ORIGINAL SOUTH AFRICAN ART BY ERNA WADE

Frame Filled

2012-02-08T14:37:00.000+02:00

I had a mat and frame looking for a picture. The colours were very suited to a Nguni, so this is the one I chose and painted:

Nguni 50

Watercolour

230 x 195

And here it is in its frame:

Nine Bird Watercolours Complete

2012-01-04T15:45:00.029+02:00

I actually completed them in November last year and they have been safely delivered to a thrilled client! They are all painted on white 300gsm Bockingford watercolour paper. In some instances I was able to use my own photographs as references, filling in detail from web images. For others I used, with permission, photographs by local well-known bird photographer, Hugh Chittenden.

Red Backed Mannikins
Watercolour
260 x 360 mm

African Fish Eagle
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Green Twinspot
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Malachite Kingfisher
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Giant Kingfisher
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Brownhooded Kingfisher
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Whitefronted Bee-Eater
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Little Bee-Eaters
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Greater Doublecollared Sunbird
Watercolour
260 x 360mm

Greeting cards with prints of the above artworks are available. Contact me @ ewade@absamail.co.za

Being a bird lover (Besides my four parrot-pets, I am currently raising an orphaned Cape Wagtail, hoping to release it back into the garden), it was really a joy to paint these birds. I plan to do more bird watercolours - maybe soon, as I have a commission for three mixed media artworks with birds as a theme!

SEPIA WILDLIFE TRILOGY

2011-11-21T15:39:00.000+02:00

I've recently done three wildlife paintings in neutral colours. I had tremendous fun, first painting the backgrounds, and after that adding the drawings of the animnals and continuing to paint until the paintings were complete.

White Rhino Mother & Calf

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

600 x 450 x 23mm

Buffalo Portrait

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

600 x 450 x 23mm

Elephant - Out of the Woods

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

450 x 600 x 23mm

Grapes in Enamel

2011-11-21T15:18:00.000+02:00

These two still life paintings evolved from very brightly coloured, to more muted, peaceful still lives.

Acrylic & Oil on Stretched Canvas

200 x 200 x 35mm each

Matching Nguni Painting - alone again!

2011-08-22T14:47:00.000+02:00

Nguni 21

Oil on Stretched Canvas

350 x 250 x 15mm

SOLD

I painted the above Nguni as a second choice for someone wanting a matching painting to one they had already bought. They did end up taking the first choice. So, I decided recently to paint another Nguni to match it, giving it a better chance to sell. I wasn't halfway, when the first one sold! Now this one needs a matching painting again!! ☺ (I'm not complaining at all!)

Nguni 49

OIl on Stretched Canvas

350 x 250 x 15mm

I'M STILL PAINTING!

2011-07-26T22:51:00.000+02:00

No, I haven't stop painting!!! I haven't been posting much of what I've been painting, because I'm working on a series of nine watercolour birds and would like to show them together, once they are all finished, as they are actually done as a commission.

Then I've also been having lots of fun creating some acrylic and oil paintings for our annual local art exhibition in September. Once that is over, I'll be posting all of them! There is one large Nguni group painting, two small still life paintings, a bunch of roses and some wildlife!

So - lots of paintings coming up!!

Tibouchina Home

2011-07-26T22:43:00.000+02:00

I completed this painting a while ago. It was a commission and since it was also a birthday gift, I waited until the birthday had transpired before showing it on my blog.

The inspiration behind the painting was the flowering Tibouchina tree in front of the gate. These trees grace the roads of our little forest town during early autumn. We have one in our garden, too!

As I haven't painted these trees before, I thought I'd do a practise run to see which media would suit it best. In this little sketch I used watercolour and acrylic.

The photo reference I was working from, was taken on an overcast day and on the photo the composition was much darker on one side than on the other, and thus, visually heavier on one side. So I did another small watercolour sketch to solve this compositional problem.

Then I finally did the A3 watercolour painting:

2 Ashby Road

Watercolour

360x240mm

Eagle's Wings

2011-04-30T16:24:00.000+02:00

Another Fish Eagle - and probably not the last one!

