NOVEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends
Thank you to all the folk who came to my Open Studio on the 4th and 5th of November: you came, you browsed, you bought, and you stayed for chats, warm hugs and hot cups of coffee.
The Inktober auction closed on a high note, with a grand total of R9222 raised for the H.O.P.E. Basket (Help Other People Eat). What stars you are!!! Thank you for the lively bidding and generous donations, for buying cards, and for your kind encouragement. The Board of the Church of the Nazarene is very grateful to each and every one who supported this worthy cause. The money will be used to help needy families within the church community. All praise to our loving Heavenly Father who abundantly blessed this project . View the drawings here. There are still some cards left for sale.
"Chamomile and Butterfly"
It's surprising how "pops" of yellow can enhance the mood of a painting! Golden drops of joy and a shaft of happy sunlight energise this field of chamomile flowers. I invite you to let your fingers do the walking through the Journey of the Painting below (or you could let your mouse do the work!)
Not "Just" Yellow
From cool, fruity Lemon to hot, curry Indian, there's a yellow to delight every artist.
Did you know that the first yellow paint was made from ochre (a natural clay earth pigment), and used in cave paintings 17000 years ago? The Ancient Romans and Egyptians used yellow ochre to depict golden skin tones of their emperors and pharaohs, who were believed to be sun-gods. Renaissance and Medieval artists used Indian Yellow, obtained from the bright yellow urine of cows who were fed copious amounts of young mango leaves. These days, thankfully, Indian Yellow paint is manufactured in a laboratory. Vincent van Gogh was passionate about yellow. In letters to his brother, Theo, Van Gogh wrote about the yellow of sunshine, and "how beautiful yellow is!"
Yellow is still as popular as ever with artists, but in a 2000 survey of the general population, only 6% of respondents said their favourite colour is yellow! Let's face it, yellow looks good in paintings but it's not always great to wear.
For more interesting thoughts on "yellow", click here to read a wonderful poem by Becky Hemsley.
A Doo Be Doo Birthday
May all the November babies have a wonderful Doo Be Doo birthday month: Marphy, Andrew, Tara, Bev N, Jen-Pen, Erica K, Mark, Joanne and Keryn. Enjoy the fun birthday dedication song by Freshlyground, and don't forget to "clap, and stomp your feet"!
Guest Artist
Denise Hughes is our guest artist this month. Enjoy browsing through her delightful acrylic paintings of the birds that inhabit her part of the South Coast.
Click/tap on the thumbnails in the photo-gallery to view the images
We Have a Winner!!!
A lovely prize, just in time for Christmas!
The winner of Tara's unique hand-painted little shoulder bag, made from re-cycled denim, is CELESTE ROBINSON. Congratulations!!!!!
The correct answer was "Vincent van Gogh"
Thank you so much to the many subscribers who entered the competition: it might be your turn to win next time!
Watercolour Workshops in January 2024
Sunflowers and a Pinch of Salt
The January workshop continues the "Yellow" theme where we'll explore the wonderful world of yellow, and create exciting textures with salt. Workshops are open to subscribers and their friends and family. No previous painting experience is required.
DATE: Saturday 6 January: 2 places still open. Saturday 13 January: Fully booked.
TIME: 9 am until 12 noon
PLACE: My Studio (address will be sent via WhatsApp)
COST: R280 (all materials included)
“Gratitude is the fairest blossom
which springs from the soul"
H.W. Beecher
Close your eyes... breathe in... breathe out... feel mellow-yellow...
Please feel free to share my website link with your friends and family, and on your social media.
Maria Kaye xx
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