Monday, December 19, 2011

Hog's Heaven


Finally here are a few images of some of my work since we arrived here in Johannesburg.  I have been doing a lot of smaller paintings, and sketching as I have been very distracted and do not always have a long period to sit and work.  I hope that you enjoy all of them, and would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and all the best for you for 2012.





Here is another acrylic pour and it looks good together with "Chimp Magic" as a pair.  This painting is done on canvas on a stretcher and is quite large - 600mm x 750mm and at present is unframed.

Zebras at the waterhole
This is an oil painting on canvas and is quite large - 1000mm x 700mm . Unframed at present.



 Here are three of the smallish sketches that I have been doing, from left to right, Victoria Falls, Over the hills and far away, First Light.  All of these are pastels.

River study II
This is another smallish study, 510mm x 360mm and is mixed media, finishing with pastel.  

Another scratchboard - 200mm x 300mm
Pensive Lion Study
Another oil painting on canvas, 400mm x 500mm




Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Hello all
I apologize for the lengthy delay in posting on my blog, but we have had the big move to Johannesburg.  No sooner had we arrived than my daughter had problems with her pregnancy and had to have an emergency ceasarian.  She had something called Help Syndrome which affects pregnant mums in their final trimester, so Tyler arrived 5 weeks early.  It was a scary start to Joburg for us, with both mum and baby in intensive care, but I am very happy to report that both mum and baby are doing fine. I have added a couple of pictures of my daughter with my new granddchild - a very happy gran, and makes this move all so worthwhile!!


I am happy to say that I have now unpacked my studio, (I have claimed the third bedroom in our new house) and though it is a lot smaller than my lovely studio in Gaborone, it is my own space and I have already started painting like mad.  I am not happy with a lot of the things that I have done, but will be posting a couple of the new paintings soon.

I am happy to report that I have managed to get my work into a couple of galleries, so that is a start in the right direction.  One of the galleries is in Sandton in the Legacy Mall, right next to the Mandela Square, and has a lot of traffic from the four big hotels there, so hopefully a good place for some of my wildlife art. The other gallery is in Broadacres - a lovely mall that services Fourways and surrounding suburbs.  I have also joined the Artists Association of South Africa, that is one of the big plusses of living here, and they host lots of lovely workshops and exhibitions all through the year - so I am really looking forward to moving on with my art.


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Leo

This is a pastel done on paper.

Brothers in Arms

Brothers in Arms

Another watercolour pour - I enjoy doing these.  This painting has been bought by a very good friend 

Dust Bath

This is another watercolour done on acid free board - the photo has come out a bit more yellow than it actually is.  I have just been doing a lot of quick paintings, as I have been very distracted with all my packing.
Firstly I must apologize for the delay in getting some pictures on my site.  We have been very busy packing up and are now just about on our way to Johannesburg.  I am very excited about going, as my daughter is just about due with our first grandchild.  But I am also very nervous, a whole new beginning for us!!

This is just a small watercolour that I have done on acid free board - Guinea fowl are always such fun to do.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Bedazzled

I just love painting zebra. This is another watercolor, and is 540mm x 300mm - not too big. It has also been sold.


This is a smallish oil painting of a kudu - I have included a picture of it in its frame. When I went down to Cape Town on my art course, Dale Elliot was kind enough to show me how to do this kind of frame for my paintings. Oil paintings have always worried me, as I do not like them framed, always thought that they lacked something. I love the way this makes them jump out of the frame, and now they look more like a watercolor that has mountboard - just more finished. What do you think?

Afternoon Stroll at Chobe

Oil on Canvas 760mm x 610mm We were driving back to our campsite in Chobe, when we decided to take one more last loop down to the river to see if there was anything, and chanced upon these two lions returning from having a drink. I just loved the picture, especially with the late afternoon glow from the setting sun.

Running Wild Dog

Oil on Canvas - 610mm x 455mm We saw this pack of wild dog in Madikwe, and they were all lazing around in the early morning light, when all of a sudden this dog jumped up and started running down the path. It was not long and all of the pack were up on their feet and on the move.

Leopard with Tree

Oil on Canvas - 760mm x 610mm We came across this leopard in Savute and she was just sitting watching us, she did not seem at all worried. I love seeing leopard, and it is always a thrill when you get to see them, as they are so elusive, and disappear into the bush so easily.

Zebra Migration

I originally did this painting with a red foreground, and when I had finished the painting it sat in the studio where I could see it. I was not happy with the picture, something kept annoying me about it. Anyway, the one day I walked in and I thought it is the strong colors in the foreground, they were competing with the picture. So I reworked the whole background, a very labour intensive job :) - but I am happier with the whole outcome. This painting has been sold.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

It has been a busy start to the New Year for us. We have finally finished the new gallery, which we are hoping to open soon. Here in Gaborone it is a problem to find somewhere central that can hang our art, so I decided that I would have my own gallery at home. It is a bit problematic as we are just outside of town, but decided that I would offer coffee/tea or a glass of wine to anyone who would like to come a view the gallery, and put up signboards along the way. I will just have to advertise well - if anyone has any ideas please send them to me - am open to any suggestions. My e mail address is theregans@botsnet.bw


I have also been busy for the Botswana Postal Service, and have been commissioned to design 2 sets of stamps which is very exciting. The one set is Birds of Botswana, and I will be working alongside Gwithie Kirby, another local artist here in Gaborone. The second set is the African Wild Dog, and this is a set of 4 stamps together with the first day cover. I am not too sure when they are due to come out, but this is a lengthy process, and I am sure that the dogs are only coming out in 2012. I think the bird series is due out later this year - but will keep you posted on this.

Leopard in Tree

This is a larger pastel painting.

Another small pastel painting of the Chobe area featuring stormy skies with an elephant

Another small painting in oil of a lechwe on the banks of the Khwaai river
A small oil landscape

ELEPHANT SWIMMING

The elephants love to cross the Chobe river, and if you are lucky enough you can get close to them on the boats to get these pictures. I have done this one in watercolor, and it is a smallish painting. I have found that in todays economic struggles, not everyone wants big paintings that are so expensive, and would rather buy something smaller.

Third Bridge in Moremi - this has to be one of my favorite places in Botswana. This is a small painting and it is mounted and framed.


This is another small painting of some Buffalo crossing the Chobe River.


This is a pastel done on paper. I tried to create the feeling that the cheetah was focused on something in the distance, and that you can feel the tension in her stare.


Another smallish painting - I love guinea fowl, and this is a watercolor.



This is a pastel again, and is of a river running through the property of friends of ours in South Africa. I really love working in pastel, it is such a powerful medium, and I love putting that pure pigment onto the paper. This painting is now in the artists collection.