Eagle's Wings

Acrylic & oil on Canvas

650x510mm

SOLD

"Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men stumble and fall,

but those who wait on the LORD

renew their strength,

they rise up the wing like eagles,

they run and are not weary,

they walk and do not faint."

Isaiah 40:30,31

Flight of the Fish Eagle

2011-03-07T19:40:00.000+02:00

If you love Africa, there is a very good chance that you love the call of the Fish Eagle. They are synonomous! Though not the largest eagle in Southern Africa, they are very majestic. They always remind me of the promise in Isaiah 40:31

...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Here are two fish eagles contrasted with backgrounds containing an element of mystery.

Flight of the Fish Eagle II

Acrylic & Oil on Canvas

355 x 250 x18mm

Flight of the Fish Eagle I

Acrylic 7 Oil on Canvas

305 x 250 x 18mm

BEACH BLUES

2011-02-24T13:24:00.000+02:00

Although I wouldn't admit it, and absolutely INSIST that I prefer the bush to the beach, I suspect that I have a secret love affair with the sea, that my heart hasn't informed me about.

I clearly remember a period in my life when, due to circumstances, I wasn't able to go to the beach for a few years, except for once a year for a day - and that while living only about 80 km from a decent beach, or 40km from the sea, as the crow flies. I remember shedding actual tears during this time, longing to just feel the sand between my toes, and the salty water washing around my ankles. (Body surfing would have been even better, of course! )

That situation has now changed, and one can easily become blazé, but currently I'm really looking forward to our next time at the beach.

So here it is:

Beach Blues I

Acrylic on Mountboard, 190x140mm

Beach Blues II

Acrylic on Mountboard, 190x140mm

Friends Inspire

2011-01-24T20:53:00.000+02:00

On her last visit to me, an old friend (younger than me, but we've known each other for years!) gave me this set of beautiful containers. They were such an inspiration to me that they found their way onto a painting:

Three Posies

Watercolour

295 x 210mm

"A friend loves at all times"

Prov 17:17

Petunia Pleasure

2011-01-20T16:12:00.001+02:00

Inspired by a commission that I did last year, I am continuing to enjoy painting purple Petunias (Blue Lace, as they are aptly called), this time in a more simplistic way:

Pot of Purple Petunias II

Watercolour

165 x 200mm

SOLD

Petunia Face

Watercolour

110 x110mm

SOLD

The above designs will soon be available on greeting cards.

Mounted prints can also be ordered. (Contact me at ewade@absamail.co.za)

Mixed Media Mini Demo

2010-11-30T20:30:00.000+02:00

I've been playing around with some mixed media. (I LOVE to do that!) and discovered a method that works really well for me. After some scribbles, patterns and flowers, I thought I would attempt a small bird picture.

These Bronze Mannikins are frequent visitors to our garden (like sparrows in other areas). I love seeing them and I particularly liked how these two were huddled together. My photograph wasn't a very good one, so I was forced to simplify and be inventive, both of which, in art, are good things!

2 B Together

(Bronze Mannikins huddled together)

Mixed Media on Crescent Board

165 x 125mm

I then attempted a second bird picture and documented the steps to share with you:

Materials:
Piece of Crescent mounting board
Black fine liner
Oil pastels
Turps
Brushes: short, round taclon brush (no 5), flat bristle brush no 6, 3/4 inch bristle brush from hardware store.
Modpodge
Black water soluable ink
Acrylic colours
Laquer Spray

Wipe edges of mountboard with wax, or paint with modpodge, so the layers don't separate when it gets wet.
I drew the subject quickly with a black fine liner, trying to be correct with the spacial relationships, but not being perfectionistic about detail.
Then I added colour using oil pastels, in a spontaneous way.

I used Turps and the fine round brush to blend the oil pastel in areas, especially on the bird, removing some of the texture. This needs to dry. A hair dryer can speed up the process!

Then I painted on Modpodge as a resist over the bird and a few other areas, eg branches and "leaves".
I dried it again, using a hair dryer.
Then I brushed black ink over the entire picture liberally, using the 3/4 " brush.

