After covid, and the floods.

How can one really explain how traumatic these events were? We were amongst those who were not spared. Death. Destruction. Both so final.

How do you paint if you cannot see in colour?

My dad died of covid in December 2020. Somehow I never thought that that will be the way he will go - he survived so many other things... In an instance, the rock I was standing on was pulled out under me and Nothingness and Endless questions entered my heart. And, a struggle with the God that I so love followed.

All my brushstrokes reflected the state of my mind. In the end I had to save myself and joined art classes with John Smith in Durban, and slowly he helped me to paint again. I learned so much during my few months with him and met some awesome fellow artists. From John I learned so much about using the right canvasses, making brushstrokes count, using colour in the right way, and caterpillar clouds - I can go on and on. I am truly thankful to him for helping me find my way again.

Here is a small painting I did of the stoep at the back of the farmhouse where my dad grew up. I painted this before my art classes with John, but I still love it as there is so many memories captured in that little painting. The stillness on that stoep, reflects a deep connection I had with my dad. He will always be missed.

The KZN floods - so much destruction everywhere. As I mentioned, we were not spared.

We moved to Hillcrest at the end of March 2022. After all the stress and trauma while living in Umhlanga, we would regularly say, "When in Hillcrest...". It was suppose to be a new beginning and a time of rest. Instead our house was ruined and months of waiting on the insurance to pay out followed. We could finally start the "renovations" end August. During the waiting period I thought I am going mad - the stress just got to me. On top of that, I had no where to paint. So I learned all these new things from John, but I could only paint in my head. How bizarre.

But, as the seasons changed I could see again. One early morning while searching for God, I looked down and there lay my Bible and God reminded me that Jesus is the Word - and I am looking at Him - the Rock I am standing on...

I just finished a painting of Cape Town that I started in February somewhere - I felt at peace painting again.

This painting of Strelitzias that I posted here is one of my paintings that was sadly destroyed in the floods - washed away by mud down the banks! We were still living in Umhlanga at the time of this painting and I had this wonderful sea view from the balcony of our flat.

Where we live now, the landscape is just filled with the most glorious display of purple Jacarandas. Now, I know they are aliens, but they are just so beautiful. How can I not paint them? Off course my husband and I went for a coffee run through our town, met some wonderful people along the way who thought we were tourist! We took some wonderful reference photos that will keep me busy till the next season.

How wonderful it is to see in colour again!

I have experienced Hope in the waiting - it is more than I could ask for.

God Bless- till next time.

Mariaan