HRH Queen Elizabeth ll

With my Dad,  a flight engineer on the Liberators in WW2, and at one stage part of the Royal Air force, it was probably natural that I grew up with an immense love and respect for the Royal Family.

A while ago I did a portrait of Her Royal Highness for a competition. I did it in shades of pink, to depict her as I see her, the ultimate English Rose. Last year, in her centennial year, I sent her a letter with a photo of her portrait. I received a kind letter of gratitude in return, signed by one of her ladies in waiting.

Obviously with all of the programs on her and the other royals that featured recently as a tribute to her coronation, I could not help myself but watch each and everyone. Again, I was reminded of a remarkable woman, who found balance in being truly royal, but still compassionate, with a beautiful sense of humour. She managed to steer and re-invent the monarchy through 60 years of change, keeping perfect balance between tradition and the need to conform.

I have realized how the media (specifically photos) tend to portray her as emotionless and stern, where-as if one looks at video footage of the same events, one realizes how much she laughs. According to her grandchildren, she actually finds it extremely funny when things go wrong. The love and respect she has from her children, grandchildren and even parliamentarians are obvious.

Her positive influence on the economy, and as a matter of fact that of the whole royal family is astounding. She is the major catalyst for foreign trade and the income the UK generates through tourism is enormous. The income from tourism  exceeds the automotive manufacturing industry five times and  support almost as many jobs as the financial sector. The annual income from the palaces through tourism pay for their upkeep. With the Centennial celebrations being privately funded, one can be assured of the enormous boost to the UK economy. And so is every event where the royals are concerned. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding generated an estimate of 50mil pounds. Though taxpayer money was used for security, with the 1,1million tourists, as well as broadcasting sold to 140 countries, the total boost was estimated at 2 bil pounds. Economists reckon  that the birth of their baby will give a 243 mil pounds push to the economy.

Though cynics and critics will always be part of humanity, the success of the British Royal Family is an example to so many countries, this is clear looking at the attention they receive globally as well as the fact there are factions in other countries that are actually considering re-instating their monarchs.

This bond between monarch and people was started with the Queen’s Grandfather George V, continued with great success by her father GeorgeVl, but it is undeniable that HRH Queen Elizabeth ll, has had an immense impact, not only on Great Britain, but also globally.

As for me, I would be an extremely happy woman if one day, I too can curtsey this remarkable woman. God save the Queen.

My bath, my sanctuary

If ever I have the opportunity to build a house again, it will center around the bathroom. No more big lounges and braai-areas for entertainment, but rather a big bathroom, with a spa bath .Oh, and big glass doors that opens onto a private garden with a water feature, from  the Japanese philosophy that one’s house should extend into the garden.

I absolutely love to bath, I do so twice a day. With fragrant candles burning, therapeutic oils or salts, enriching soaps….. its “me” time. To me it’s not just about cleaning my physical body, but it’s also a spiritual experience. Yes I know, it sounds odd, being spiritual while lying in the bath naked. The stoic churchleaders will turn in their graves. But I figure clothes were made to hide from man, to present an image to others, but in my nudity, I’m just “me” before God – nothing to hide. I have my time in the morning when I meditate and do my studies, but when I bath, I just talk to God. I tell Him about my dreams, my worries, I plan my day and I sometimes cry.

When we visited Pompey a couple of years ago, I was amazed at the lovely public bath area they had. To think that at the time of Christ, these Romans already knew the value of having a good bath, contrary to public thinking that everybody before 1900 was filthy. These bath areas had their changing rooms, with hooks for your clothes, and seats for your slaves who watched over your belongings. The next room, you would be scrubbed with salts and then pampered with exotic oils. After that you would go for a hot bath. Because most of the upper class men would be there, these areas were also good for political debates and served as a place for doing business, basically like the golf-course today. Then there are the Turkish baths, The spa’s at Bath in England, Karlovy Vari in the Chech Republic, oh and many more. The value of the modern day spa, where not only do you get the “hot” and “cold” treatment, but different massages and alignments. All based on knowledge from yesteryear.

There is great value in a good bath. Yes, a shower saves water, and it’s quicker. I know most people just want to get rid of the dirt, but in these hectic times, instead of lying on the couch “relaxing” in front of the tv, rather have a long, relaxing bath in nourishing oils, with good music in the background.

Aaaaahhhh heavenly……….

Visiting art museums

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Edgar Degas.

It is the dream of almost every art-lover, whether artist or just admirer to visit the world’s famous art museums.

Visiting these museums can be an exciting, educational experience, but also an extremely tiring one. Standing in line for sometimes up to 2 hours at the Louvre in Paris or the Academia in Florence can be overwhelming, not to mention the amount of people inside. Some of these museums are so enormous, one would spend a whole day in them.

A couple of pointers when visiting Major Art Museums:

 Book your entry tickets before hand. Most of the museums have websites where one can acquire tickets. This saves a vast amount of time. When entering, take note whether you are allowed to take photos. In Italy it is not allowed, but most other Museums in Europe do not mind, as long as you don’t use a flash. Make use of the lockers for bags and coats, they do get heavy when strolling through the museum for a couple of hours.

When you visit a museum like the Louvre or Musee d’ Orsay, decide what tipe of art you are most interested in, whether Modern, Renaissance, Romantic, Sculptures, Egyptian etc. You might not have the time to do the whole museum.

Some of the most famous art museums include Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; Tate Modern, London; The Hermitage, St Petersburg, Museum of Modern Art, NY; Uffizi, Florence; Louvre, Paris; Musee d’Orsay, Paris; Vatican Musuems, Rome; Smithsonian American Art, Washington. It is also worth mentioning that if you are a passionate follower of modern art the Guggenheim Museums in Venice, Bilbao and NY are not to be missed.

These are but a few, for in Europe every city has a couple of art museums, including artists’ own, like the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Salvador Dali in Paris, as well as the Musee Marmottan Monet in Paris.

For those who adore art, and there are millions, experiencing the beauty firsthand is the most exhilerating experience. Standing in front of the Mona Lisa or David just takes your breath away.

The impact of social and political art

Though a lot of people would state that they would not hang a political piece of art in their living room, it is also true that social and political art have an enormous impact on the art world and society. In the words of Beverly Smith “ True art, art that comes from the centre of people, from their very core, is inherently political.”

Probably Picasso's most famous work, Guernica is certainly  his most powerful political statement, painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi's devastating casual bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during Spanish Civil War.Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace.

South Africa has had many artists that made their mark in the art world through political art. William Kentridge’s  pieces were often inspired by aspects of social injustice that have transpired over the years in South Africa. Gerard Sekoto, Willie Bester and currently Johanes Phokela have all had an immense impact on the art world. So are there many contemporary artists who through their passion, see their art as a voice to make others aware of injustice.

“I don't think artists can avoid being political. Artists are the proverbial canaries in the coalmine. When we stop singing, it's a sure sign of repressive times ahead.” Theresa Bayer

If people open themselves up to understanding the message, they will be pleasantly surprised that political art can be beautiful too. It too will liven up a living room or office space, the only difference -  it will move you, it will make you look inside yourself, and just maybe it will change you.

“If everyone would paint, political re-education would be unnecessary.” Pablo Picasso

Good picture or a great painting

Whether it is on the streets of Rome, along the canals of Venice, at the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence or at the Montmartre in Paris, street artists are hard at work, painting and selling to tourists. Mostly beautiful little paintings of the surroundings or a very good likeness of you or your family.

Why are these obviously talented artists still working on the streets? Why do they not exhibit in galleries or are their work not known?

When critics look at an artwork, there are a lot of aspects they consider, which set a painting, and therefore the artist, apart.

An important criteria is whether the painting is technically sound. That basically means  that they would see whether the artist knew the medium he painted in, well. When painting in oils, one would use different techniques than when using watercolours, as an example.

Also, the critics will identify whether an artist understood the subject painted. For example, in South Africa we see a lot of wildlife artists, but very little where the animal really comes alive. That happens when artists paint from what they see, without understanding the mechanics behind, for example how an animal’s muscles work etc. Critics will also look at lines, brushstrokes, composition, colour usage and so forth. But the most important aspect, of any good painting is “soul”

Portraying emotion can be the most difficult element an artist has to deal with , but that is the one thing  that “speaks” to art critics and buyers alike.

In the words of Emile Zola, French writer and art critic of the late 1800’s : “ An artist must be absolutely devoted, body and soul. He must have the kind of character that will take nature boldly in both hands and put it straight down in front of us, just as he sees it”

Art - different strokes for different folks

“Our willingness to acknowledge that we only see half the picture, creates the conditions that make us more attractive to others. The more sincerely we acknowledge our need for their different insights and perspectives, the more they will be magnetized to join us. “ Margaret J Wheatley

Eccentric or brilliant, either  can be fitting to describe Salvador Dali. When asked to explain the motivation behind his painting, “Persistence of Memory” he said: “It suggests Einstein’s theory that time is relative and not fixed.” The idea for clocks functioning symbolically in this way, came to Dali when he was staring at a runny piece of Camembert cheese on a hot day in August.

Some people would describe Edvard Munch ‘s “The Scream” as haunting, though critics describe it as pure poetry. Edvard Munch explained “ I was walking along a path with two friends, the sun was setting, suddenly the sky turned blood red. I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city. My friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature”

Some people prefer a calming landscape, some a bright bunch of flowers. Another’s taste leans more towards naïve art, African art, or nature. Whatever one’s personal opinion there is no denial that in the world of art, there is a definite place for expressionistic art. For artists who put their emotions and experiences on canvas for others to be moved .It is no wonder that both “Persistence of Memory” and “The Scream” are both on the Top 10 list of Iconic and Influential works of Art. They do just that. They rip you apart and make you look inside yourself.

The imprint of money

I grew up in a pretty normal middle class household, where money was concerned. We had enough, but not for extra luxuries. Both my dad and mom had the same outlook as my friends’ parents – “ money doesn’t grow on trees”, “think well before you spend, because one works hard for your money” etc.

This philosophy was imprinted on my brain from a young age, and being a responsible person, I always looked after my belongings ( to the point that when my children were small they could still play with my dolls and tractors – impeccable after more than 20 years).

At 17 I got my first pair of contact lenses – hard ones. They scratched my eyes terribly. One late afternoon, busy finishing up for a Pre-primary concert where I had to go and help with the kids, I lost my one contact lens. I searched my whole room, but that lens was nowhere to be found. Now how to tell my mother…. It was just impossible to face my parents, telling them that I have been irresponsible and wasted valuable money. I was in such a state that I saw no way out. In a haze of depression I decided that I had no choice, I had to commit suicide. Lack of knowledge drove me to the medicine cabinet. The only full packet I could find was a packet of “brook lax”. I emptied the container and went to fulfill my duties at the concert, fully aware that nothing will happen there, but anticipating for my stomach to just collapse during the night (preferably in my sleep) and so I never need to disappoint my parents.

Needless to say, one cannot die from “brook lax” overdose. The next morning I courageously told my parents about my lense, nothing about my suicide attempt though – my dad, engineer that he was, vacuumed my room and retrieved the lense.

When my son was born , and later my daughter, I too had to face the daunting task of teaching them about money and how to be responsible, but my own experience made me wonder whether unknowingly parents put their children under a lot of pressure with their outlook. Without teaching our children to waste, shouldn’t we teach them to enjoy money? To attract money? That money, as everything else in the universe is in abundance, for us to create? That money is just a commodity and not worth people’s lives?

If not, our children might  also lead anxious, depressing lives, only focusing on want. And when they too feel they have fallen short, will they not like so many decide to commit suicide?