The excess ink was then wiped off with a tissue, leaving dark areas which give a new depth to the picture:

Now it was time to accentuate detail and add a few hilights, especially on the bird, using acrylics paints.
Finally, when dry, I sprayed it with clear laquer to seal it.

Lone Lookout

(Brown Hooded Kingfisher)

Mixed Media on Crescent Board

165 x 125mm

Ngunis Squared!

2010-11-27T06:23:00.000+02:00

My plan was to paint these two Nguni paintings quickly, within a week. However, things tend to work out slower in reality as what they do in your mind, during the planning stage! A couple of interruptions, some of them very pleasant, like a visit from a friend living far away, didn't speed up the process either! But here they finally are!!!

Nguni 43 - Oil on canvas

450 x 450 mm

Nguni 44 - Oil on canvas

450 x 450 mm

A Pot of Purple Petunias and a Doggie!

2010-10-28T09:47:00.000+02:00

A friend inspired me to plant some Petunias this Spring. I chose "Blue Lace", as it is my favourite colour Petunia. It came in very handy as a reference, when the same friend asked me to do a painting for her mother's seventieth birthday, containing Petunias, Bogainvilla, and... her favourite little doggie.

Not sure how all these subjects would fit together on a 200 x 150mm painting, I first did a watercolour with a pot of petunias and a few other related items:

SOLD

Watercolour, aquarell & pencil - 200x150mm

***************************************************

THE ABOVE PICTURE IS AVAILABLE AS

A GREETING CARD.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT ORDERING

MY GREETING CARDS

WILL FOLLOW SOON.

DESIGNS INCLUDE NGUNI, BIRDS

AND OTHER POPULAR PAINTINGS.

In the mean time I can be contacted at

ewade@absamail.co.za

************************************

I then attempted the combination including the little doggie, using first watercolour, and then adding acrylic in several areas, especially the wall and the paving:

SOLD

Watercolour and Acrylic - 150 x 200mm

My client opted to take both and had them framed together!

A Dash of Red...

2010-09-30T10:33:00.002+02:00

Inspired by red fruit and flowers, I have made a few still life paintings, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I did most of the painting in a direct way, in one sitting (per painting, that is!). For the strawberries I painted an intuitive, colourful undercoat in acrylic, and then did the oil paintings on top of that, letting some of the undercoat dictate the background as well as the composition.

Peppadews from my Garden

Oil on stretched Canvas

403x300mm

Tree Tomatoes from my Garden

Oil on Stretched Canvas

403x300x15mm

SOLD SOLD
Strawberry Fantasy I and II

Oil on Stretched Canvas

200x200x37mm each

Janie's Roses

Oil on Stretched canvas

355x455x37mm

Africa's Aloes

2010-08-24T18:42:00.000+02:00

When you think of Southern Africa, aloes have to come into the picture sooner or later. They occur in many places, in many varieties. This is the typical Zululand variety, Aloe marlothii. Every winter they light up the dull hills with their red, yellow and orange candles.

Aloe I

Watercolour on 300gsm Bockingford

120 x 240 mm

Aloe II

Watercolour on 300gsm Bockingford

120 x 240 mm

Zululand and its People

2010-08-24T18:25:00.001+02:00

Some of the typical scenes one comes accross in Zululand: a basket seller, next to the road:

Basket Seller.

Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas. 230 x 300mm

SOLD

We came accross this lady carrying her washing near Lake Sibaya, in Northern KwaZulu Natal:

The Washing's Done.

Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas.

230 x 300mm

SOLD

CALL of the BOUBOU

2010-08-23T15:46:00.002+02:00

Last year I did a commissioned artwork for a client (and friend), who offers Bed and Breakfast accommodation in the heart of Norhtwest Province. It had to fit in with the name and theme of her Bed and Breakfast, which is named after a bird with a beautiful call, a shrike called the Southern Boubou. Here is the painting in one of the rooms:

Her gardens, interior decorating and menu are all evidence of her creativity and good taste, and her hospitality can be recommended. 'Boubou B&B' is situated on a farm and offers all the tranquility of the African Bush. Visit her webpage on SA Venues here.

