Of all the nebulas in space, one of the most definable is known as the Horsehead Nebula. Its spinning gases and dark, thick dust hold a shape that, when viewed from Earth, emerges much like the head of a horse. Anthony Latimer embraces this amazing phenomenon in his “Equine Dance.” As he successfully attempts to offer personality to this dark and tantalizing plume, this horse of the universe dances joyfully while entertaining the universe. An audience of stars, planets and moons look on with amazement as they observe his performance. Even the distant galaxies come to attention with awe.

The majority of Latimer’s work honors his appreciation of the starry universe and its cosmos. While many of them focus on astronomy, some even reach far into the depths of the ocean. The limitless reaches of space and the deepest secrets of the sea hold many of the greatest mysteries in existence. These allusive entities very creatively protect their knowledge, most of which will never be disturbed by mankind. Enjoy taking a look at Anthony Latimer’s work on his homepage.

Anita Smal enjoys studying the nudes that are revealed in many of her paintings. In “Three naked Ladies” she encourages a refreshing lack of inhibition in appreciation of the human body. A trio of lovely ladies relax and lounge among the vibrant shades of the outdoor setting. The vivacious purples, blues and yellows in a mixture of deep tones used with pastel shades lend a cheerful mood to the piece. Warmth from the sun extends brightness and caresses the naked skin while its surface drinks in the freedom from the restraints of confined clothing. The lack of activity creates a peaceful tranquility that encourages leisure, free thought, candor and nonconformity. The figure in the forefront adds a touch of playfulness and tease while holding her toes with one hand and fruit of red in the other.

“Woman with Cats” sets a mood of the same type. With colors that are akin to the previously mentioned painting, the all-but-nude lady rests onher settee in nothing but a feather-light sheer and revealing gown. Her head, arms and feet are placed in stances of comfort and easy tranquility. Next to her, lie two white cats that join her, presenting us once again with a reclining trio. The feline figure on the left rolls and plays in quite contentment giving the playful touch.

Smal also divulges an interest in floral and fruited still lifes, as well as landscapes and portraits. Visit her homepage to enjoy her display of charming paintings.

The majority of the paintings displayed on Christophorus’s homepage are a part of his “Paternoster” series. His tribute to this traditional fishing village near Cape Town is immense with seascapes, fishing boats and the fishermen that use them to gain their livelihood. He also gives occasional notice to the long-established shops, homes and restaurants of “Paternoster“.  A liberal collection of these outstanding paintings would create a wondrous display.

As a contrasting element, Christophorus reveals a totally diverse aspect of his talents in “Daisyface.” The female semblance we see here, with portions of her face and arm covered in greenery and daisies, appears as an extension of nature. White daisies grow forth from her fertile skin. The background of the blazing sun, surrounded in soothing shades of swirling motion pull her body in as an part of itself. As if caught in the middle, she exudes vibrant flames of life and energy. Her face is striking, yet in a serious grimace. Is she unhappy with her plot in life or more likely just protective and watchful over her environmental domain? The way our society often treats nature with abuse and neglect, it would be no wonder.

With everyone scampering about turning their valuable metals into other forms of equity, it is with much amazement to find that the majority of antiques and art actually rose in 2009. While jewelry and silver are the leaders, you can now add contemporary art in that category as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Now, here’s a lady to be reckoned with: she’s a force of nature; a force of art! As she herself says, to paint, one needs to become what one is painting, so to speak – because after all, we “speak” best about the things we have experienced, whether that is during a writing project or in the production of any type of art. Her training with a Persian master began at the tender age of thirteen – and it shows: her paintings are just fabulously brilliant! She would describe herself as a “romantic” artist: we’d describe Nazanin Madadi as a gifted individual all around.

Firstly let us gaze upon the beautiful face in looking. Naturally the model is beautiful – this is true – but the pose and the painting is just amazing and very accurate. All together these qualities come together to produce a gorgeous piece – the woman in the pictures looks out from behind her hair which has been blown into her face; deep red lips and liquid eyes setting the scene. What an inspirational piece – just imagine what that would look like on your wall. Sadly, this piece is sold – but there are quite a number of other pieces on Madadi’s online gallery that would fit the bill as well.

