Photos

Well, they are dated now - seems like ages since I was home. Anyway, I will continue to add them. I had to remove the links before and now I'm just putting them in again.

Sycamore Trails

Oudshoorn and Knysna

Owl House

I hope to add more soon! Cheers

I am working on preparing images of the sand sculpture I made in near Plettenburg bay, its slow progress because my computer is playing up, but I keep plodding on. Hopefully i will be able to buy a new machine next month, so it should go better then. Here is a sneak preview of what I'm working on....
Yesterday we went to some artists studios as part of a Open house studio event in the Richmond area. It was a lovely day and has given me the necessary inspiration i was hoping for. I want to mount some of my work, print some of my photographs and try and show my work somehow. Also, as we were taking a break, sitting on the bank of the river, I noticed some interesting, beautiful junk floating down the river. I have take quite a number of short videos in a similar way, keeping the camera as still as possible and focusing on something particular (in this case as in many - moving water) I am working on ideas for putting it all together, but for now, just this...

land act revisited

It been beautiful in London, sun shining and clear skies. I have been working away at art history assignments, which is going quite well, and I have managed to join two excellent reference libraries, which has helped lots. I'm hankering after time to work on my art, but its not long to go because my assignments are soon due and then I can work on art guilt free. I am really actually enjoying the research and writing, which is a first (at least in a long time). One of them is about informal art training in South Africa in the 1950's and 60's. Reading about Sophiatown, and the forced removals got me thinking about the animation that I did for the Journey to freedom project for UNISA. I think that I did not think about the seriousness of the forced removals and how tragic they really were, well, maybe I did but being my first animation, I think I was more concerned about getting the embroidered images moving and less about the impact it had. My animation is kind of humorous. Anyway, I am glad that I've realised this now, and have been thinking about how I could have done it differently which is a step in the right direction, I suppose.

Back from SA

Arrived back on Tuesday morning and went straight to work, which was a bit of a shock to the system and exhausting but it was okay.

Being home was wonderfully strengthening and renewing. I was so happy to be with my family again, strangely i expected that after so long they would all seem unfamiliar, but it was not at all so, it was like we had never been apart. I find this very comforting, still to belong and feel comfortable with these people that are most dear to me.

Arrival and Sycamore Trails
We arrived on Sunday 25 March. Fran, Mike and Tim fetched us from the airport. Mom, Dad and Alistair arrived shortly after us and we had lunch together. Friends came to visit later and stayed at Fran and Mike's for the night. Next morning we prepared everything for the family holiday, unfortunately Mike had to stay to move into new office. We got to Bronkhorstspruit at about midday and started packing the trailer etc. We arrived at Sycamore trails at about 6, just as it was getting dark. Dad joined us the next morning and took us up the mountain in the landrover. It was an exciting drive, dipping through small ravines through forest. Alistair, Fran and Francesco and i walked up to the waterfalls, Spog the great dane in tow. There were beautiful spiders, plants, flowers, butterflies, trees. By the time we got back to the Chalets, we were hot tired, thirsty and a little burnt. We had a braai for dinner and spent the evening around a camp fire talking. it was lovely. The insects around us buzzing and screeching, the stars twinkling.

20 days since last post

So much for every day. Heading home for a visit after a year and a half, on Saturday, i am excited, happy and a little nervous. I can't wait to see everyone and breathe the open air and get out of this frosty, windy place. Bags are packed, but still have to check everything. I'm trying to get things tied up before we leave so i feel a bit tired. i feel that there are big changes ahead. not sure what to expect. Whatever you expect, you'll never know for sure. so for all the times i miss everyone at home, i am going to try and relax and enjoy just being with you all.