Arts & Music @ Pappanui

2010-08-11T18:21:00.003+02:00

HOSPICE (Charity Organization caring for the terminally ill) organised an Arts & Music day at Pappanui, an interior decoration shop in Mtunzini, last Sunday, 8 August. There were about 15 art stalls and music ranged from the "Senile Sisters", the "White Zulu" and a modern day Elvis, to a local gospel band.

The music certainly made for a very pleasant atmosphere and kept fair goers hanging around.

New artwork that I exhibited at my stall included:

Cheetah. Watercolour. 165x265mm.

Transkei - "Hurrying Home". Acrylic. 200x250mm

SOLD

Transkei - "Little Fisherman". Acrylic. 200x250mm

SOLD

And, for extra atmosphere in that beach cottage:

Sentiments of Sunny Seas - I

Acrylic. 200x150mm.

SOLD

Sentiments of Sunny Seas - II

Acrylic. 200x150mm.

SOLD

Found a Home....

2010-08-05T10:08:00.000+02:00

These two guys have found a home recently and, since I seem to have ommitted putting them on the Blog, I thought I'd show their faces:

Watercolour, 165 x 125mm
SOLD

Watercolour, 165 x 125 mm
SOLD

FORT NONGQAYI

2010-06-27T20:15:00.000+02:00

This is a new card design I did of the local FORT. I did it in collage and mixed media (Modge Podge, ink, acrylic, home made rubber stamping) and had quite a lot of fun. The ink drawing I did a long time ago, for a commissioned letterhead. I printed it on transparency and it is fastened onto the mixed media background with bronze brads.

FORT NONGQAYI, Eshowe, KZN. Mixed media. 250 x160mm

Eshowe was the British military headquarters, as well as the capital of Zululand, after the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879. FORT NONGQAYI, the striking white, mud-brick, three- turreted fort was established in 1883 as the base for the most unusual peace-keeping force, called the Nongqayi (Mounted Police).
The territory used postage stamps of Great Britain and Natal overprinted "ZULULAND".

******************

The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. History is a hill or high point of vantage, from which alone men see the town in which they live or the age in which they are living.

G. K. Chesterson

Bigger Bulls and Birds!

2010-06-27T20:00:00.000+02:00

Deviating from doing small watercolours - about A5 size - I have recently worked a bit bigger:

Nguni Group. Watercolour. 365 x 265mm

I love the Ground Hornbills with their big eyelashes, so they found their way onto my next watercolour: (The female has the blue pouch under the beak and the male has the pinkish tint to his. They are obviously not acquainted with human colour coding for males and females.)

Ground Hornbills. Watercolour. 365 x 265 mm.

Warm Autumn Days

2010-05-31T20:41:00.000+02:00

The hot, humid days of summer are gone now. The sun shines warm and friendly and glistens bright on rainless clouds and sugarcane. This is the best time of year in Zululand. The (still) green outdoors beckons and that explains why I had to take a roundabout trip on the district roads surrounding our town after dropping off a parcel at a farm. The following three small watercolours are a result of that:

Canefield Contours near Vuma

Watercolour, 190 x135mm

Matchstick Hill

Watercolour, 190 x 135mm

Farmhouse with Cane & Cabbage

Watercolour, 190 x 135 mm

TEA GARDEN

2010-05-07T19:01:00.001+02:00

Every Saturday there is a tea garden (and market) in our small town in a private garden. People come to buy homemade treats and crafts contributed by the community, or find themselves a treasure amongst the used goods for sale. They meet friends and sit down to enjoy true German hospitality and generous helpings of delicious, decadent cakes and quisches over a cuppa.

I felt inspired to paint this warm meeting place. I jumped straight in, but when my painting was this far:

I decided that I needed to loosen up. Some areas also bothered me. So I made a sketch - which I should have done in the first place!

Then I did a second, smaller painting, forgetting about recording the exact details, but rather trying to capture the mood:

watercolour and ink, 195 x 135mm

I then returned to the original painting to finish it. I washed out some foreground, splashed in some foliage and added structure and detail.

watercolour and ink, 260x165mm

SOLD

Greeting cards with both the above designs

will also be available at the abovementioned market.

