Long-haired sheep

Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (= 2.5 x 3.5 inches = 64 x 89 mm):

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store.

Ear tag

Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (= 2.5 x 3.5 inches = 64 x 89 mm):

SOLD

Cows are cute, so why not another one?

Grazing cow

Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (= 2.5 x 3.5 inches, or 64 x 89 mm):

SOLD

It has been a while since I have done any painting; I have been busy working on a new children's book, which will hopefully be available some time in January 2020 - watch this space! But in the meantime, a little ACEO, just to keep me from going completely rusty.

Tuscan window

Pen and acrylic wash on watercolor paper, 15 x 10 cm:

SOLD

Happy Halloween

I have been experimenting with coloring images digitally. There's a bit of a learning curve involved...

Pencil drawing; color added with Gimp.

Cape turtle dove

Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (= 2.5 x 3.5 inch = 64 x 89 mm):

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store. 

Red-billed hornbill

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

The hornbills have a rather strange system of breeding. They breed in hollows in trees. The opening is mostly blocked off with a plaster made of mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow opening through which the male feeds the female and her chicks. When the hole becomes too small for its occupants, the female breaks out; the opening is then resealed as before, and the chicks fed by both parents until they are ready to leave the nest.

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store. 

Caracal

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

I am not overly fond of painting predators. When I do, I decidedly prefer the smaller, lesser known ones, rather than the big glamorous ones like lions or leopards. Caracals are medium sized cats, and quite common throughout much of Africa, the Middle East and India, but are elusive and seldom seen.

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-buy store.

Three springbok

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

The name springbok is from Afrikaans, meaning "jumping antelope." These medium-sized antelope are found in suitable habitat through much of the western half of southern Africa. They get their name from a curious behaviour known as "pronking" (from the Afrikaans, meaning "to show off"), in which they jump into the air in a stiff-legged posture. It is not clear what the purpose of this behaviour is.

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store. 

Bullfrog

Acrylics on Masonite, 10 x 15 cm:

SOLD

The Afrikaans name for these huge frogs is "brulpadda" ("roaring frog"), and refers to their raucous calls, which can be heard from a very long way off. It is a common night sound after good rains, when the females lay their eggs in temporary stands of water.

White-bellied sunbird

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

These small birds are fairly common around here where I live, in parks and gardens, as well as wooded wild areas. But they are not seen all that often because of their small size and wooded habitat. Not easy to photograph either, because they seem never to remain still for more than a fraction of a second at a time. Only the males have bright, iridescent colors; the females, like the females of other sunbirds, are drab grey-brown. They have a similar lifestyle to those of the hummingbirds of the Americas, and live on nectar, small insects and spiders.

Southern Red Bishop

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

The bishop birds are part of the weaver family, and like other weavers, in the breeding season the males turn into bright colors, build woven nests and engage in mating displays in an attempt to attract females. In the non-breeding season, they lose their bright feathers and turn drab like the females.

Orange-breasted waxbill

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

These colorful critters are fairly common along water courses in the eastern half of southern Africa. They're pretty small and elusive though, so usually you have sit quietly for a while before you wil see them, often in small groups, flitting from perch to perch.

Cape white-eye

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Sacred ibis

Acrylic on Masonite, 25 x 20 cm:

SOLD

White-fronted bee-eaters

Acrylic on Masonite, 25 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Malachite kingfisher

Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Black-eyed bulbul

Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Common garden birds in the eastern half of South Africa. In the west, the are replaced by the red-eyed bulbul, which is almost identical, except for a red ring around the eye.

Cape robin-chat

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

These birds used to be known simply as Cape robins - not difficult to see why, as they look rather like European robins, but are found in South Africa. Then, some years ago, the powers that be in bird nomenclature made extensive changes to the common names of lots of birds, presumably in an attempt to standardize names, and the Cape robin also got renamed. 

Early bird (hoopoe)

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

I saw this hoopoe in the early morning gloom, looking for breakfast - the early bird does indeed get the worm. Took a quick reference photo or two. The light was so low that the photo came out fuzzy and grainy, but it was still suitable as reference.

Cape sparrow

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Orange-breasted bush shrike

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

A bird and a big beast

Red-headed finch on a branch. Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

A big beast in a small painting: Grazing elephant. Acrylic on Masonite, ACEO, i.e. 2.5 x 3.5 inch (64 x 89 mm):

SOLD

 

Small gifts

Gifts for various people about to embark on long journeys, in the form of a bunch of small paintings of subject matter they happen to like. All done in acrylics on Masonite. The elephant is an ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches in size = 64 x 89 mm), and the other two are 10 x 15 cm:

Masked weaver

More precisely, Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) male, building a nest. Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Laughing dove

Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis. Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Bell peppers

Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

This item is for sale on my Daily Paintworks Gallery.

Hoopoe

Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Two pumpkins on a shelf

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 25 cm (= about 8 x 10 inches):

SOLD

Grapes in a basket

Acrylics on Masonite, 35 x 50 cm:

SOLD

Sunflowers in a ceramic vase

Acrylics on Masonite, 36 x 51 cm (= about 14 x 20 inches):

SOLD

This one is a bit larger than my usual thing, and as such I did not put it up on my Bid-or-Buy store, because it is likely a bit too unwieldy to send anywhere by mail. It will hopefully feature in a local exhibition in due course.

Red apple

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Pug on the lawn

Acrylics on Masonite, 10 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Red jungle fowl

Acrylics on Masonite, 10 x 15 cm:

SOLD

These are the critters domestic chickens are descended from. I experimented a bit here with a much looser, expressionist sort of style; I have yet to decide whether I like it!

Two blue waxbills

Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

When you wander around in dry thorn veld, it's all muted greens and earth colors. Until you glimpse a little flock of blue waxbills; they always come as a pleasant surprise, their powder blue plumage looking strangely out of place in surroundings. Which is perhaps one reason why I enjoy painting them.

Yellow-billed hornbill

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Red-headed finch

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Karoo donkey

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 25 cm:

SOLD

Busy bee

Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Sunbird and Protea Flower

More specifically, a greater double-banded sunbird. Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

The sunbirds (there are many species) are Africa's version of the hummingbirds of the Americas. despite their similar looks, they are not closely related. The sunbirds have a similar lifestyle though, and live on nectar and small insects.

Blue waxbill

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Landscape with conifers

Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

A Whale of a Tale

This children's book is no longer for sale, but feel free to enjoy this free online version!