ronell van wyk – Page 45 – Africantapestry

Posted on May 19, 2008May 19, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen · 17 Comments

A breather in spring.

I have been taking a long break. I’m doing things I have been neglecting for some time, I’m enjoying spring and everything that goes along with it. I have been waiting a long time for summer to show up and now that it is here, I have to make every minute count, for it passes quickly. I’m basking in the fruits of the season. I have had an attack of fatigue and I am paying attention to my health. And I’m playing around on Myfrenchkitchen, which I’ve allowed to slip from me over the last few months. I’m stopping by here at Africantapestry just for a quick breather before I continue on my road of indulgence. And pretty soon I’ll be back here with full gusto.

Enjoy the season!

Watercolour and pen in sketchbook

…mangoes for spring…

Posted on April 28, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen · 33 Comments

Let your hands do the talking

Sometimes a gesture says more than a thousand words…

Sketches done in dip pen and ink(colour island coffee), with a wash, in moleskine.

Posted on April 25, 2008April 26, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen · 11 Comments

Figure drawings

1. We started again with our figure classes last night. We had only one long pose and the goal was to make a “nice” drawing, with only pencil and hatching.

I used pencil 2B and 6B on large format paper, 42×59,4 cm (16,5×23,4″).

2. A previous class: This second drawing was extremely difficult, but it sure openend up the mind. The model would move forward into another position, while one “axe” remained in the previous position. It was sort of like motion drawing. Hard, hard, hard! I consumed a whole baguette when I got home after this class…

Graphite and sanguine on paper, large format

3. A previous class: The slim model with the dog that we’ve had on previous occasions and he lost even more weight, making it very hard to see something to draw.

Graphite on paper, large format

4. A portrait of the model and his dog. I did this when we had 5 minutes left of class. Graphite on paper, large format

5. This is the same model as the first pencil drawing, but on a different occasion where we did a draining million(well almost) quick sketches for two hours. And again I consumed a whole baguette afterwards..

Charcoal on paper, large format.

Posted on April 23, 2008April 26, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen · 25 Comments

Something that needs fixing

The ironing is always behind.

I have to iron. I have to see sharp folds and straight flat edges on shirts and linen and skirts and yes, T-shirts. Except of course jeans. No straight folds there. That makes them look nerdy. I learnt that from my daughters.

Sketches done with rotring artist pen and water wash in moleskine.

Like with a desperate diet, I start off every Monday with the determination to iron immediately when something comes off the line. Just to see my diligence fade into submission by Wednesday. The result is a growing mountain of washing and a leaking cup of courage. So I let the mountain run its course… after all, it is already there….and wait for the magical day when my cupeth runneth over again.

I’ll probably always have this habit that needs fixing.

Posted on June 27, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

If all else fails, try vegetables

I’ve seen a few people on EDM struggling with being in a slump. I guess it is my turn. I can’t seem to get a hold on inspiration.
There is a whole wide world out there to paint, to draw and I can’t find anything. I have the pencil and brush in my hand, like a knife and fork, waiting for the perfect meal to come from the kitchen. Unfortunately I am the “cook” in the kitchen….so I literally took my pencil and brush to the kitchen and tried to cook up something…I painted the first things my eyes fell on. Just earlier today I bought fresh produce which were on the table and so here are my carrots and aubergines…interestingly, the striped one is called a Graffiti. I struggled through 6 sketches, going from bad to worse. So I threw away the rest and kept the first attempts.
Both these sketches were done in WC on Fabriano HP.

