MURRAYSBURG NEWS — Facebook followers and friends of Murraysburg artist Janet Kingwill have been amazed and delighted by her series of daily sketches which began as a challenge by fellow artist, Ann Green on November 27 last year.
At the time of her first sketch, Kingwill was travelling through Northern Italy, and followers were treated to a little armchair travel as day after day of sketches, watercolours and renditions of this beautiful country seemed to pour effortlessly from her pencils and brushes. Through Kingwill's daily creations, followers of her journey have been privy to intimate, hand drawn snapshots of places such as Mont Blanc, cozy ski huts, airports, cathedrals, pink and yellow houses in Biella and snippets of European life.
On return to South Africa, Kingwill was freshly inspired by views of Cape Town harbour, the drought, and beauty in the Karoo, a mandala, people making mandalas and Graaff-Reinet's Grootkerk. Interesting discussions started to arise regarding proportions of quirky cars and how to stretch watercolour paper - even those who knew nothing of art started to learn a little from Kingwill's diligent postings. The sketches have become a rich and colourful diary, documenting drought, fire, her children's adventures, a wool auction, a delicious plate of food, baby birds, and invasive plants.it has been fascinating to see the world through Kingwill's creative eyes.
And all the while, proving that practice does indeed make perfect, the paintings and sketches have become more and more impressive and competent!
There have been offers to buy some of the works, and questions have been asked as to what could be done with the collection. Other artists such as Joseline Fick and Anne-Mari Burger have also been inspired by Kingwill's prolific postings and added their own portraits and sketches to the platform. Many creatives wished that they too could be disciplined enough to make the time to invest in such a project.
According to Kingwill, "It's been fun thinking the process through and chatting to friends about it! Where am I headed - not sure but the road is pretty to draw while travelling it! I have been so excited as to the amount of inspiration I see every day! One a day is almost not enough."
This beautiful journey that began simply with a pen in the hand, and has been shared on social media, has been a wonderful break from the usual negative and trivial tedium of facebook. Currently, on day 69 of the Daily Sketch Challenge, Kingwill shows no signs of tiring on her mission. Perhaps a wonderful exhibition will emerge from these beautiful drawings and paintings of the world through her eyes.
In the meantime, Janet Kingwill's work can be viewed on facebook and on Instagram at karooh_art.
Click here for a photo gallery.
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