IMMATERIAL INTERLUDES

2010-05-07T11:37:00.001+02:00

In between other art, I always find myself playing around with collage, colours and textures. Not all of these end up as artworks, but I do discover things - colour combinations or media that work well together. And it makes me relax! Here are two recent ones:

"Autumn Art"

( We don't see much of a change in seasons near the coast in KZN,

so I had to make my own autumn leaves! :-) )

Mixed media on paper. 135 x 195mm

"Expectation"

Mixed Media on paper. 195 x 280 mm

"Expectation" - detail:

SPLASHING A WAVE

2010-05-02T14:48:00.000+02:00

Some time ago I experimented with some pouring and splashing of paint, with a view to create interesting abstract patterns. One of the boards, however, developed (after some painting and meddling) into a more realistic rendering of a wave throwing itself onto the beach with wreckless abandon:

The WAVE

Mixed Media on Board - 1030 x 480 mm

MORE FUN!

2010-05-02T14:37:00.001+02:00

I started a series that I called "FUN FLOWERS" last year and have just recently completed two more paintings in the series:

Daisies in an African Pot (II)

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas - 505 x 405 x 15mm

Roses in a Copper Pot

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas - 505 x 405 x 15mm

Something that is not visible on the digital images, is that the paint was applied in an impasto manner, which adds a vivacious texture to the otherwise flat colour.

As an afterthought - some dictionary meanings gleaned for "fun" :

1 : what provides amusement or enjoyment;

2 : a mood for finding or making amusement

Fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

HAVE FUN!!

Zebra in my Lounge!

2010-03-03T06:51:00.000+02:00

Acrylic and Oil on Artboard; 509 x 610mm

I did this Zebra recently on special request from my husband,

and it is currently decorating our lounge!

How about a Still Life?

2010-03-01T21:12:00.002+02:00

The last watercolour Still Life I did was this one

180 x 230mm

which I did in January 2008, from a still life I set up.

So, doing the protea in the clay pot was quite a change from my normal subjects, which tend to be nature, most often Nguni, lately a few Zebra, landscapes and a seascape here and there. The fun flowers that I did last year were done in acrylic, in a very different style. (More might be coming up!)

Thus, this watercolour was different for me: a different pallette of colours, different shapes and textures, different visual problems to solve. It took a bit longer than I anticipated, but I had fun and am happy with the result. I enjoy the interaction between the earthy reds and the greens, the almost glowing coral colour of the protea, which also mingles with the greens in the shadows, and the texture of the clay pot.

170 x 270mm

Repetition, Rhythm and Skill

2010-02-25T19:36:00.004+02:00

More Ngunis!!

YES! - I am painting some more Ngunis!! ☺

I often like to do the same Nguni in watercolour as well as in oil. The effect can be very different in each case, especially when I change the background colour dramatically, as I have done here. I love the interplay between all the warm, earthy colours - the siennas and the umbers - and how they reflect off the white, defining the form of the subject.

Nguni 36

Watercolour, 165x125mm

Nguni 37

Watercolour, 165x125mm

SOLD

Repetition is the mother of all skill! - I learnt that when I had to practise scales every day to improve my pianistic skills!

Besides improving skills, repetition, in the form of rhythm, is definitely the very fibre of music. the same goes for art! Repetition can grow skill, but repetition can also become a very integral part of an artwork, such as the repetitious forms of trees, leaves or grass. Or as pattern in design, like Esher's tassellations. Andy Warhol took it a step further, repeating the same subject, using silk screen printing!

REPETITION is the reality and the seriousness of life.

(Soren Kierkegaard 1813-1855, Danish Philosopher, Writer)

There is REPETITION everywhere, and nothing is found only once in the world.

(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist)

So, be warned! More REPETITION is to follow!!!

Nguni 34 & 35 - Changing the scenery!

2010-01-21T19:32:00.000+02:00

Grazing in the sunshine:

Watercolour - 165 x 125mm

And resting in the shade:

Watercolour - 165 x 125 mm

Both works are currently unframed.

Nguni 32 & 33

2010-01-21T19:23:00.000+02:00

Two more black & white Ngunis from near Mandawe, that I did near the end of last year.