Posted by Africantapestry at 5:01 PM

alteredtome said…: I just love your painterly style! So direct and fresh.; June 27, 2007 5:39 PM
Betty said…: aahhhhhhh! I am very envious of your slump 🙂 This is so lovely, as always.; June 27, 2007 5:46 PM
hfm said…: And they are so fresh and natural!; June 27, 2007 6:36 PM
martín said…: Wow! These are so well done. The combination of colours and the touches with the brush on the paper. Two masterpieces!; June 27, 2007 6:41 PM
mARTa said…: Ronell my favorite is the second one. Upon close inspection (hehehe)I have found numerous ‘jewels’ in this lively watercolor. I have several ‘favorite’ areas…the white veggie has lovely colour in it and a great blend of hard and soft edges. The contrast between the deep purple and blue is electrifying and the splashes of colour in the shadow areas keep the watercolor from vibrating too much. This is by far a most successful painting and the slump is offically over. have a great kitchen and painting day!!!; June 27, 2007 6:41 PM
caseytoussaint said…: These are just beautiful!; June 27, 2007 7:03 PM
juj said…: I never get tired of your style Ronell. LOVE those carrots.; June 27, 2007 7:29 PM
Robyn said…: What Marta said followed by what Casey said. And I bet you cooked them as beautifully as you painted them!; June 27, 2007 7:48 PM
Lin said…: GORGEOUS!! SO JUICY AND PAINTERLY!!!!; June 27, 2007 8:22 PM
brian nelson said…: Very nice, indeed!; June 27, 2007 10:40 PM
Dave said…: Wonderful; I love to see watercolours that look like watercolours! They are both lovely, the carrots are very striking, and the second one has some great touches, like the purple reflection in the blue one.; June 27, 2007 11:45 PM
mARTa said…: Now my critic of the carrots. I do think this one was successful as well but i have one area that bothers me. The dark shadow under the leaves just stares at me. I think I am entranced by the subtle colour in the other shadow areas but don’t see any here. The variation of the red/orange color of the carrots has my eyes traveling and so it carries me throughout the sketch. Both of these are successful also in that you’ve allowed the colors to mix themselves on the paper and for me that is always so hard to do!; June 28, 2007 12:57 AM
Teri C said…: These look good enough to eat. Except they are too beautifully colored-so fresh and bright.; June 28, 2007 1:41 AM
Deborah said…: Ohhhh, these make me want to eat some veggies. Beautiful!; June 28, 2007 2:19 AM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for all the comments..I appreciate them.
Yes Marta, you’re spot on with the carrots. My shading is not at all successfull…under the leaves it looks like something standing on it’s own and it really does hurt the eye. I also threw in unnecessary shadings under the tips of the carrots, which does the same thing…and that v-shaped shadow which is supposed to follow the little tie around the carrots.. This is of course due to my uncontrollable habit of not leaving things alone! I had finished and then I thought I could maybe have them look a bit better and so the fiddling started! Thank you for noticing it and saying it…I really appreciate it….without positive critique I can’t grow!!
Ronell; June 28, 2007 8:26 AM
biteyourowntail said…: Lush aubergines Ronell – I’m in love with those colours.I actually like to draw and paint veg – they’re such satisfying shapes – not to mention colours.; June 28, 2007 10:46 AM
Carole said…: Well done for clambering out of your slump and painting. I love both of these.Rather than throw away the ones you are less happy with, you could cut out the bits that do work (there are usually bits that do) and collage them, just for fun.; June 28, 2007 11:38 AM
Regula Scheifele said…: Slump? – if you say so… though the paintings surely don’t show it.
I love the second one, the colour of the aubergines is perfect (I’ve tried painting aubergines as well, didn’t really get the colour the way I wanted it….).
Beautiful!; June 28, 2007 12:02 PM
andrea joseph’s sketchblog said…: Ronell I couldn’t agre more. These are brilliant brilliant brilliant.; June 28, 2007 1:57 PM
