Some of my art stories ….
Fine Fellow number one – Afro-chook
While you read this please have the sound track, Eye of the tiger by Survivor playing in your mind and think of Rocky Balboa, or Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce….
Afro-chook is a South African farm chicken, born in the dusty backyard farmyard of the homestead. He spends his time protecting the hens from the dangers of African farm life. In the day time it may be the birds of prey looking for an easy target, and as night falls it is the jackals and genet cats prowling for a quick snack. He is farmyard savvy, used to having to fight for what he wants, taking the fight wherever it needs to be (out of the sand bath and into the gutter) the OG street fighter without a street ! He is proud and confidant with his tail feather being his radiant feature. They glisten in the sun changing colours from dark black, blue and green. It is these that he is the most proud of. Followed very closely by his deep red, coxcomb and wattle. These are two of his distinguishing features and a sign of his maturity – he is no longer a boy (chick) but a man (adult bird)! This only enhances his aesthetic beauty, indicating his healthy condition and his virility, adding swagger to his walk. The slight darker markings that appear in various light is worn as a “badge of honour” … especially in chickens, chicks dig scars …
Afro-chook stands about 73 cm tall on a canvas of 75 x 50 cm. Textured, expressive, acrylic paint has been used to try and capture his presence. I hope that I have done him justice ….
Fine Fellow number two – Maurice the Magnificent
This must be read with a French Accent and Elaborate Hand Movement.
Maurice is pure magnificence. His tail is the length, depth and breadth of his body, drawing the eye away from his proud coxcomb and deep red wattle. Constantly “op skou”, he struts around the front lawn (levelled, pristine, mowed kikuyu) with a bevy of beauty’s on his tail. Every morning Maurice greets the sun with a crystal clear, perfectly pitched crow, (retro-pop, I think), proving that his radiance cannot be overshadowed and almost willing the sun into submission.
Maurice is a bit of a collage (please don’t let him know he is mixed breed !) but carries himself as a pedigree. To try and capture his magnificent tail feathers I have placed a few tail feathers onto the canvas to move in the wind and change colour …. to enhance his proud coxcomb and wattle I have made those from paper collage, trying to add extra dimension to his fabulous feature. He sits on a canvas 90 x 60 cm and is mainly painted in acrylic paints.
Harassed Hen ….
The life of a hen in the backyard farmyard is one filled with (but not limited to ..) harassment and hurry. As a mother she is always trying to please others while fitting in a little “me time” as well. Sand baths are an essential health and beauty tool and when a hen does get the chance to enjoy a sand bath you can literally see her grinning and soaking up the moment.
To try and capture the frantic and “multi-tasking” life of a farmyard hen, I have used silicon in haphazard ribbons over the canvas. This is followed by a very expressive style with much of the underpainting coming through in various colours. I have mostly used acrylic paints but have also used charcoal in my finishing touches …
Pink Farm Chick 