All of us are experiencing uncertainty and various other conditions peculiar to each situation as a result of the current pandemic. I don’t have any answers or splendid wisdom. However, I would like to add a splash of colour, if you would allow me. Like most other creatives in general, I try and tried to keep myself busy with things which are dear to me; the arts appeal to me, I simply cannot help it.
Today I want to introduce the theme of my new series of blogs: The Story of Trees. I have many ideas mulling around in my head and I want to be logical and methodical, but sometimes one can take the fun out of something by spelling out the function and purpose of each segment. So, I will try to keep it light and entertaining at this stage. Please allow me to sketch some background first.
About five years ago I had a few chiffon scarves printed in India, which displayed my pen and ink (and colour pencil) depiction of the Kalahari trees. I am still learning the basics of doing business, but suffice to say that these trees did not sell well, simply because I was perhaps too shy and too ignorant regarding marketing. Two years ago, I left a few of these scarves with a friend who passed them on to another friend of ours and she started selling a few. The selling friend indicated that she thought I had to consider having more printed in India.
I contacted my good friend Deepak in India; soon it became clear that the price increases and the import issues would hike the price to such an extent that I would not be able to sell it in South Africa. I am not a brand (yet – the “big dream”) and the South African rand is or was too weak to sustain our artistic tree intentions. My selling friend saw potential in the trees. I looked at another option: block printing in India. I designed a few trees and I found a new friend in India, Malar. She was going to get her block carver to carve the trees and then she was going to print them for me. Unfortunately, Covid-19 stepped onto the scene and my tree scarves are still in India in Malar’s workshop.
My life was turned upside down due to a series of events and decisions I took. I landed on the farm and I decided it was time to do a new series of trees, seeing that my friend believed that the trees have artistic appeal. At heart I am an abstract expressionist, but I decided to give the trees a chance; a journey of 50 trees (and landscapes) had begun. It is my intention to share this journey with my creative friends (and friendly readers) and to share a few things which others may find helpful, I hope. There is a lot more I can say and I want to say, but may this be enough for now. See you at the first tree and remember there is art in your heart.
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