Lindsay said…: Ronell, I’ve been there! Slumps can feel really aweful. The last time I was in one, I took myself on a date to and did some really relaxing and beautiful things. Sometimes, all you need are a few naps and a couple of low pressure outings for just yourself.
The carots are lovely!Take good care!; June 28, 2007 3:20 PM
Cathy (Kate) Johnson said…: Gorgeous, Ronell! I love the fresh, splashy look…; June 28, 2007 3:54 PM
Irene said…: Very nice. Fresh and watery (is that a word?); June 28, 2007 4:18 PM
Sandy said…: Oh My God, there is nothing left to say – I love every bit of them!!! I may hate you 😉; June 28, 2007 4:50 PM
Sandy said…: I like both of the pictures. So glad you updated. I come here almost every day just waiting, LOL..silently waiting…these are gorgeous Ronell.sandy; June 28, 2007 9:27 PM
Emma Pod said…: Hi Ronell, these are beautiful vegetables! Great colors. I also like your frog from an earlier post!; June 28, 2007 9:49 PM
Linda said…: bsolutely gorgeous! The carrots, especially, are just so ALIVE.; June 29, 2007 1:30 AM
good with color said…: “sigh”Your paintings are so beautiful, it makes me feel happy and relaxed to look at them. especially those eggplants. I bought some today, to make ratatouille (sp?) but yours are so much nicer! Bunnies everywhere are longing for your carrots, I’ll bet.; June 29, 2007 6:57 AM
laserone said…: Hey, that’s really good work for somebody who is uninspired! I especially love the aubergines, I just love blues and purples. 🙂; June 29, 2007 7:07 AM
Africantapestry said…: Thanks for the comments, they are all so inspiring.
I alos found Diahn’s article on Wet canvas, very inspiring – makes me want to just get back into doing “small things”, but things that give pleasure. See Diahn at http://artbydiahn.blogspot.com/
Thanks again to everybody.; June 29, 2007 9:14 AM
platitudinal said…: Ronell, I love how you described holding the pencil and the brush in your hands like eating utensils, and you were waiting for the “perfect meal.”The vegetables looked so beautiful. I love the carrots (even though I don’t really like eating carrots). The orange and the yellow compliment each other so nicely, they’re such a delight to the eyes.; June 29, 2007 11:55 AM
Claudia said…: W o n d e r f u l colours, Ronell! Keep up the good work! I always love to see more of it!
…And thank you for your nice words “whatever you chose to do, do it to the fullest!”
Kind regards from
Claudia; June 29, 2007 8:09 PM
Tonniece said…: I enjoy your art so much Ronell, whether in a slump or in perfect form, you always get it right.; June 29, 2007 8:26 PM
Laureline said…: Wow!!!!!!!!Just amazingly gorgeous, Ronell!!! They’re so loose and colorful and watery—PERFECT!!; June 29, 2007 8:45 PM
Anita said…: Ronell you turn everything into an uplifting rainbow, these are beautiful!!!; July 1, 2007 2:15 AM
Sandy said…: just waving hello…looking for updates..no pressure…but looking for updates..LOL…gosh everytime I come here I get inspired…I love your stuff. By the way you have great links too…; July 1, 2007 6:26 PM
Pequete said…: Well, if this is a slump… I just wish I had some of these myself! Both sketches are lovely, but I especially like the carrots one, so painterly and light.; July 2, 2007 11:32 AM
wagonized said…: What a great approach. When i hit a drawing funk, even my favorite subjects are uninviting — that’s probably because i am less willing to “surprise” myself. These are gorgeous — just what you managed to do by pushing yourself into the kitchen is amazing. And i love the fact you chose to juxtapose the orange of the carrots with the purple underneath. Excellent.; July 5, 2007 8:23 PM
phthaloblu said…: These are great sketches. Sorry to hear about your slump. Just keep ‘doing’ and hopefully you won’t be slumping for long. Your work is beautiful and so loose and I love looking at it. Good thought for you!; July 7, 2007 9:36 PM
Bill said…: hy an I always hungry after visiting your blog?Beautiful!; July 15, 2007 9:14 PM
CrumpledPaperbirds said…: These are gorgeous!!!
Lovely colors, and love the two pics next to each other…food for eyes.; July 16, 2007 1:50 PM

