Posted by Stephen on June 23, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, painting, portrait, watercolor, watercolour | 
Last week after hiking up to view the snow in the mountains above Franschoek we went down to the town for a coffee before driving home. I was frustrated at going up with palette and paper but no brushes so I sat and sketched the people at our table. In the end I only had time to paint fair Sinead before everyone jumped up and headed home:
At first I was not going to post it but have decided to put all work up – so
It is not too bad I suppose.
Here is a photo of our lunch spot. It was all too vast to capture on film:
Posted by Stephen on February 18, 2010 under Art, Bird, Drawing, painting, watercolor, watercolour |
On Tuesday evening this guy sat in the tree in our driveway. I took some photos and then my daughter climbed on the car and took a few more before he flew away. Here is how I have started:
here is the next wash
This is a Cape Eagle Owl, a large capable raptor and like all owls dead quiet in flight.
I noticed as I painted this watercolour that they have long needle sharp claws and incredibly powerful talons.
And here is the final – I see the paint is still wet so I may redo this later.
Yesterday I was working in my studio to complete a document for a client. The chicks were scratching in the bush outside the door. I heard a shriek and looking up saw the owl taking off under the tree. I ran out to be treated to the heart-rending sight of the owl flying off with Pikachoo in its talons. Over Debbie’s wall, then back over the open plot behind our house. Within two seconds she was gone. So… this is processing.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on October 13, 2009 under Art, Drawing, Spider, en plein air, watercolor, watercolour |
Sorry June – I just could not resist this. Isabelle suggested we paint the spiders in our lives – which I think is a good idea. I took a break earlier to lie on the deck in the shade and read the text I need to summarise now. But as I lifted the mattress I have out there this mama came running out. So I got my stuff and shooed her to the edge of the concrete tank behind which she was hiding. And she sat very nicely while I did these:
She is a Wandering or Lizard-eating spider family: Sparassidae: Palystes natalius. She is probably hanging around to eat the little frogs who are now emerging from the swimming pool which is the neighborhood breeding ground of choice. As she sits on the wall she is 100mm from back feet to front or four inches.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on September 26, 2009 under Art, Drawing, en plein air |
this morning we went to the slow-food market in Stellenbosch and I found corner to sit and sketch.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on August 2, 2009 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, pencil sketch |
This weekend has not been very productive on the watercolour front – I had a workshop to facilitate yesterday – and there were other things in the way. I started a new painting last night and another new one this afternoon but they are not ready to show yet. I did not take very good photos in the Cedarberg so have to work from a few photos to compose each painting. Anyway…
I had a chance to do some sketches in church during anouncement time and, I admit, during the preaching. But I have notes of the key points on which to reflect. This morning I was drawn to a father with his active child on his lap and then his wife and then the people sitting in front of them. Then later I drew the old couple sitting behind them, who sat really still.
Then this evening I drew this chap who sat at my table, during the announcements:
Later I drew this chap with some of the people sitting around him:
Leslie mentioned that her little dog adopted a few standard positions so she could follow her around to complete a composite of the dog in different positions. I started two different positions but the chap eventually spent most of his time in the one I completed. As I drew I also thought of Bill’s economy of line which is a skill I would like to develop.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on July 20, 2009 under Art, Cedarberg, Drawing, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour |
It was so pleasant to sleep in the cave. During the night something shot out of the rocks into my back and off into the rocks again. A little mouse. I thought these things were supposed to hibernate or something. Later another sped around the back of the cave. I have been troubled by bushy tailed rats before, who can be really persistent in looking through packs for food. But this time I had put all of my food in a bag hanging from a flake in the roof of the cave (me 1: mice 0).
The morning broke clear, with a fresh easterly wind (which did not suggest bad weather). So I got up and painted this watercolour, a morning view of the same scene from the previous night:
mmm – OK – a useful record for a studio version maybe.
Then, just because it was so nice up there I dawdled as I drank some tea and did a watercolour of my cooker:
Then I packed up and headed out. I had a pile of pumpernickle bread that I decided not to carry down and left for the mice.
On the way down I paused on the Shale Band, when I found three oranges I had carried up and certainly did not want to carry a step further. So I sat and painted this view – similar to the one of the previous day:
And then I walked down the final ravine to the car.
There was a final river to cross and on the road up the oak trees I saw baboon prints in the sand. I had walked into a troup the previous day, on the way up but they had given way. But this I knew was NOT a good sign. And sure enough – they had been all over my car – maybe they could smell the remaining food inside – but they had broken off my radio antennae and carried it off – I could not find it anywhere.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on June 7, 2009 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, pencil sketch |
Here is a sketch I did in church this morning of the couple sitting in front of me. I was listening to Gavin talk through Psalm 13. Old David really battled with aflicition and depression. What a guy!
I captured the chap OK but his wife was moving around quite a bit so it was a bit more difficult – and I jotted down more notes than usual. I would love to be able to have my paint set out. I will find other opportunities to do this. I read a blog a while ago of someone who paints people in coffee shops. Eeek – that is a bit scary. But the time is coming for this.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on May 17, 2009 under Art, Drawing, figure, pencil sketch, portrait |
I am afraid I cannot resist the opportunity when people sit still for longer than a few minutes. This morning I did this sketch of the couple sitting in front of me in church. I would love to haul out my watercolour sketch kit but that would be too disruptive. Actually, maybe not – NO – desist!!! (o:
here are some of the sketches I have done in the past. This is Peter Makapela preaching:
and here is someone else:
and others:
here is a sketch I did of my son Calvin looking wild and wooly:
And here is a chap who sat in front of me the other day:
And finally, another sketch looking down from the gallery at the people sitting below:
