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Friday, April 18, 2008

Barnyard

This painting is a little different from the birds and animals I have been painting the past few months, wondering about the simple life without the crime and grime of urban existance. The last week or two have been very difficult with Graham being away on business for a few weeks, I have had to take care of all the Entrecard drops, it is no fun dropping for three sites.

To add to my woes our local electricity supplier has brought in load shedding, which means my power is cut off for a few hours a day. The worst part is it is cut off at different times of the day and when I check the schedule, our suburb is not on the list. So!! right now electricity is a luxury. Added to the problems EC have had I suddenly get cut off in the middle of the drops.

Whats really annoying is that the power supplier can sell power to all the neighbouring countries and supply big business with power at below cost, but the normal resident "Joe Soap" has to foot the bill. Now they want a fifty percent increase in tariffs in order to fund the building of new power stations which will only come on line in five or six years time. Bad planning.... bad management.. greed... all so typical of Africa.

When the new government took over there was an excess of power produced , so they mothballed half a dozen power stations and paid the new management millions of dollars in performance bonuses to really screw up an effective and well run system. If this was a political blog I would really make a meal of this article, instead of skirting around some of the more pertinent issues that have lead to this crisis .

Not that any of this has anything to do with my art, other than the fact that it makes life as I have become accustomed to very difficult. I suppose Africa is no place for sissy's and I am starting to wonder what I am still doing here. My family is fragmented and living in other parts of the world, they probably saw the writing on the wall a long time ago.

Maybe the rickety old windmill depicted in the above water colour painting will generate electricity as well as water, then I would not have to worry about the greedy corrupt management and government running our electricity supply .

Oh well! "I suppose I am allowed to dream" of facilities that once were considered normal, mundane, routine functions of a supposed modern, progressive country as somewhat of a luxury, reserved for the privileged few who get paid obscene bonuses for their inadequacies and mismanagement of public utilities.

Ok! now that is off my chest I hope you enjoy the painting.

26 comments:

book_it said...

I really like that painting. Colors are sharp. And bummer on the electricity outages. That has to be frustrating.

Ms.Eleni said...

Hello, I came across a link to your blog on Debbie Lanes blog.I am not a blogger myself but enjoy reading a few.I so enjoyed yours with the beautiful pictures.You are very talented. I am a pen and ink artist of sorts and your work has inspired me to try harder.

Unknown said...

Beautiful site and artwork. Subscribed to site through Google.

 gmirage said...

Wow, you make painting look so easy! I had always wanted to try painting again, thanks for sharing!

Ellen said...

Your art is beautiful! What a talent to be blessed with! I enjoy seeing your new creations each time I visit your blog. Thanks for sharing.

SueEllen Cowan said...

Another beautiful piece of artwork. I also like the impala and I always love your birds.

What a shame about the power. It might be worthwhile investing in your own generator or would something like that be much too expensive in Africa?

durano lawayan a.k.a. brad spit said...

Hi Caroline,

You have quite a knack for describing the situation in your locale and its far reaching consequences for the country as a whole. You could be a terrific political blogger.

I'll admit that politics and painting don't mix. Painting, like most art is created by the expression of emotions from within the artist - normally it depicts what is beautiful and idyllic. Politics on the other hand has to do with the science of the possible - how to possibly ruin a good working system, ruin the economy, ruin the lives of it's citizens - in other words, all that is rotten and ugly covered by the terms equality, freedom, and all those beautiful but lip serviced words.

Perhaps you should open another blog on politics and keep this one for your creative expressions. But without electricity on demand, it would be difficult.

Anyway, I like the painting. It reminds me of that lovely TV show "Little House On The Prairie" with Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert. Nice touch. :-) --Durano, done!

Ana said...

Wow, you are really a great painter. This one is just stunning.

P.Heron said...

You've got some stunning paintings here, am very impressed :-)

Artbeat said...

Thanks "elani" It's always gratifying to hear that other people enjoy my art, and even more so if it inspires others to work at their own artistic talents.

Artbeat said...

Thanks Jack I hope I can live up to the expectations.

Artbeat said...

Thanks mirage2q sometimes a painting can be frustrating and takes time to look the way I envisaged the end result.

The pleasure I get from art and being creative more than compensates for the odd frustrations.

Artbeat said...

Thanks Ellen
I love what I do and it is specially rewarding to hear that other people enjoy my creations

Artbeat said...

Hi Sue Ellen

Thanks! it is specially gratifying to to recieve praise from my peers.

Companies selling generators in SA are doing a roaring trade with order books filled to capacity and long waiting lists.

Its Just frustrating to know that there is no real shortage of power, power stations or the skill to produce it.

Its just bad management, lack of planning greed and corruption that has lead to the crisis.

For years South Africa has been a shining beacon on the Afrian continent and offerd first world progress and living conditions, I fear now that the new government is determined to follow the example of most other African states and slip into a progressive state of decay and ruin.

Artbeat said...

Hi Durano

I agree art and politics are like "chalk and cheese"

It was sheer frustration that caused my outburst. I remember the "little House on the Prairie" series. A distan memory though.

I prefer to stick to my artistic talents, writing about African politics would probably cause me to sink into a permanent state of depression and I would not be able to see or express the natural beauty that surrounds us in my art.

Anonymous said...

I like this painting; though it may represent the simple life...it really makes you feel right at home :)

Artbeat said...

Thanks Paul

Glad to have someone from Ireland drop by. I lived in Portadown for a while and my daughter in law is Irish.

I loved Ireland and the Irish people.

Artbeat said...

Thanks Marie

The simple country life appeals to me, I think i am getting tired of the rat race in the city.

ReneeBuchananArt said...

I really love it! Keep doing them!

Unknown said...

Your artwork is beautiful!

anabellster said...

Love the painting. :) It makes me want to get off my butt and paint some more myself.

JAN said...

wonderful site i discovered through entrecard. beautiful artwork

Artbeat said...

anabellster
Thanks for the kind words. You obviously have some great artistic talent yourself and I look forward to seing more of your work.

Anonymous said...

I love this, It sure is different from your usual animal paintings! love the colors!

Artbeat said...

Hi noelvz

Thanks for visiting and your comment. I just read the link on art security and yes it has certainly worried me that someone can copy from the internet and steal my art. I have no idea though how to add watermarks or otherwise protect my art. If you pass my way again some advice would be appreciated.

I could not find anywhere on your site to leave a comment so I hope this suffices.

clockworkpink2 said...

I love the style of this painting, I could see it in a children's book. You really capture the color of fall colors with it! Keep on painting, I should do the same!