagall (who actually used it in various commissions) and Klimt. Reminiscent of bygone archaic Byzantine art, it is perfect for capturing opulence and mystery in a highly decorative way.

The Owl House

I am currently on an extended stay in my home country of South Africa, re-connecting with my family and taking in the exquisitely vibrant countryside for inspiration and new developments.

I stopped off on our travels around the beautiful Eastern Cape province into the tiny and little known township Neiu Bethesda in the dry Karoo region. The only reason one would do this is thanks to an incredibly visionary woman called Helen Martins. This amazing but extremely isolated outsider artist lived here up until 1976 when she took her own life due to her failing eyesight and subsequent struggle to realise her creative urges.

Her life here was made known by the wonderful South African writer Athol Fugart in his play (and resulting Hollywood film) The Road to Mecca. Helen left a treasure of art and imagination in her tiny home and backyard, some of which can be seen in the photos below. It is now called The Owl House.

What captivated me the most about her ethereal realm was the care and vivid imagination that went into creating it. She lived this creation every day; she slept and dreamt within its luminescent walls and smiling, whimsical faces of the creatures she had conjured up from cement, wire, beer bottles and pieces of discarded ephemera…and then she gave them life and showed them to us.

Thank you dear Miss Helen for such a joyful gift from such a lonely but inspired heart….

emigre

preliminary to a painting

watercolour & pencil.