A piece still (amazingly) up for sale, on the other hand, is The romantic pianist. Captured mid-performance and from behind, we see a lady playing the piano in a red dress; candles burning and enraptured – certainly very romantic indeed! The colors are warm and muted – they flow with one another wonderfully and the painting is yet another example of Madidi’s mastery of oils. It’s also a good sized piece and another one to really make a room – whichever room that might be. That would be up to the eventual lucky owner of the piece.

Madadi is, all in all, a great painter – a great artist. She’s been painting all her life: she has the gift, and her gallery is totally full of wonderful examples of that talent coming out of the brush and being given form on a canvas. You’d be wise to consider a Madadi painting for your collection – because they’re so beautiful that quite soon, they may become much more difficult to own…

According to the National Academy of Science, it is not just an amazing concept… this idea of a computer that is capable of recognizing bogus art… but a proven reality.

Established researchers have cleverly come up with a clear-cut technique that effectively creates the artist’s masterpiece then digitally breaks it down into small little sections, calling it “sparse coding.” This system has ascertained that a true work of art has the capability of being reconstructed using these tiny sections whereas a copycat could not.

A little over a decade ago a comparatively innovative breakdown received attention universally through “drip paintings” of Jackson Pollock’s. However even after all this time it is stilled embroiled in much furor as several endeavors have been made using the method are still harvesting due to ambiguous findings.

Sparse coding brought about by Daniels Rockmore and numerous contemporaries are thought to be a lot more precise than those before.

How does this work? Digitally – and very easily. The first step to successfully testing a piece of work begins with slicing it into 144 segments then arranging them in rows and columns of twelve. Next, produce sets of one hundred forty-four indiscriminate elements the same size but in diverse assortment of forms. A computer will then modify these elements and arrange them to restructure the masterpiece. Again, keep in mind that an imitation will not be able to be reconstructed.

A computer, in the course of adjusting them will be capable of evolving different portions and areas of the original piece of art painting. It then goes one step further by making certain minuet; attainable amounts in that section are seized. This reconstruction is regarded as the “sparsest” set of reproductive operations.

This sparse coding was tried and tested on works of art that are often the attention of a lot of imitators. Continually proving, percentage wise, that the fakes were not able to be reconstructed. Sixteenth century painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder was one of these.

Eight genuine Bruegel pieces were virtually broken down and set along side fake pieces of work for patch comparisons. Seven out of eight cases formed accurate results in the ability of reconstructing the authentic art work and debunking the fake one.

Although sparse coding is highly acknowledged in many cases, it is somewhat restricted as there are still a lot of artistic styles that it can not process as well. One should mention that this type of process needs a fair sized collection of works from any one artist in order to adequately have the capability of catching imitations. Subject matter is also a factor and landscaping appears to be favored for this function.

Acknowledgment has been given that sparse coding is not always the answer in all situations and should not be considered as a replacement to other implements currently utilized. Regardless, adamancy is still maintained that in particular circumstances; it’s a valuable and effective addition.

And it is not just authentication that this formula is beneficial. According to Professor Rockmore, he feels it could possibly lend its analysis to other problem areas in the world of art as well.

Bonham’s in London are holding a specialist South African auction over two days later this month with a wide and interesting selection of works from the great and the good (and indeed predominantly deceased) of the South African art world.

With around 300 lots in all there is quite a mixture of styles and, if the estimates are anything to go by (though some of them seem to be chosen very oddly!), prices.

The first day concerns itself mainly with earlier works but has some interesting items from George Boys and Errol Boyley On Day 2 there are some very fine Pembas on offer and also some quite appealing works from lesser known artists. There are a number of pieces from Francois Krige including the Rousseau-esque “Krisjan Sleeping” and a selection of his landscapes. The more contemporary items on offer include some distinctive works from Norman Catherine (with fairly modest estimates attached to them) and some acid house Mary-Ann Orrs. There’s an estimate of around $8,000 on a signed Nelson Mandela lithograph depicting Table Mountain from his cell window on Robben Island – it may not be the most accomplished work of art but it clearly has a powerful message. Dylan Lewis has some fine bronzes in the sale which may draw some attention.

It’s encouraging to see this event which appears to be attracting considerable interest and it will be interesting to see quite how the hammer falls on the day. By the way, should we be surprised that there’s not a Petrie to be seen anywhere in the listings!

