Orchid Series

I have finally finished my orchid series, which consists of three very different orchid paintings. My art teacher, Claudia, who I no longer have as an art teacher because I have stopped with my art lessons (I think I officially graduated after 5 years worth of training under her), suggested that we each do a series of orchid paintings and discuss it as we go along. Well, there were some mixed feelings that I experienced whilst painting these three - joy, excitement, discouragement and fear to name a few. Here they are:

Orchid Series Number 1:

(Size: 500mm x 700mm. Acrylic on Canvas.)

Please note that this painting is for sale.

Please contact the artist if you are interested on artist@christytempies.co.za.

This one turned out the most realistic. It was the first one that I painted. I did not plan it to be so realistic, but I think it worked out nicely. The background was a bit tricky. At one point I was quite worried about the background because it had too many different textures and colours happening in it that it distracted the eye away from the focal point - the orchid. I managed

to persevere and fix it by using a purple/maroon mixture of acrylics to "tone" it down (which compliments the purple in the middle of the orchid very nicely). It worked out really well in the end.

Orchid Series Number 2:

(Size: 900mm x 700mm. Acrylic on Canvas.)

Please note that this painting is for sale.

Please contact the artist if you are interested on artist@christytempies.co.za.

This is my favourite one. I really enjoyed this one. Sorry... it does have a reddish colour cast. I need to take a new photo. At one point, I did fear that I had overworked the top petal of the orchid. But managed to save the painting by stopping myself from painting more on the overworked area to fix it. Instead, I worked a little more on other areas, such as the bottom left corner, which helped balance it out. After doing the first orchid painting, I really made an effort with this one to go more abstract. I did manage to achieve that to point, I think I still need to work on my abstracts! But, I love this painting for what it is and to me, this painting is very fresh and energetic.

Orchid Series Number 3:
(Size: 400mm x 400mm. Acrylic on Canvas.)

Please note that these paintings are for sale.

Please contact the artist if you are interested on artist@christytempies.co.za.

The final one of the series (as my reference plants from Claudia are still in JHB, and now I am in Postmasburg - no orchids here, just cactus plants!). It is a diptych (2 canvases, one picture). This one I finished today, after letting it stand half finished for about 2/3 weeks (not advisable!). It was almost done though, then we had to move. Anyway, this one I also tried to be more relaxed and tried to be more abstract too. The colours landed up being very bright and rich, which was a happy accident. It has some nice curves that makes it flow quite nicely.

Please note that 30% of the sale of these paintings will go to Realstart.
Please visit their website to see the positive impact they are having on the youth of South Africa at http://realstart.org/ 
 
Visit my website: http://www.christytempies.co.za
All content and images copyright © Christy Tempies, 2011. All rights reserved.

The New Beginning

So a new life begins in the small town called Postmasburg, in the Northern Cape. We recently moved to this small town from the big city, Johannesburg. It's a temporary move. My aim here is to practice, practice and practice art and illustration. I love doing art, I love being able to create new things. And now is the perfect opportunity to finely tune the talents that God has so graciously given me.

I must say that being able to do art full time is not very easy. It takes a lot of self-discipline and will-power to stand, for more than just a couple of hours a day, behind the easel. But who said that it would be easy? It's a battle worth fighting.

I have scouted out the town and hope to sketch many scenes from this small town. There are interesting things to see here and record. I sat outside the Postmasburg Primary School yesterday to see if I could sketch anything. I found a couple of plants... but it did not turn out so well because I did not have the right material to draw with. I was using a charcoal pencil thing, but I really should've taken charcoal instead. Next time, will hopefully be a more profitable drawing experience!

Please contact the artist if you are interested in any of the works on this blog on artist@christytempies.co.za.
Visit my website: http://www.christytempies.co.za
All content and images copyright © Christy Tempies, 2011. All rights reserved.