Abstract Birch Trees

Abstract Birch Trees
39*41"
Oil On Canvas



Here I have used the same trees that I have used in the Ndebele Inspired Birch Trees, I was trying to bring in more true Ndebele forms. So what I did was I added the diagonal lines on the left side and painted a black border around the painting, I also added more white lines as seen in Ndebele paintings.

So the result: to me it looks more like a cartoon forest with a barber shop on the side. ;) What I do like about it, is the energetic colours and the fact that this time my trees unmistakeably look like trees. Unlike here where someone had said that it almost looked like somebody's spine.
I also love to play with warm and cool colours. As we all know cool colours seem to pull deeper into the painting where as warm colours seem to pop out in to the forefront. Here you can see how I joked with it and painted the tree that is furthest away red and the tree closer blue. You can see, if you can find more examples of my colour temperature goofiness in other paintings.

I believe that my exploration of Ndebele painting is done for now.  Next I am working on a special commission and then for more....you will have to wait and see!

Night of Artists Onoway

Here is an image of my booth at the most recent Night of Artists In Onoway. It was a very successful evening with lots of art curious patrons coming to see my work. People mostly commented on my colour use because it is so bright. Other more painting experienced patrons noted that my application of paint on to my canvas is unusual and a lot of them have not  heard of painting with a painting knife before.
Other found my Ndebele inspired work very interesting, but people preferred my florals especially the sunflowers and the Protea painting.
For me the night was very enriching. I was able to connect with other artists and talk art jargon. I also picked up on a few more art tips on how to present my paintings more professionally.
So what is next?
Well, I am signed up for Whyte Ave Art Walk this year that is a three day ordeal. I am very excited for the opportunity.

Abstract Crab Apples

Abstract Crab Apples
16*20"
Oil on canvas



Here I have incorporated more geometric forms. I placed the geometric forms as a border around the Crab apples as seen in Ndebele art. I have not yet found what the different colors means in Ndebele, maybe I should just assign meanings to colors myself?

Ndebele Inspired Birch Trees

Oil on Canvas
20*30"



This is a painting of Birch trees. What I really like about Birch Trees are the knobs, old branches and scars that turns black on the smooth whitish bark and the lines that develop around these "marks of age". As you can see I have moved away from my traditional style of almost realistic florals but is now moving more towards abstract and geometric forms inspired by the Ndebele paintings.
I have always found their paintings very appealing due to the bright colour use. If you have not noticed, I thrive on vibrant colour!

So why use Ndebele paintings as inspiration?
See every artist is influenced by everything they see, I wish to call this my visual vocabulary. The Ndebele tribe lives in the Pretoria region where I used to live and I use to see ladies wear blankets and beads with bright coloured geometric forms. Thus, it is part of my visual vocabulary.
Currently I am residing in Alberta where I see plenty of Birch and Aspen trees. Birch trees happens to be my favourite :). So now I have combined my visual vocabulary on one painting.
Birch trees through African eyes.

If you are intersted in Ndebele Paintings aswell here is a very informative link.

http://academic.evergreen.edu/projects/wallpainting/ndebele.htm

Here is a picture of a birch tree forest. It is not the picture  I used as reference in the painting, but here you can see the light color bark and the black spots and lines. You can also see that they grow in "waves" sometimes.