MY STUDIO - ABOUT BIRDS
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A youthful "yours truly" in the cockpit of a Vampire |
I have a love for flying - and sailing. Ergo my love for birds when it comes to flying? Sailing- well perhaps ducks then, or the beautiful flamingo's as they take off early in the morning from their overnight sanctuaries at the beach near Walvis Bay in Namibia, the fantastic colors of their wings hanging in the clear blue sky like stained glass windows for all to admire.
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OUR BIRD KITCHEN: About 15 years ago, myself and my wife decided to buy a live Christmas tree to decorate. After the Festive Season we planted the tree at the entrance to our property. It grew into a strapping landmark in our area. A few weeks ago, our gardener pointed out the sad news that the roots of our cherished tree were lifting the parking area tiles. We had to bite the bullet and cut the tree down, following an Indian-like ceremony to explain to the tree why we had to do it. I thought it fitting to use the logs to build a bird kitchen with sculptural qualities. The thin branch you see in the back forms part of the sculpture, allowing birds to perch high up, and for us to skewer pieces of fruit for them to enjoy. The pine needles will of course eventually come off. The feeding platform is about 1,8 meters high.Over the years birds came to love our garden, and some of the species we have recorded as regular visitors and residents to date are: WHITE - FACED OWL,AFRICAN HOOPOE, OLIVE THRUSH, ROCK PIGEON, CAPE TURTLE DOVE,CRESTED BARBET, BLACKCOLLARED BARBET,FISCAL SHRIKE, HADIDA,BURCHELL'S COUCAL, BLACKEYED BULBUL, CAPE SPARROW,GLOSSY STARLING,OLIVE THRUSH, INDIAN MINAH,GOLDEN BISHOP,RED BISHOP, SCIMITARBILLED WOODHOOPOE, ...and the list grows continuously!
FROM DRAB TO DOLLIED: I did an oil painting of the Redelinghuys' daughter about 12 years ago. Mrs Redelinghuys approached me recently and asked whether I would be willing to make a painting of their holiday cottage as a birthday present for her husband, as the cottage was recently sold. They had spent many happy family holidays at the cottage. An available photograph was given to me as reference material, with the leeway to change the picture as I saw fit.
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I thought the photo reflected little of the joy the cottage must have brought them - the photo was also taken out of line perspective |
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I decided to paint in some symbols of relaxation and holiday - chairs and a sun umbrella. They were over the moon with the painting. |
A VIEW FROM MY STUDIO :
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