The works are currently framed.

Watercolour - 170 x 120 mm

Watercolour - 120 x 170 mm

Nguni 23 Revisited

2010-01-21T19:18:00.000+02:00

One of my favourite Ngunis - I had to paint it again! I've done an acrylic (with amber background) and a watercolour already. This one is a nice size oil. I love the expression on its face, and the little path that trails behind it.

Oil on Stretched Canvas - 450 x 600 x20mm

A to Zebra

2010-01-21T19:11:00.003+02:00

“So you see! There's no end to the things you might know,

depending how far beyond Zebra you go.” - (Dr. Seuss Quotes)

So I started a new wildlife series at Zebra!

I intend lingering with the zebra for a while

(in between Nguni!),

but I also have other wildlife plans up my sleeve!

Here are the first two:

Watercolour 165 x 165 mm

Watercolour - 175 x 175 mm

SOLD

Nguni 30

2009-11-22T09:33:00.006+02:00

Another Nguni that I completed recently:

Nguni 30 - Oil on Stretched Canvas

400 x 300 x 16mm

A number of my more recent Nguni paintings (both oil and watercolour) are now with the BLOU DONKI gallery in Clarens. Two Ngunis are also currently being exhibited (over the festive season) at artSPACE in Durban (Millar rd, off Umgeni Rd), as part of their annual "Affordable Art" exhibition.

Two Completed Commissions

2009-11-02T19:38:00.000+02:00

I am happy to have completed two commissions recently!

The first one was for a friend of mine, who has a Bed & Breakfast near Rustenburg. She has named it after a bird, the Southern Boubou, for its beautiful call. She wanted something half abstract, half realistic. It had to contain the elements that make her B&B special: the boubou (of course), the thorn trees, the African sunset and the magnificent nightsky. After a number of preliminary digital compositions, sketches, and finally a collage, we arrived at a concept that she liked.

The painting has been finished for quite a while, but we were hoping to combine its delivery with a visit to her B&B. As that possibility faded, we finally sent it via courier, so here it is:

Acrylic and Oil on stretched Canvas - 1160 x 810mm.

The painting contains collage underneath the top coats of paint, so that lettering (of her B&B blurb) shows through in places. It has a very tactile surface and gold coloured paint has been used, especially near the borders and in the sky .

The second commission was a repeat of a painting I had made some time ago. Although I offered several other compositions and suggestions, the client preferred the original composition. It is a scene of some Nguni at a waterhole, with the Ubombo mountain range of Zululand in the background. So, with a few minor changes, and a slight change in technique (more use of the palette knife), here is the final product:

Oil on artboard. 760 x 500mm.

Sunshine Flowers!

2009-09-19T21:28:00.001+02:00

These two semi-abstract flower paintings were an experiment and has been pure fun to paint. They have also led to other creative endeavours. They both have a special brightness, due to bright, flat colour applied impasto over pre-applied texture.

Bright Flowers in a Bright Pot

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

400 x 400 x 15mm

(SOLD)

Yellow Daisies in an African Pot

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

400 x 400 x 15mm

(SOLD)

Nguni 28 & 29 - the series continues...

2009-09-19T21:12:00.001+02:00

I have completed the third in a set of three square paintings of Nguni:

Oil on Board, 290 x 290mm

And here is the first in a set of two:

Oil on Stretched Canvas; 400 x 300mm

For prices or availability, contact me at ewade@absamail.co.za

A Fresh Approach

2009-09-14T19:57:00.001+02:00

As part of my "Fun Flower" project, the purpose of which is to loosen up, I reworked a flower still life that I did a while ago, and put down because I was not happy with the result. I now abandoned the preconceived frame of mind I had at the time and had a lot of FUN! Here it is:

Acrylic on Mountboard, 175x270mm

The digital image doesn't do justice to the bright, jewel-likeness of the colours in real life. The dark areas are also not black, but rich, dark greens and reds.

During our last visit at the beach I managed to make a small watercolour sketch of the waves. I was especially fascinated with the near-translucent jade colour of the breaking waves:

Watercolour on Cartridge; 130x90mm

Having loosened up a bit with the "fun" flowers, I decided to attempt another seascape. (Haven't done one for about two years.) It turned out to be one of those paintings that just about paints itself. Just flowed spontaneously. I might do some more...

