Ocean view

 Ocean view, British Columbia. Oil on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

Doesn't hurt to now and then try something I am not so familiar with. A Canadian friend of mine posted a photo on Facebook, and I shamelessly stole it to use as reference photo. I couldn't quite do it justice, I think...

Pylons

 Pylons near Balmoral, Mpumalanga:

Oil on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm.

This spot is only a few kilometres from where I lived as a boy. It is mid-winter, and the winter frosts have killed off the grass and, it seems, everything else. New growth will burst forth in spring, and by November, if the rains were reasonable, the area will resemble Ireland. 

I find most people don't particularly like this kind of scene: the winter colors are considered drab, even depressing, and the pylons an eyesore. With me it is different, perhaps partly because I grew up in this sort of landscape, and thus perhaps view it through the soft-focus filter of nostalgia. For me, these pylons and their cables snaking over the horizon are very much part of the landscape, and I love the rich but subtle and subdued hues of the winter grass. 

This item will be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store as soon as it is dry enough to travel.

Landscape with two poplars

 Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 25 cm:

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

Landscape with cottage

 Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

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

Abandoned home, Karoo

Oil on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Mission Station, Tweespruit

Oil on Masonite, 20 x 25 cm:

SOLD

The Belgian-South African artist Frans Claerhout spent his last years here, in the small Free State town of Tweespruit. During his life, his art generated millions of rands. But as Catholic priest, he did not keep a cent of it for himself; it was all used in development projects in the community where he served, and he retired in humble circumstances, sharing a house with another retired priest. He died in 2006.

Squirrel City

I wrote this story about a million years ago as Christmas gift for my niece. And now I finally got around to publishing it:

You can read it for free right here, but if you enjoy it, please consider buying a copy, or making a donation of your choice by clicking on the PayPal Donate button in the panel on the right.

Buy on Amazon

If you enjoyed this story, please consider buying a copy, or donating an amount of your choice by clicking on the PayPal Donate button in the panel on the right.