- Mark Hayhurst

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It isn’t intended to be irreverent but the Bonham’s event does bring to mind the Monty Python song “The Decomposing Composers” – there’s less of them every year. Every one of the following artists is, we are delighted to confirm, still above ground and producing some of their best works to date:

“Galloping zebra” by Doreen Straarup	As a self-taught artist, Doreen’s work in oils is well accomplished and this and a number of her other works demonstrate a good eye for composition and an ability to adapt to different subjects.
There is a real delight in Gary’s works and it is evident from the titles and meaning he places on these pieces that they really are works that come from his heart.	“Earth meets sky” by Gary Frier
“Modern Landscape” by Richard Rennie	Employing an interesting palette of color, especially for works in oils, Richard’s landscapes are calm and beautiful with delicate brushstrokes and a good measure of detail.
Nikodemis’s lively pieces are always popular and this quirky mixed media piece portrays mischief as well as creativity.	“The angel of heaven and earth” by Nikodemis van Rensburg
“Desert Storm/Cedar Mountains” by Freda Hayward	Equally capable with portaiture and landscapes, Freda’s most recent works, including this atmospheric country scene, are  attracting a lot of attention.
I’m sure we’re going to see lot more from Rene. She tells a story with skill and sensitivity in this work and in her portfolio has a number of really striking pieces.	“Where is My Children” by Rene Snyman

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“ Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist. ”
- René Magritte

New Artists

We have talented new artists coming on the site all the time and in recent weeks we have welcomed the following who have already listed a number of excellent works:

• Rene de Waal
• Janeen Kantor
• Ria Janse van Rensburg
• Elize Enslin
• Stanley Blake Mans
• Beulah
• Peter Ferrari
• Michael Laurie
• Lisa Roberts
• Lynden Lund
• Elsje Wiid
• Mandy Currin
• Hougaard Malan
• Joe Schoeman
• Jackie Opperman
• Rosemary Harris
• Irene Killingbeck
• Vivien Starkey
• Belinda Johl
• Marius Prinsloo
• Alma Horn
• Chris Vermaak

“ If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all. ”
- Michelangelo

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We very occasionally have to deal with “customers” offering fake credit cards; we even sometimes find out that works people want to offer for sale are not genuine but it’s a one-off that we get approached to list an artist who may not even exist!

A couple of months ago we received an application from someone to list “Helen Anne Petrie”, a South African who appears to have lived in relative obscurity from 1932 until her death in 2006. There began a story which continues to unfold even as I write this. Shortly after we listed the artist we were contacted by The Times who were trying to determine the veracity of certain claims made by the lister in the biography that had been put forward for this artist. A number of articles have appeared in the major press casting significant doubt over the history that has been written for our Miss Petrie.

The artist seems to have burst onto the scene only very recently and what background information there is emanates from a very limited set of sources (perhaps even limited to a single individual). A google of Helen Anne Petrie yields plenty of results yet the pages which are returned either describe the alleged fraudulent sales perpetrated in promoting the artist using a false history or are simply versions on art sites (our very own included) of the questionable biography itself. Our own investigations have determined that while it would appear that Helen Anne Petrie did exist and may have been painted during her life, at least some of the claims which would lend weight to her having a profile worthy of serious collectors are definitely incorrect. Subsequent to the publication of the stories in the press we received scans of a number of documents by email, probably from the original lister (an elusive character to say the least), which show some basic school records and personal correspondence yet nothing to support the bold claims that her work has long been held in public and private collections around the world. The material resembled something that might have turned up in an old trunk purchased at a Sunday car boot sale.

To date we have been unable to find any independent and authoritative validation of the claims made for Miss Petrie as an artist. If anyone has anything to add then we would be fascinated to hear it. It does rather come back to the best advice we can give – buy your art because of its beauty and merit in its own right and not on the back of any collateral claims that cannot be verified.

