Africa: More tomorrow...

Before a storm in the Drakensburg Mountains.

Africa: Painted Wolf (Wild Dog)

Just as we were heading out of our last camp we were very fortunate to see these 2 wild dogs on the road right in front of us. I love their other name, Painted Wolf, because they really do look individually painted. Their numbers have dwindled over the years as a result of human encroachment, but thanks to large game reserves in both Botswana and S Africa, they have safe territories in which to live...I guess as long as they stay inside the boundary lines.

They are stunning to see, very unusual looking...almost ethereal. We were VERY excited to see them, and I only got a few photos.

Africa: Just some of the many, many Birds

I can hardly describe the beauty, variety and vast quantity of the birds we saw and heard. We were fortunate to be travelling with avid birders, Bess and Chip, who could identify everything that flew.

Africa: Zebras: My Favorite

I fell in love with zebras. I couldn't get enough of them and took hundreds of photos. I found their markings endlessly fascinating...I had no idea that their manes stand straight up, totally unlike a horse, and am surprised that hasn't become a supreme hair fashion statement...but maybe it has and just hasn't hit Wilno yet.

An amazing tidbit of information from our safari friends: a newborn zebra must memorize it's mother's individual markings, as that is how it will find her in the herd...no other female will accept a newborn except it's own.

Africa: Back on Monday...

Dusk near Capetown

Africa: How we did it

First, I must say that we could not have gone on an African wilderness adventure like this without the experience, expertise and equipment provided by Bess and Chip, and for that I am very grateful. I have done lots of canoeing and camping in the wilds of Ontario, but this was different. We were prepared for 2 weeks of being in the bush, with the exception of a few stops for fresh produce, and of course those wonderful South African wines! A well stocked first aid kit, a winch on the front of one of the 2 landrovers and sand tracks in case we got stuck, extra batteries, a 45 gallon barrel of water for showers and many containers of drinking water, etc etc. It seemed to me we were ready for anything.

The rooftop tent is an amazing invention, and totally suited to the situation. We were taking turns in it, otherwise in ground tents, until my Great Night of Terror. It seemed to me that we were surrounded by lots of very loud lions, and after still being alive in the morning, I expressed my extreme agitation to my fellow campers. From then on, Dan and I were generously granted the rooftop, and I felt totally secure.

We cooked over an open fire, showered outdoors and had afternoon naps every day when it was too hot to be out, and all the animals were doing the same thing. We had a 12 volt freezer with it's own battery wired into the vehicle's charging system and Bessie had filled it with delicious frozen entres...so there we were, far from civilization, eating tai chicken curry and watching the zillion stars of the Southern Hemisphere, serenaded by hippos and hyenas. It was tough.

We travelled 4000 km on roads of various descriptions. At one point I could not believe these tracks were even considered passable, and so it often took hours to get from one game reserve to another. I think we moved 10 times. Some camps were extremely scenic and some were rough and unmaintained. We pulled into one reserve entrance, and were greeted with a huge grin from the warden...we were the first campers to arrive in more than 3 months! No wonder, we barely found the place, and had navigated all day on roads that almost defied travel. It was worth it though...it was a beautiful camp site on a river. We watched hippos and crocodiles all day, and then 2 elephants swam across and frolicked in the water.

Sometimes, if we saw spoor, or tracks, we followed them. That's how we saw the 4 lions. They had walked very close to our campsite, so we went in that direction, and in a couple of hours we saw them. In general, we went out on early morning, and late afternoon game drives armed with binoculars and cameras to see whatever we could find. Often, there was plentiful game in herds, or in singles, sometimes in mixed varieties, grazing and just generally hanging out. It was always exciting and thrilling.

Africa: Elephants Galore

Ha ha...this photo I must admit is not mine...someone emailed it to me, and I think it really shows the scale of these huge, beautiful mammals. We saw many, many elephants of all sizes in herds, and of course the babies were really cute and very funny.

Often we would see broken tusks, whether that is a result of age, I'm not sure. Elephants with the huge tusks that one would see in photos of the past have unfortunately been virtually bred out of existence due to the greedy demand for large ivories.

Africa: Lions

The first thing people ask is if we saw lions. Yes, we saw lots of lions. Yes, we were very close to them. Was I scared? I'm not sure that is how I would describe my reaction...I think I was in awe. I could feel my jaw drop, and my hands shook as I was trying to steady the camera.

We were always in the landrovers...you don't go for game walks, you go for game drives, at dawn and dusk. The most memorable time was a morning drive. Dan is a good spotter and with his binoculars he saw a small pride of 4 lions approaching us, a male, 2 females and a teenager. The amazing thing was, that they continued to approach at a very leisurely pace and simply walked past our vehicle as if it wasn't even there and carried on. I was told that lions in the wild are not particularily interested in humans as food...but still we were holding our breaths from their sheer proximity, especially Karen, who was on the roof of the landrover.

Africa: A Trip of a Lifetime

South Africa is a country of magnificent coastline, majestic mountains, endless grass plains, and is populated by numerous races and colours of people, that speak 11 official languages. And then there are the animals: huge numbers of carnivores, grazers, reptiles, birds and many, many more. I would describe it as sensually spectacular and I felt constantly astonished by what I saw and experienced.

