Posted by Stephen Quirke on November 25, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 
I have just completed some work with a client in Durban. We worked as a team in a lovely light, airy room in a nursery on a hillside on the outskirts of the city. I love the tropical climate in Durban. It is hot and humid, though, in mid summer, visitors like me can find it stifling. Fortunately the weather is overcast so it was cool. The Nursery, “Green with Envy” was just around the corner from where I stayed, so I returned yesterday to sit and reflect on the session. There is such a pleasant coffee shop. Wednesday is ladies day apparently so the coffee shop was chock-a-block with chattering groups of women. I joyful sound. I found a quieter place on a terrace where I could sit in my private fog of exhaustion and enjoy the huge trees, the bird calls and the tree frogs that called now and again.
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Posted by Stephen Quirke on November 18, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, pencil sketch |
Whenever I can make it, I meet on Thursday mornings with a group of guys from my church at CJ’s, to study the bible. We are currently going through the Genesis which you may imagine makes for interesting discussion. We usually sit in a little lounge area inside. There is an eclectic group of regulars who sit on the tables outside. They are mostly smokers as there is now a law prohibiting smoking in restaurants here in SA. But there are some really interesting looking characters.
Yesterday I facilitated a hectic workshop with a group. It is such a beautiful thing to see a group move from widely diverging ideas and feelings to alignment and trust, through conversation. I love this work. There was one rather arrogant person who tried to disrupt the workshop process, which was a bit of an energy sink but it was a long, hard and fulfilling day.
When I got to CJ’s it seemed that I was the only one in our group. I felt drained so I went to sit outside with a Latte.
It really is time that I took my sketching out on the street so I sat and sketched the people at the other tables. The two guys at the top were praying together. Well I thought at least they would be nice and still. But as I looked up from that point, they were already walking out. It was so quick!
Posted by Stephen Quirke on November 14, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, pencil sketch |
Here is a sketch I did of Gavin preaching from Hebrews 6. I was listening – really. But I was also trying to catch his hands as he gesticulated.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on October 30, 2010 under Art, Drawing, figure, painting, watercolor, watercolour |
Yesterday afternoon I did some pencil sketches from photos of people on the beach. I really enjoy working with a pencil and this exercise was relaxing. Last night I drew up two of the figures on watercolour paper and did some painting.
These are both on Fabriano and are 360 x 260 mm.
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Posted by Stephen Quirke on September 20, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, sketch |
Last night the lights came on in a small corner of the universe. I was listening to Donovan, our minister who is a graphic artist, preaching from Ecclesiastes chapter 11. The ‘Teacher’ in the book is investigating the meaning of life. In this chapter he says that if we wait for the perfect timing or all the information, we will get nothing done. ”No” he says “Get out there, live life, take risks, get your hands dirty, do what you love. But just take heed. What you do will be judged. So do right.” For me a liberating message. But the part that I found really exciting, me who is wrestling with synthesising my desire to paint with my love for assisting people with their work, the part I loved was in verse 6 of chapter 11. ”Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” heh heh – phew! – just do both. And enjoy them both…
And while I listened I sketched my friend Andre, also focusing and taking notes, I don’t think he was sketching.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on August 28, 2010 under Art, Drawing, figure, painting, portrait, watercolor, watercolour |
OK so I have been dabbling in facebook. And if you think blogging sucks time out of your day, well, facebook is MUCH worse. much much MUCH worse. But… there is an up side. I have come across some amazing painters, some friendly people and one or two people who clearly have to get over themselves – mmm – delete friend. Anyway not to get too sidetracked…
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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 April 10, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour |
As I get into my reading for my research I am spending less time painting. This is unfortunate but I hope to be able to take some time out to paint. Last weekend we spent a night with our friends at Betty’s Bay. Another relaxing evening. The winter swell is hitting the Cape and I went out with Calvin and Jonty but was too chicken to catch any waves because they were peaking and closing out so fast. Our break at the pipe was a little easier and I had time to ride some monsters this week (for me anyway). But while in Betty’s I had a chance to paint one watercolour. And I took a video though I have not had a chance to edit it and will more than likely wait until I can do something better before I take the time to post another video on YT. Here is the painting which I left with our gracious hosts:
I was not so wild about the end result and this past week got to hectic to reflect on this so here it is now.
And here is a photo Sinead took while I was drawing. It shows how I place the video camera on a tripod in front of me. I still have to get used to working more at arms length – like Alvaro – this I feel can only be a GOOD thing – heh heh
Posted by Stephen on March 30, 2010 under Art, Drawing, en plein air, figure, pencil sketch |
I stayed in Wilderness while I worked for a client in George. One evening I went to have a pizza at Pomodoro, in the old Post Host in the town. I had decided to go over some notes for the next day’s session as I sat there and had decided not to take a sketch book or my watercolour set even though I would love to sit there and paint the scene. I was reading. I was! But then I looked up and could not resist the scene. I didn’t even have a pencil so I drew this on the back of one of my note pages with my ball-point pen:
As I got to this point the couple got up and left with the child. So I read some more until looking up again I saw this scene:
And waiting for my bill I worked to get the guy’s head right:
And then I was ready for the next day – and ready for a night of rest, listening to the night-jars.
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.
I have just completed some work with a client in Durban. We worked as a team in a lovely light, airy room in a nursery on a hillside on the outskirts of the city. I love the tropical climate in Durban. It is hot and humid, though, in mid summer, visitors like me can find it stifling. Fortunately the weather is overcast so it was cool. The Nursery, “Green with Envy” was just around the corner from where I stayed, so I returned yesterday to sit and reflect on the session. There is such a pleasant coffee shop. Wednesday is ladies day apparently so the coffee shop was chock-a-block with chattering groups of women. I joyful sound. I found a quieter place on a terrace where I could sit in my private fog of exhaustion and enjoy the huge trees, the bird calls and the tree frogs that called now and again.
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