- Mark Hayhurst

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We’re able to vouch 100% that the artists below exist! Here’s our latest pick of superb talent that you should check out:

“Empress close-up” by Fiona Almeleh	Fiona’s works are always lively and bright and this embroidered piece is just stunning. The Empress - matriarch of the Tarot – resplendent with wisdom and knowledge.
Perhaps in a similar vein the works of Dulcie Robinson show an inner depth that brings a message with every piece. This wonderful acrylic shows the marriage of the ethnic and the ethereal.	“Circle of Life” by Dulcie Robinson
“Leave tree” by Carl Roberts	We’ve not featured too many sculptures recently but among the many talented sculptors on the site, Carl has a range of different pieces of varying sizes and budget. This tree-mendous wood sculpture is one great example.
Dodds can tun his hand to a variety of styles but some of his best and most popular at seascaps such as this one. A rich and colourful work in oil where you can smell the sea and feel the sand beneath your feet.	“Seal Point Beachbreak” by Dodds Blom
“Northern Cape Mountain Scene” by Dante Ruben	Dante is having an extended “blue period” and has produced some very appealing landscapes. This atmospheric mountain scene has good composition and depth and really draws you in.
Somewhat reminiscent of 1970s Vietnam-era pop art, this acrylic on board work is an intriguing piece. Theo has a number of different styles in his portfolio and each work has a message if you are prepared to listen.	“The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Theo Kleynhans

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“ Don’t pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches. ”
- Andy Warhol

New Artists

We have talented new artists coming on the site all the time and in recent weeks we have welcomed the following who have already listed a number of excellent works:

• Onica Lewis
• Malcolm Dewey
• Chris Fey
• Kirsten Uys
• Taryn-Lee Joubert
• Diane Stokell
• Jonel Scholtz
• Elsabe Badenhorst
• Shelley van Zyl
• Jill Connacher
• Martin Gouws
• Lemeul Bothma
• Bernice Hurter
• Dedre Delport
• Marina Browning
• Leoni Hugo
• Basie van Zyl
• Anelle Bester
• Tumi
• Rene de Waal
• Joe Schoeman
• Jackie Opperman
• Rosemary Harris

“ There comes a point where you see it all as completely empty being a popular artist to the extent that people who are not necessarily interested in art know about things or take some little interest. I think that now for me it’s a burden. It’s a bit hard to deal with and it wastes time as well. ”
- David Hockney

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Tell us how we’re doing!

As ever we would welcome any feedback and comments you might have. Feel free to drop us a line ( customer.service@southafricanartists.com ) with any comments or ideas you might have for promoting these superb artists even more widely. We also welcome art-themed submissions for our regular newsletters of short stories or anecdotes about art, your experiences, what inspired you or anything that you think may be of interest.

Yours in inspiration,

All the team at SouthAfricanArtists.com

SouthAfricanArtists.com
The very best of South African art online

Sleuthing a Constable

Last month in the UK a rather grubby and understated painting of a cloudy sky was listed for auction (which takes place today, as it happens – at Sotheby’s in London – so you had better be quick if you want to snap it up!). The work, from a “follower of Constable” had sold for a respectable $40,000 around a year previously at a well-known provincial auctioneers – not bad considering its guide price had been just over $1,000.

Whether it was gut feel or a rather more studied expertise that inspired its purchase, the buyer certainly is looking to make a handsome profit on the deal – Sotheby’s own experts have since confirmed that the work is in fact a genuine Constable and there is speculation that the price could easily breach $750,000 when the hammer falls on it this time around.

Constable, like many other great artists, has been much copied both as tribute and as forgery and cataloguing the works of any prodigious artist who died nearly 200 years ago is never an easy task. Anyone with an interest in the art (!) and science of such detective work may be interested in Philip Mould’s latest book “Sleuth” Mould, resident art expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, has had more than his fair share of discerning “finds” during his career and has some interesting tales to tell. Some may find his slightly flowery prose grating but it tends to go with the territory in certain art circles. It’s worth a read to help understand the traumas some paintings go through over the course of a century or three and some of the attention they need before they can grace the walls of the leading museums and public galleries.

- Mark Hayhurst

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We’ve recently succumbed to the social marketing frenzy and opened a Twitter profile – Just follow us on Twitter to hear about new listed artists and other snippets of information.