Posted on June 17, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

Unknown faces on the train

Some faces on the train to Paris. All done in pen in moleskine and given a wash later at home.

Anita said…: They are all wonderful Ronell but I especially like the 2nd with the woman facing away, adds a sense of mystery and gets the imagination pumping!; June 17, 2007 3:58 PM
Lin said…: BEAUTIFUL!! The softness of the wash is outstanding!; June 17, 2007 4:29 PM
Meinhild Selbach said…: Great work! I really like your style.
Greetings from the Lyons area 😉
Meinhild (inselfan54); June 17, 2007 4:37 PM
Nancy Van Blaricom said…: These are beautiful. Was it ink or watercolor you used for a wash? Your portrait sketches are so well done.; June 17, 2007 5:18 PM
Nina Johansson said…: Great with those grey washes, I love these drawings!; June 17, 2007 5:19 PM
mARTa said…: love these too! I did my daughter on the train into Los Angeles on friday….she was right in front of me so I could see her!!! I love how these don’t have color…the washes are beautiful.; June 17, 2007 11:31 PM
Jenny said…: Enjoyed your train sketches. Ink and wash is perfect for these.; June 18, 2007 1:19 AM
Arty Velarde said…: These are nice, I like the washes for the gray scale.
It looks cool!; June 18, 2007 3:12 AM
juj said…: These are fabulous Ronnell – Your linework is so free and easy, and the washes are the perfect touch. I love the sleeping man at the top and the one at the bottom. And there is something so compelling about the posture of the girl with the pony tail. Sly girl – capturing the people who wouldn’t notice what you were doing!; June 18, 2007 4:19 AM
Sandy said…: Gosh how do you do this!!! I would love to learn watercolor wash like this…just beautiful and delicate. sandy; June 18, 2007 7:35 AM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you to verybody for the kind comments…I really appreciate your encouragement.
Nancy – I just used some black watercolor.
Marta – will have alook at your daughter’s sketch today. I think someone right opposite me is a bit intimidating(a stranger)…I expect them to bite me any minute!
Judi – Yip, that is exacty how I caught Hartman…!
Sandy – I feel like I’m is actually cheating; really good sketching can stand on its own with only the lines, but I feel mine needs that extra bit of “oomph”..
Ronell; June 18, 2007 8:28 AM
biteyourowntail said…: Sneaky drawings of people – love them. And what better way to spend a train journey? Lovely work; June 18, 2007 11:01 AM
Dave said…: These are lovely. So expressive and the wash adds a lot to the line work.; June 18, 2007 3:21 PM
Robyn said…: Wonderful people! I too love the girl with the pony tail but they are a delightful lot. I think the sketches would stand up very well without it, but the wash is a lovely touch. Paris! Sigh! The last time I saw Paris….; June 18, 2007 5:47 PM
Tonniece said…: A real wow factor here Ronell.
Great sketches; June 18, 2007 10:17 PM
hfm said…: Great work! Don’t know how you can draw on the train! I’ve tried but I can’t; June 18, 2007 11:25 PM
Ujwala said…: the ink and wash portraits are beautiful ronnel! now i need me some trains to ride in 😀 actually i’d be too shy to pull out my sketchpad at such close proximity to the subject! 😀; June 19, 2007 12:59 PM
Claudia said…: Oh, Ronell, you did so nice paintings and drawing while i was away on my hiking tours! I nearly can’t decide which I like the best! Your glass bells are so wonderful! But your garden sketches turned out so good as well!!! I like the colours you use!
And your train sketches are very nice, too! I want to see more!!!; June 19, 2007 1:03 PM
Carole said…: You are so talented, Ronell. You’ve captured a lot of character with these simple lines.You are brave, sketching people. I always feel too self conscious to attempt it, which is a shame as it would be a good way to spend the time on the train.; June 19, 2007 2:35 PM
Anonymous said…: HELLO, i CANT TELL YOU HOW MUCH i LOVE YOUR WORK AND BOTH BLOGS. sINCE iM LEARNING ON MY OWN YOUR WORK HELPS ME ALONG IN LOOKING AT HOW YOUVE PAINTED THNGS.
tHANK-YOU SO AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
lINDA; June 19, 2007 6:17 PM
caseytoussaint said…: I somehow missed this post – it’s wonderful, Ronell! These are so full of character, so individual – I really love them. This seems like a new departure for you (?)

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