Acrylic on Mountboard; 280x185mm

SOLD

More Nguni watercolours

2009-09-10T21:08:00.001+02:00

I have painted these two Ngunis in acrylic on canvas already, but decided to do them in watercolour in neutral colours. They measure 175 x 125 each. I like the one (coming towards you) so much, that I might do it yet AGAIN! - this time in oil, probably on a larger scale. I'm still looking for another friend for it; I like making paintings in pairs.

SOLD

Flower Still Lifes FRAMED!

2009-09-10T20:57:00.002+02:00

I received some paintings back from the framer today - quite exciting! So, here are the flower still lifes - framed!

And here is a basket of roses that I painted some time ago - framed.

(Oil on board, 285 x 280)

SOLD

Still Life with Flowers - Fun with colours

2009-08-30T18:54:00.005+02:00

This is a fun project, which is still underway, but which has produced some artworks, and more are underway... My inspiration came from sketches that I did years ago - at school - probably in the Science Class(!) - to be precise!

I found them recently, scanned them in, and altered them digitally, which produced pictures like this:

From that, I started doing acrylics. Quite a number of them didn't produce the results that I anticipated. I am still busy with the process, but here are two that I am going to frame so long:

Fun Flower Studies I & II

Medium: Acrylic on Berkshire Mountboard

Size: 170x 125 mm

Nguni 26 & 27 in oils

2009-08-30T18:39:00.003+02:00

Here are the same two Ngunis in oil:

Nguni 26

Nguni 27

Medium: Oil on Masonite

Size: 290 x 290 mm

Currently unframed.

Nguni Watercolours - Square Format

2009-08-30T18:30:00.006+02:00

We found these Ngunis near Phobane Lake (Goedertrouw Dam) one day. A small herd. I decided to use a square format for a change, and I really enjoyed doing them.

Nguni 26 & 27

Medium: Watercolour

Size: 170 x 170 mm

They are also being framed and will be for sale.

Nguni Watercolours

2009-08-30T18:17:00.004+02:00

I love painting Ngunis in pairs. People also like to hang this size painting in groups of three to six, so I keep painting! I also often do the same Nguni in both watercolour and in acrylic/oil. I have done these two from pictures that I took a while ago of a sizable herd near Heatonville.

Nguni 24 & 25 (Watercolour)

Medium: watercolour

Size: 170 x 125 mm

I am having them framed. Will try and add a picture of them framed, once done. They are meant to be displayed at the Hospice Family Fair at Canefields, Empangeni, in beginning October, but they are for sale. Contact me at ewade@absamail.co.za for prices and availability.

Beautiful black-and-white Ngunis

2009-08-14T23:15:00.004+02:00

We came accross a beautiful herd of mostly black-and-white Nguni the other day and I couldn't wait to paint them. Here are the first two - I thought the warm background really brought out the black-and-white of their skin patterns.

Nguni 22

Nguni Painting

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

305 x 230 x15 mm

Nguni 23

Nguni Painting

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

230 x 305 x 15 mm

For information on availability or prices, contact me @ ewade@absamail.co.za.

Nguni 21

2009-07-18T15:36:00.004+02:00

NGUNI PAINTING

Oil on stretched Canvas

355 x 250 15 mm

R820

(excluding postage)

Nguni 20

2009-07-18T15:30:00.005+02:00

NGUNI PAINTING

Oil on stretched Canvas

355 x 250 x 15mm

R820.00

SOLD

NAMIBIAN PAINTINGS

2009-07-17T21:25:00.007+02:00

I grew up in Namibia and lived there till I was seventeen. I love the wide open spaces of the Namib, where you can breathe, where the desert silence becomes loud in your ears. I still paint Namibian scenes from time to time.

I made these paintings of the very special weather-worn Welvitzia plants after I visited Namibia in 2001.

They are now available for a special price for a period of time.

Welvitzia Mirabilis

Dimensions: 250 x 160mm

Medium: Watercolour

SPECIAL PRICE: R380, including the mountings. (unframed)

(Postage excluded.)