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Thankfully such detective work is rarely needed when selecting works on SouthAfricanArtists.com – this month we’ve picked a crop of really excellent talent that you should check out:

“Faun” by Pieter Vermaak	This work from Pieter’s portfolio is one of a number that share the same ethereal quality. Wispy in nature and depicting spiritual themes, they are soft and dreamlike, inspiring and imaginative.
Andi has great skill in her use of bold, bright colours and her techniques of applying paint to canvas. She can adapt herself to various styles and her works are upbeat and lively.	“Red Fairies ” by Andi Hirschson
“Strelitzia 1″ by Arlene McDade	These vivid studies of tropical flora are Arlene’s stock in trade. Enormous, yet alive with colour – they have a wonderful depth and she has a superb eye for detail and form.
This is a great example of the sensitive work that Jana brings to you. She is a very capable artist and has clearly applied a great deal of care and thought to the pieces she produces.	“Africa” by Jana Reinecke
“Moon Spirit” by Dulcie Robinson	With an extensive repertoire of ethnic scenes and large abstract canvasses, Dulcie’s passion for art is clearly evident in this bold work. An experienced art teacher, she has a detailed understanding of technique which she employs without losing an ounce of sensitivity.
Gavin’s skill and traditional style in his portraiture is simply superb and the structure and composition of pieces such as this are exemplary. His pieces are in high demand and his commission work rightly held in the highest regard.	“The Bride in Nikitain Park Moscow ” by Gavin Calf

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“ Art is either plagiarism or revolution. ”
- Paul Gauguin

New Artists

We have talented new artists coming on the site all the time and in recent weeks we have welcomed the following who have already listed a number of excellent works:

• Mandy Coppes
• Japie Kleinhans
• Riana Nel
• Walt Viviers
• Dion Raath
• Domenico Bottari
• Kirsten Loxton
• Lyndrea Joy Huntly
• David Creighton
• Paul Sellmann
• Anne Montgomery
• Christine Bell
• Liezel van Deventer
• Pieter Van Heerden
• Reneda Basson
• Mari Mackie
• Caroline Van Rensburg
• John Pietersen
• Louise Nienaber
• Yolanda Petzer
• Peter Retief

“ Abstract art places a new world, which on the surface has nothing to do with ‘reality,’ next to the ‘real’ world. ”
- Wassily Kandinsky

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Tell us how we are doing?

As ever we would welcome any feedback and comments you might have. Feel free to drop us a line at customer.service@southafricanartists.com with any comments or ideas you might have for promoting these superb artists even more widely. We also welcome art-themed submissions for our regular newsletters of short stories or anecdotes about art, your experiences, what inspired you or anything that you think may be of interest.

Yours in inspiration,

All the team at SouthAfricanArtists.com

SouthAfricanArtists.com
The very best of South African art online

As many of you will be aware there have been some heated exchanges between the contributors and owners of Wikipedia on the one hand and the National Portrait Gallery in London on the other recently. These exchanges relate to the unauthorised publication on Wikipedia of high-resolution images of art works in the NPG’s collection. The row centres around the fact that the NPG, while it has freely made available low- resolution images of a large part of its collection (and indeed is willing to make medium-resolution media available as well), relies on income from licensing of high-resolution images. Its project to digitise its collection has been an ongoing and expensive one and it is hardly surprising that it should seek to protect the rights it has to these items.

Many people are a little confused as the art works themselves have no copyright attached to them, the originating artists being long-since deceased. However the NPG is asserting its copyright over the photographic representations that it has gone to considerable effort, and with not insignificant cost, to create.

The Wikipedia contributor who uploaded the high-res images has admitted that he deliberately circumvented the NPG’s normal formats for publishing images in order to obtain and republish many thousands of images. Now the NPG should certainly feel rather sheepish that they allowed the content to be left open to this back-door access but it does seem that Wikipedia’s own stance is rather more bullish than it should be given the circumstances.

It is clear that images of works are freely available for people to view and use for casual purposes and long may this remain so. It is not clear how Wikipedia an assert that it is in the vital public interest that they should have unfettered access to high-res versions and hardly surprising that the NPG feel that their fragile revenue model is under threat if items they would license for several thousand dollars to magazine, book and catalogue publishers are now instead obtained by a simple internet download. As a publicly funded body, the British tax-payer, still reeling from the expenses scandals that have dogged the political system in the UK recently, will also no doubt have a word or two to say on the matter.