On a lovely early summer's day I take a drive to admire the farmlands between Malmesbury and Piketberg. The popular crops are wheat, vines, our local herbal Rooibos tea and proteas. It seems on the road that I'm on that most farms have opted for wheat and vines. The result is so pleasing to the eye and one is met by alternating patches of gold and green.
The workers in my painting are pruning the neat rows of vines. We sometimes complain that wine is expensive, but should consider for a moment all the labour and cost that is involved. The cuttings are grafted, cultivated, treated and dusted and then planted in ploughed and fertilised furrows. Take into account the trellising and pruning, protection against pests and diseases, irrigation, picking, sorting, distilling! What a process! The workers are usually part of the large farm "family" and will have homes, salaries, schooling and medical attention..........is wine really that expensive?
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Wine is a good deal when you explain it that way. With all those antioxidants in wine, Rooibos tea and other herbs, your community must be some of the healthiest of the world! I'm envious that you have all those beautiful fields to paint that result in gorgeous scene like the one you rendered.
ReplyDeleteThis is really beautiful Marie. Your hills in the distance are superb!
ReplyDeleteI also think the farmers fields are beautiful, no matter the crop, but do agree that vineyards and olive groves rank up amongst the most beautiful. Gorgeous painting, Marie.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting Marie - I also live in wine country and when I go for long bike rides it feels like I might be in Tuscany.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful view of the farmland. I love the pinky orange colors of the distant fields.
ReplyDeleteYou have really captured the feel of the vineyard here! I can just smell it! The rolling hills of Malmesbury go way back into the distance in this painting, beautifully painted, Marie!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome and so beautiful, Marie. Our incredible country with its rich farmlands and wide horizons truly come to life through your artwork. Your background on the labour-intensive wine industry gives one new respect for that special glass of wine which marks the end of stressful day...
ReplyDeleteThere as so many things I like about this. The palette is wonderfully soft and the scene itself has a beautiful, serene feel to it. Great job!
ReplyDeletesoft and lovely. I can never get used to the idea that it's early summer in the down under regions ;)
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have stumbled here. The pictures are gorgeous and you paint. I am going to enjoy this place very much.
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Silver
Reflections
Marie, another lovely piece. How wonderful that nature provided such a glorious mixture of harmonious and contrasting colors.
ReplyDeleteIt struck me that this particular piece is very reminiscent of some of our own wine valleys here in California. We have the vineyards backed by dry golden fields and hills in the summer and fall.
Sheila, Maree, AutumnLeaves,Barb, Catherine,Dianne, MacTeddy, Gwen, Mary and Mary: Thank you, it means a lot to me hearing from all of you again. I can imagine that this painting strikes a cord with everyone else who lives in a wine region. The photo of the painting once again showed the weave in the canvas, so I can vouch for it that the real painting looks better than its image. Hi, Silver, I had to look you up immediately and saw what must rate as the most beautiful sweets in the world! Not paintings, but very artful food!
ReplyDeleteMarie, its a beautiful painting. I love the history and that little school. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMarie, You paint two pictures for us. They are both beautiful, your art and your words. It makes me want to hop on the next plane to S. Africa
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