My partner Dan and I, and 2 dear friends, Karen and Pete, travelled for a month, and during that time went on a 2 week safari into the wilderness of S Africa and Botswana with the expertise of another couple, Bess and Chip. They provided us with our camping gear and on-going identification and information as well as careful warnings about everything we saw.

There are many styles of safaris: swanky lodges with guides, fenced compounds (to keep animals out, and people in) or outback camping in the bush with few facilities and very few people nearby, and of course being fiends for adventure, that is what we did!

It is my intention to post, over the next 10 days or so, a humble summary of our fantastic journey, so please tune in...I hope you enjoy the photos.

S Africa

Hello from S Africa...I was hoping to keep up my blog with photos, but it will have to wait till I get home and I get back on my laptop, so in the meantime...Here everything is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. The coast around Capetown was breathtaking. We had a car and went to several beaches over a few days and then a bunch of wineries for tasting SA wines which are delicious. Now we are at a dairy farm "estate" in the Drokensburg mountains at about 6000 ft. We can see for miles, mountain range after range after range. Tremendous thunder and lightening storms in the afternoons. Soon we pack up the 2 jeeps and go on safari for 2 weeks in Bortswana. I feel so fortunate to have this time with our friends here who are avid birders and all around naturalists. No electricity and camping in tents for the whole time. We are not in fenced compounds! We are with the animals and can't imagine what it's going to be like, but they do this all the time. First stop the Central Kalahari Game Park, then 3 more: Chobe, Linyanti and Rhaha...I won't be able to keep in touch for that time... till next time I can post...

The Glass Vase

Oils on stretched canvas 20" x 24"

C.$850.

Of all the paintings I have done in the last two months, this is my favorite. It was like the glass vase painted itself and totally wanted to be on the canvas. Sometimes it is like that...those painting moments are so precious. They come to me more often after a prolonged period of creativity and concentration. I think the key word is SIMPLIFY...and it is one of the hardest concepts to actualize. Pare everything down to what is most important. Let go of the details...relax and follow the brush.

Heron

Oils on stretched canvas 10" x 12"

C.$200.

Of course there were many herons where I was in Florida. In fact I got quite used to them walking by my windows and fishing when the tide was low. I took many photos and then had my laptop set up near my easel, so I could use what was on my monitor for reference.

Seagull at the Beach

Oils on stretched canvas 16" x 20"

C.$450.

Haven't been on line for a number of days...travelling back to Ontario...I loved the beach in Florida, and so of course did a number of paintings of birds. Even common birds like gulls have incredible grace and majesty. This painting took me a long time to do, and wasn't easy. I was trying to make it light in weight. Like air.

Willets and Feather

Oils on stretched canvas 16" x 20"

C.$450. unframed

I do love painting birds. This one is very different from my usual approach. I think these shore birds have such personalities, and group dynamics. Just like us!

Tulips and Callas

Oil on stretched canvas 16" x 20"

C.$ 450 framed/$350. unframed

Those three glasses really captivated me! Now I must move on...

White and Yellow Tulips

Oil on stretched canvas 16" x 20"

C.$550. framed/$450. unframed

I had so much fun with these glasses and again veridian for the highlights.

Tulips in Glasses

Oil on stretched canvas 16" x 20"

C. $550./$450. unframed

This is a continuation of the glass series...now to three glasses. And deep pink tulips...almost red but not. This is the painting where I started using veridian again. Very pale veridian...lots of white...for the highlights in the background.

Clam Bayou

On location oil on stretched canvas 10' x 12"

C.$ 225. unframed

I posted this painting previously and said it wasn't finished...well, now it's finished with only a slight change.

One Tomato

Back to basics...amazing what one can learn in a little painting of a tomatoe: reds, there are lots of them and a large range in temperature, and yellow ochre as a very sweet back-up colour.

Back soon...

aaaarrrgh...having computer problems, just when I'm on a roll...I should have it back tommorrow....so I'll be back and running soon. Thanks for continuing with me and my painting process...and all the comments are great feedback! J

3rd Clam Bayou, Florida

It's good to photograph paintings and look at them on a monitor...having done that with this one, I think it's not finished. Maybe it's kind of like looking at your paintings in a mirror to see where the design flaws are. It really can be shocking...should a good composition work in reverse?? Hmmmm...I will try to post a different version soon.

2nd Clam Bayou, Florida

On location oil on stretched canvas

$C. 225. unframed

The Bayou changes dramatically and often because of the tides. Sometimes there is several feet of water, sometimes there isn't, and everything in between. And so many birds of numerous varieties, shapes, colours and sizes. This painting is of the eastern sky in the evening. I've discovered a new pink I like (oils), it's called Brilliant Pink by Holbein...this photo doesn't really do it justice.

Clam Bayou

On location oil on stretched canvas 10" x 12"

C.225. unframed

This is what it looks like where I am in Gulfport, Florida. I feel so lucky to be right by the water watching the tide go in and out, and had great fun doing this painting. My only problem is that it's sunny every day (!) and so doesn't make for good lighting for taking photos of paintings. I like to take them outside on a cloudy day.