In the midst of my frustration, there were still these rocky mountains – dripping with effortless, messy beauty. The thing I’ve realised is, we all have a liewe hexie and a not so liewe hexie in us. For the days when the not so liewe hexies comes to visit, let her have her time in the sun too. She’ll be on her way soon enough.
(artist retains all rights to print reproductions of this painting)
Inspiration image: artist’s own
ORIGINAL COPY POSTED ON INSTAGRAM DURING THE CHALLENGE
Aghenee F*k man. F*ckiDucki. I don’t wanna anymore. Ekkewillimeernie. Shitf*ck..
Yes, we went away for an escape.
Yes, I was full of optimism and confidence at the new adventure of painting in the great wide open, embraced by the arms of nature.
No, it did not go well. .
I lugged my f-ing paint box halfway up a bloody mountain in the gorgeous Hex River Valley only to arrive at the top with a sore shoulder, hungry and gatvol of this crazyass painting project.
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I tip my hat to all you plein air artists – because I’ve just realised that I like being inspired by nature but having the ‘just so’ environment of my studio to go paint in – where ‘elke ding is op sy plek’ (‘scuse the Afrikaans English mishmash – I’m surrounded by table grape farmers). .
I couldn’t find a level enough rock to set all my stuff on. When I did the bugs started nattering around my face. The sun kept drying my damn paint too quickly and my ass got sore from perching on a pointy rock. Not i-f*cking-dyllic AT ALL.
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Needless to say – I felt like this day beat me. But in the midst of my frustration, there were still these rocky mountains – dripping with effortless, messy beauty.
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Upon returning to our guest room, I made the best out of a sun-soaked nook, the world’s smallest table and painted the beauty that kept me from having a total shitfit up in the mountains.
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We all have a liewe hexie and a not so liewe hexie in us. For the days when the not so pleasant ones come to visit, let them have their time in the sun. They’ll be on their way soon enough.
Haai O Blommie
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PS: if you don’t know Afrikaans culture, much of this post won’t make sense to you. Sorry about that. .