AUGUST 2023 NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends
It’s the windy month of August when winter cobwebs get blown away, clearing the path for long-awaited Spring. In this month's newsletter you can read about an interesting exhibition I attended at Melrose Gallery; engage with my latest painting; enter a competition; and view the work of our special guest artist Olga van Wyk.
Gusty August is my birthday month so I thought I'd dedicate a song called "Hickory Wind", which I recorded way back in 2000, to all the August babies. I hope you'll enjoy it even if it's not your birthday! If you're an old Boksburger you might recognise Boksburg Lake and The Old Post Office Theatre in Market Street in the video.
"The Knitter and the Weaver"
I’ve been toying around with the idea for this painting for a few years, and finally decided to get stuck in and do it. The initial inspiration for the title came from Psalm 139:13-15 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb... I was woven together in the depths of the earth". The model for the painting is Carla, my young neighbour.
This work is all about using contrasts to tell a story: stillness and energy; complementary colours; open and closed shapes; light and shade; indoors and outdoors… Can you find more contrasts?
I invite you to zoom in and engage with the painting on various levels, and to find your own story in the process.
To get one final entry into the September Draw, tell me your interpretation of the painting in a sentence or two.
The Story of a Painting's Journey
Click/tap on the thumbnails below to follow the journey of the "The Knitter and the Weaver" from concept to final product.
Give Her a Crown
“Give Her a Crown” is the title of the interesting art exhibition John and I attended last week at the Melrose Gallery. Ceramics, metal tubes, rusted steel, hair extensions, bits of paper, and wall murals were just some of the materials used by the female artists to depict ... READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN 'MARIA'S MUSINGS' ("THE CROWN")
August Birthdays
I share my birthday month with Annie, Cheryl C, Daphne, Effie, Leigh-Anne and Sinead. I hope you enjoy my song dedication of "Hickory Wind" (recorded in 2000).
Guest Sculptor: Olga van Wyk
Our August guest is Olga van Wyk who creates hauntingly beautiful cage doll mannequins.
Olga puts a contemporary twist on the antique form of the cage doll structure, which appeared as early as the 13th century. The figures and faces are of women that have impressed, fascinated, or impacted her thinking in some way, directly or indirectly. Each face is unique and is created by Olga from the concept, modelling the face, making silicon moulds, casting, and painting. She shows “the strength and quiet grace of women, particularly regarding circumstances that may crush, be demeaning or place one in severe stressful situations”.
For more on this fascinating artform, visit Olga’s Facebook page Cage Doll Mannequins by Olga van Wyk.
Click/tap on the thumbnails in the photo-gallery to view the images
Water Colour Workshops
The up-coming “Roses in Spring” Workshop will be held on 9 September (and 30 September for the teenagers). These events are fully booked.
Our first Workshop, held in July this year, was “Water + Colour = Magic”, and it proved to be a whole lot of fun!
The next Watercolour Workshop will be a Summer Workshop early in 2024, and the theme will be “Van Gogh Sunflowers”. Keep your eyes open for more information later this year.
"To be creative is not a hobby, it's a way of life."
That's it for August, dear friends. Please feel free to share my website link with your friends and family, and on your social media.
Much love,
Maria Kaye
Subscribers get notified when new work is available and receive discounts, prizes and other amazing perks!
SIGN UP NOW FOR YOUR FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION