Pages

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Delight in the Detail




The words 'informal' and 'relaxed' sum up the style of the West Coast. I am taking you to a restaurant on the beach at Paternoster, so please leave all suits and high heels behind! We can take a long stroll on the beach to watch the colourful fishing boats coming in, photograph the seagulls and then step up to Voorstrandt Restaurant, hardly shaking the sand from our feet, and find ourselves an outside seat with sea views. The restaurant is situated in an antique tin fisherman's cottage more than a hundred years old.

I was so thrilled when I first saw the welcoming wall in the entrance on the street side of the building. Against the 'heritage green' corrugated wall there is a piece of wood from a real shipwreck. The flaked red paint forms the perfect contrast to the building. I also loved the old bottles that was picked up among the flotsam at some stage, and the buoys and ropes! A very large blackboard holds a daily message for visitors. In painting this scene, the old wood got the most attention! In my art box I have a triangularshaped palette knife that got its first job here in scraping on texture, and it worked perfectly!

I almost forgot! What shall we eat? I am in search of the perfectly grilled mullet (harders), my favourite! As you are not from here, I suggest a more 'tame' fish dish, some yellowtail with butternut, creamed spinach and a few chips? Sounds good? Let's order!

19 comments:

  1. ai marie!!! you did it again!!!!! soooo mooi en soooo mooi storie! sover ek weet is die blikhuis as 'n nasionale monument verklaar so 'n paar jaar terug. jy weet hoe om my huistoe te laat verlang, en die trane na vore te laat kom!!! xxxriana

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds delicious, Marie!

    I like the painting as well as your narrative... And the eatery is my favorite type!! Fresh fish... how much better can you get?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my! I can feel the sand under my feet and almost touch the flaked red paint...and the grilled fish you are talking about- I can almost smell it! Thank you for transporting me to your world with another lovely painting and story! : ) xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Riana, I know you lived on the West Coast for a long time and I am happy when I can wake up some memories for you! And thank you for the info regarding this building! It is nice to know that even a tin building can become a National Monument!

    Marian, I will catch up with you later this morning and hope the outlook is better now? And yes, I am sure that being a plein air artist, this will be your type of eatery!

    Helen, thank you for the lovely comments! I hope that for one short moment in time the West Coast was REAL for you with all its colours and flavours!

    ReplyDelete
  5. A post full of vivid delights for the senses. You've so beautifully captured that sea worn look to the outside of the restaurant, Marie. Alas, I just do not care for seafood in most forms (I'll admittedly eat fish sticks, tuna fish sandwiches, and crab legs...and sometimes linguine with clam sauce, clam chowder...but that is my limit, truly!), so I'll just have a glass of wine and enjoy our conversation!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marie you brought the scene alive and I was there ordering with sand between my toes and itching fingers to create a masterpiece! Just shows from your painting how artists really do 'observe'. I've seen that triangular knife being used before for creating texture. A credit card - out of date of course - does the trick as well when scraped down/along wet thick paint depending on the watercolour paper. Thanks for another visit to the West coast of RSA.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marie - I love this painting. I can't imagine how you did all that detail work! And set the table for one more... dinner sounds wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Sherry, I do it to you every time, me the West Coast and the yucky fish! But really most restaurants have other fair too. Steaks and mutton and chicken! So come along!And thank you for the comments!

    Joan, yes it is amazing that when one needs an effect, you eyes will fall on anything. One way to get rid of a tired overspent credit card! Thank you for your comments!

    Kelley,so nice of you to visit here, yes you're on! Our spring flowers are lovely too and there will be a lot to see when you drive down! Another thing: I have new fast internet! It makes such a difference, I will also be visiting more from now on!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Marie, your painting is fantastic! It captures your story and the restaurant perfectly! I would love to eat on that porch. I am a beach bum at heart, love the sand and the very relaxed casualness of beach restaurants!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for the comment, Cathyann! I loved the textures too!

    Ah, yes I can imagine you joining me, Liana! Thanks for the comment!

    ReplyDelete
  11. You've simplified a detailed scene - with just the right amount of everything included!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds wonderful, wish I could join you. Marie, I enjoy your writing as much as your art. You make everything sound like an exciting adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  13. OK Marie, now I'm seriously hungry! What a great little painting - so many things to look at!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you Linny, it is good to know I did the right thing when I left out the large bag of shells!It was becoming too crowded!

    That is kind of you to say that, Carol. I am actually becoming a little dilly in my enthusiasm for this area!

    Thank you, Liz! I did such still life paintings before and find myself looking out for interesting groupings!And Liz, you will have the "gebraaide hardertjies", will you?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I feel more relaxed just looking at your posts and reading about your area.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful painting, Marie. It captures the flavor of this special place. I like your suggestion, so please place my order!

    Thanks for taking time to leave a comment on my blog. I checked out Chagall's Paris pieces. I love his work and was not aware of the window series.

    We leave Chicago via train this afternoon. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Marie,

    Just love this painting and the story that goes with it. I'd love to be there! I was almost there with your fantastic description. I really like the text and how you captured the age of the signs. Your painting is a little snapshot, a still life of a very special place.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Karen, kind of you to say that, as I also felt that effect in your painting of a lady sitting on the pier edge! So peaceful!

    Mary, you're on! I am so lucky here as several networking friends have already visited! It is such a thrill meeting people that I have befriended on the Internet! Enjoy Chicago, I have never been there. Will you hire bicycles or a car when you're there?

    Claire, thanks for popping in! I am passionate about this quiet coast where things are allowed to remain as they were.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love the painting and your description is fantastic.

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments, they make my day!