Tuesday, December 2, 2008

More Plein Air Admirers


More interested bystanders at our Plein Air group on Monday!




















The baboon found a good vantage point on the wall lamp behind Gerda and once Doreen is immersed in her composition, nothing much will disturb her!













So we decided to do a spot of "Life drawing", African style but the models were not very good at keeping still for any length of time!

Our sandwiches at lunch time started a flurry of interest, so we retreated into the kitchen to eat in peace.......



I took my watercolours with me and had a great time abstracting the essence of the leaves on the vine growing over the veranda. I was unable to complete it, due to the above visitors. I will work on it today, using my memory and imagination.

Those of you who will be wondering at our apparent lack of concern for our safety .... our hostess, June, says these baboons are frequent visitors only on the lookout for food. A couple of days ago, she found a large male in her kitchen, he calmly opened the freezer, pulled out a drawer and took a loaf of frozen bread and some chicken. She flicked at him with a towel to get him out, he calmly turned round and ambled out onto the veranda. He took a frozen slice of bread out of the packet, patting it and blowing on it before popping it into his mouth!

20 comments:

Andrea and Kim said...

What a funny story about the baboon in the kitchen! Isn't it funny how we get used to certain animals being in our lives. I am not sure I could paint with these friends visiting, but hey they sure do make for an interesting day.

I suppose it is a good idea to take your camera along when you are painting on location like this, right? That way you can grab some images if you can't get the work completed.

This is a wonderfully fun post, Dianne!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Dianne said...

Hi Kim, actually we didn't get much painting done once the baboons arrived, they were so entertaining, one even fell into the fishpond while trying to have a drink, he looked quite sheepish as he climbed out!
I always have my camera in my bag, I love taking photo's. I am not that keen on painting from photo's, I tend to want to copy the photo faithfully and end up with an illustration-like painting.

Andrea and Kim said...

So Dianne, you don't abstract from photographs? Now how cool is that? I thought it would be one of those issues where you could have a photo, then carry on with painting in your studio if the light changed, etc.

Do you prefer painting on location or in the studio the best? I am asking because I have never really painted outdoors as I worry about dust and dirt betting stuck to the wet paint. :) I think I would love a meditative kind of place for painting, though...does that makes sense?

Thanks Dianne...sorry if I ask too many questions.

Suzanne McDermott said...

Oh, those baboons! They have no fear!

Anonymous said...

I love your photos of the baboons, we have to go to the zoo to see them and here they all are, they look so entertaining, don't think I would do very much painting either. The wildlife and all that lush vegetation, what a dream, here I sit in UK its -4 degrees, freezing.

soulbrush said...

what an entertaining day you all had. wish i was there....actually i am coming to johannesburg next wednesday to see my brother and family (haven't been to SA for 7 years as my bro uaually comes to London these days.)

Carol said...

Lovely story Di, they really are characters! - where on earth does June live?

~Babs said...

So funny!
Cannot imagine turning around in my kitchen to see a baboon raiding the fridge!
Very entertaining post,,,and looking forward to your abstraction.
Super photos!

Dianne said...

Kim, I love your questions! You make this blogging experience so interesting, you make us think and you keep giving me new ideas for postings ... in fact I will answer your question in my next posting.

Dianne said...

Suzanne, your right, they have no fear. My friend June is recently widowed. She says the baboons have completely changed in their behaviour, they seem to know there is no man about, they have become brazen. They don't have any regard for a woman!!! I suppose this is normal in their own troop hierachy. When she tries to get them out of the house, screaming and waving about, they just ignore her!!!!

Dianne said...

Dear Carolann, thanks for visiting and enjoying the photo's. Hope it warms up a bit there soon. Perhaps you will have a white Christmas?

Dianne said...

Hi Soulbrush, you must be getting excited about coming to South Africa for the first time in 7 years! Let us know your impressions. Will you still be blogging while away? Hope you have a wonderful time with your family!

Dianne said...

Hi Babs, we had such fun! I worked on my watercolour yesterday in my studio. I have some new oil pastels and so decided to see how they contrasted with the delicate watercolour leaves I had painted. I think maybe the contrast is too great, but this is what experimenting is all about. Will post it if I have a bit of time today!!!!

Dianne said...

Hi Carol, June lives on the side of the mountain, up Zwaanswyk Road in Tokai. The mountain rises from behind her garden and she has the most amazing view from the front of the southern suberbs, Table Mountain and Devils Peak in the distance.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Hi Dianne - of course I had to come back and will continue to do so. Wonderful story of the baboons. Seems like it could turn into a children's illustrated book??? When we going to see the vines watercolour then? What a wonderful venue for your plein air work in June's mountain garden. I did so enjoy painting my table mountain view from the beach when I was there.

Dianne said...

Hi Joan, you must have been on Blouberg or Milnerton beach to get that Table mountain view. You are lucky to be able to paint while on holiday, I find this very difficult when travelling with my nearest & dearest, we are never still long enough for me to get down to it! Will have to start travelling alone. I have a friend who goes off to Europe alone and lives in an old van and paints until her money runs out, she is often away for 2 months, selling paintings for her supper.

marianne said...

Hi Dianne
I have just eddited my post about the Moo cards, links are now included to Moo and other Moocards.

thanks for your comment Dianne and your visits to my blog.

I try to figure out where you live..... in capetown?
I guess Babboons are more likely to show up there... Or are you on holiday?
I love Capetown!
I would love to see the babboons and the harassment.... I guess it is different when you live there....
I have to look a bit further on your blog.
See you around!

Greetings from Holland

Dianne said...

Hi Marianne, thanks for the links! Yes, I live in Cape Town, but my adult children live in the U.K. so my heart is in both places. I lived in the U.A.E. in the Middle East last year for 8 months, see my first posting regarding this. Have you visited Cape Town?

soulbrush said...

hi again. i teach primary children, and have done so for 40 years, 22 here in the uk, but i am really fed up with it now and want so badly to stop!! can't financially yet, specially not here in london!

Dianne said...

Hi Soulbrush, you are amazing! When on earth do you find the time to be creative and holding down a full time teaching job? I really admire that you have the energy still to paint!