Welvitzia Patterns

Dimensions: 250 x 160 mm

Medium: Watercolour

SPECIAL PRICE: R380, including mountings. (unframed)

(Postage excluded)

For further information, please contact me @ ewade@absamail.co.za

White Roses, Gold & Copper

2009-05-16T22:22:00.005+02:00

Textures in gold and coppery colours, soft roses and bright white light contrast to create interest in these paintings done in collage & mixed media on stretched canvas. 225 x 305 mm each. Available from IMBIZO art Gallery, Lifestyle Centre, Ballito. (Click on image to enlarge.) Gold coloured paint, which isn't always visible as such on digital images, gives a lustre to the paintings in certain areas.

Ngunis in warm African landscape

2009-05-16T22:12:00.007+02:00

The Nguni, being an indigenous cattle breed of Southern Africa, have found their way into African art, probably because of the important role they played in the cultures of the African peoples, as well as their beautiful and varied coloured skin patterns and the poetic names that accompanied these patterns, for example, in the Zulu Language. They also present a variety of horn shapes.

The bright colours of sunny, warm Africa combine with the variety of earthy tones of the Nguni skin patterns to make this a unique image of Africa. Oil on stretched canvas. 800 x 600 mm.

Contact me at: ewade@absamail.co.za

to check on availability or price.

Nguni Skin Patterns

2009-05-16T22:00:00.005+02:00

I love Nguni Skin patterns and I love patchwork. I have combined the two in this set of three oil paintings, which can be viewed at IMBIZO gallery at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre. (Oil on stretched canvas; 500x 405 mm each)

Rooster & Hen

2009-05-16T21:44:00.003+02:00

I found this rooster and hen near Pondweni in Northern Natal. I may add some more feathers to the flock in the not too distant future. :-) These two are temporarily going to roost at Lulu's Coffee Shop in Richmond or at The Blue Pumpkin at The Byrne. The Rooster measures 150x200mm and the Hen 180x130mm. (Oil on stretched canvas)

Textures & Delft Triptich II

2009-05-16T21:36:00.004+02:00

Some more mixed media paintings (on canvas) with texture and Delft - they will shortly be available from Lulu's Coffee Shop in Richmond (Natal), or from The Blue Pumpkin in They Byrne. They measure205 x 505 x 35mm each and are done in mixed media on boxed canvas.

Trying out Textures

2009-05-12T21:57:00.003+02:00

I have had lots of fun exloring textures, using collage and mixed media. In these three I have contrasted the courser textures with fine Delft porcelain.

Collage and mixed media on board. Unframed. 230 x 590 mm each.

Birds of (our own) Paradise

2009-05-12T21:23:00.007+02:00

Our town in Zululand, Eshowe, is a bird watchers' paradise, and I started off this year by completing a series of nine bird watercolours for a local 4-star B&B, called "Birds of Paradise". Hugh Chittenden, reknowned bird photographer (currently involved with revising the Robberts' Birds of Southern Africa), has kindly let me use some of his photographs as references.
I have included a picture of the entire collection, featuring the Purple Crested Turaco, Woolly Necked Stork, Speckled Mousebird, Crowned Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbills, Trumpeter Hornbill, Burchell's Coucal, Nerina Trogons and Green Pigeon. The Purple Crested Turaco, Woolly Necked Stork and Crowned Hornbills frequent our garden on a daily basis and the Trumpeters come every afternoon for their last snack of pawpaw flowers in the tree by the kitchen before flying off to their night-time roost.

Each of the pictures measure 26 x 36cm. Although I've also included a picture of the Ground Hornbill's face (with those big eye lashes), the digital images do not do justice to the detail on the real paintings.

To watch a slide show of the individual bird paintings, go to: http://www.picasaweb.google.com/ernaspace/birds

Magazine Article

2009-05-10T20:23:00.002+02:00

A local (area-) newspaper, which normally includes a profile article about a local personality in the GETit magazine that comes with the newspaper once a month, has recently chosen to do an article about me. I also landed on the front page!

If you click on the image below, it will enlarge enough to read: