Posted by mennie on 12:28 AM
Morning GlowCompletion Date: 21st December 2010Dimensions: 80cm W x 40cm H x 1.6cm DI love of the colours in this one and the layering & weaving effect achieved - subtle but effective.
Click on pictures for a supersized view!
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year! ;o)
Posted by mennie on 8:57 AM
In planning a West Coast garden, I decided to take my cue from the surrounding veld. There are no trees in the pristine fynbos, so I did not plant any. This is not a coast of waving palm trees and huge tall plants, and I often see people planting them because they love trees/want shade/want birds/need something tall as a focal point, or for whatever reason. But surely one would then attract the wrong sort of birds, because our Cape Robins, Francolins and Black Oystercatchers sleep on the ground or in low vegetation.
Another rule would be to have no flowers that will start spreading into the fynbos. Nasturtiums are a no-no! I plant so that there is always a great display of colour. This is a long narrow garden and I want colour as far as the eye can see. By not trimming and allowing plants to grow together there are never any weeds as there is no room for them. Because of harsh rainless summers you need plants that do not need a lot of water. We are planning to make some "green" plans this year to water the patch of lawn.
In the photos you will notice that I allow the wild pelargoniums, sorrel, watsonias, Livingstone daisies (bokbaai vygies), all types of aloes and ragwort to grow where they want to. I make no division between wild and cultivated plants.
My garden has been photographed by many people who can see it over the walls, and are thrilled by all the colour! This is a garden where I spend about 4 days working in a year, while the buffalo grass grows vertical and needs trimming about every third week only.
Posted by mennie on 2:10 AM
Size: 60.0cm W x 30.5cm H x 3.5cm D
See close-ups below or click above on main image for a supersized view!
(Completed 7th December 2009)
Posted by mennie on 4:28 AM
Size: 71 cm W x 35.5cm H x 3.5cm D
Completed today!!!
I'm in the middle of relocating house...but am keeping my sanity with a few smaller paintings before getting settled. They've been selling well on eBay too!!! YAY!!!
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Click on top (main) image for an even larger view! Below are some close-ups!
Posted by mennie on 5:03 AM
The West Coast had its first winter rains, and 9000 species of flowering plants are gearing up for spring which is almost four months away. Even before Nature breaths the word 'spring', the wild geraniums burst into flower. I made this very fast and impressionistic painting to show the abundant foliage and the loose clusters of flowers bearing toward the light.
We love our little SASOL field guide to fynbos of Southern Africa, and I am going to use their descriptions to add to my own. This flowering plant is one of the parents of the Regal pelargonium hybrids. The leaves contain essential oils that are extracted and used in traditional medicines to treat coughs and chest complaints. About 250 different Pelargonium species are known from Africa, Madagascar, the Middle East and Australia, but mostly from here where we are at the moment. The florist geraniums that are a favourite in many window boxes worldwide are popularly thought to be of European origin, but are actually Pelargonium hybrids.
Posted by mennie on 4:33 PM
Size: 40.5cm W x 30.5cm H x 3.5cm D
Just trying out some different variations in flower & leaf colours & contrasts. I like the 'scalloped' edges of the leaves. I tried out a monotone mid-blue background as my starting point, but a feel that the mid-tone didn't provide enough contrast with the dots to give a sense of depth.
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Below are some close-ups. Click on images for an even larger view!
Posted by mennie on 1:37 AM
Size: 71cm W x 36cm H x 3.5cm D
A calm yet rippling water surface of a pond has been created using concentric circles. I’ve developed this pattern further it by using four different colour schemes for the circles - the mottled effect looks like rain drops on the waters surface. The flowers & leaves are an example of geometric patterns found in nature which is emphasized with the colour shadings.This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Below is a close-up. Click on images for an even larger view!
Posted by mennie on 8:08 PM
Size: 60cm W x 75cm H
I particularly love the cherry tree - when in flower there are no leaves, just the clash of stalk-like branches and bursts of flowers intertwining. Reminds me of walking in the park in winter...
And 2nd prize abstract winner of 2009 Mermaid Beach Rotary Show! YAY!!! ;o)
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Click on images for an even larger view!
Posted by mennie on 10:26 PM
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Size: ?
Depiction of the dry Australian outback. Intense yellows & oranges of an arid landscape with cracked soil hiding a plethora of life in its own way.
The painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Posted by mennie on 10:25 PM
Size: 66cm W x 79cm H
Reminescent of Australian bush Eucalyptus forests.
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Posted by mennie on 10:20 PM
Posted by mennie on 10:00 PM
Size: 80cm W x 60cm H
Flowering trees are a vibrant example of the patterns replicated in nature within the chaotic-seeming branches. The closer one looks, the more the patterns appear in every detail – the branches, the flowers, the bark. The sky is a hazy blue depecition of a hot summer day.The structural representation of my tree also embodies the principals of bonsai – an idealized recreation of nature.
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Below are some close-ups. Click on images for a larger view!
Posted by mennie on 9:55 PM
Posted by mennie on 9:14 PM
Size: 80cm W x 40cm H
Inspired by my garden...and the many bonsai within.
Flowering trees are a vibrant example of the patterns replicated in nature within the chaotic-seeming branches.
The closer one looks, the more the patterns appear in every detail – the branches, the flowers, the bark.
The structural representation of my tree also embodies the principals of bonsai – an idealized recreation of nature.
It's a great feeling when someone who's already bought one painting contacts you and asks for another! The woman who bought 'Ocean Fields' saved up her money and asked me paint something with greens & pinks & golds and soft tones. I had ideas of doing of bonsai-type painting for a while & a paying customer was the perfect excuse to get my arse into gear. This was the first of the 'Tree Blossom' series and there are more to come!
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Below is a close-up. Click on images for a larger view!
Posted by mennie on 8:59 PM
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Size: 40.5cm W x 30.5cm H x 3.5cm D
A calm yet rippling water surface of a pond has been created using concentric circles. The flowers & leaves are an example of geometric patterns found in nature which is emphasized with the colour shadings.This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Posted by mennie on 8:55 PM
Size: 30.5cm W x 30.5cm H x 3.5cm D
A calm yet rippling water surface of a pond has been created using concentric circles. The flowers & leaves are an example of geometric patterns found in nature which is emphasized with the colour shadings.
This was basically a practice piece to experiment with some ideas for a larger canvas. With dots, you just never know what it's going to look like until you do it!
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Below is a close-up showing finer detail.
Click on images for an ever larger view.
Posted by mennie on 9:52 PM
Size: 30.5cm W x 30.5cm H x 3.5cm D
A calm yet rippling water surface of a pond has been created using concentric circles. The flowers & leaves are an example of geometric patterns found in nature which is emphasized with the colour shadings.
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Read more »
Posted by mennie on 8:35 PM
Size: 80cm W x 60cm H
Flowering trees are a vibrant example of the patterns replicated in nature within the chaotic-seeming branches. The closer one looks, the more the patterns appear in every detail – the branches, the flowers, the bark. This is a melancholy day reflected by the colour of the sky and the alignment of the branches. Blue flowers on drooping branches are tinged with sadness.The structural representation of my tree also embodies the principals of bonsai – an idealized recreation of nature.
This acrylic painting is constructed of coloured dots approximately 1mm in diameter.
Below is a close-up view.
Click on images for an even larger view.
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