Postcard from Ronelle

I've been greatly looking forward to getting Ronelle's postcard as I've been a big fan of her work for years. What a lovely surpise it was to see her characteristically fresh, vibrant style coupled with a cool, muted winter palatte! It was done in inks, watercolour, gouache and pen and in the flesh it has wonderful texture too with raised splatters of gouache.

 

The envelope, containing some lovely arty goodies, was instantly recognisable with another beautiful splashy guoache sketch! Thank you Ronelle, for this amazing treasure!

Sunshine and Summer happiness from Ronelle

Pure Sunshine from Ronelle

I have to start off by apologising for not posting this earlier when it arrived - it's part of last months exchange.  

This delicious piece of sunshine and pure exuberant happiness dropped through my door at just the right time when things weren't good for me with family health worries.   What a lift!

On the reverse a lovely study of the leaves

That plant is just bristling with life and energy and the spirit of summer :>)  You have such an individual and expressive style Ronelle.

And even the envelope is beautiful

Ronelle thank you :>) - it really did come at the right moment - and the secret extras that I can't talk about because some of you have those yet to come - fantastic!  again merci beaucoup.

Gallery-May postcards

The round-up of our May postcards.

A french cafe and croissant

You can imagine how big my grin was when I received this wonderful envelope in the post..it had 'to Liz' written all over it and inside a beautiful card from Ronelle!

She describes her visits for cafe and croissant at her favourite brasserie 'les voyageurs'

"We catch up and share with slow tempo in the days activities that await us, we talk about the weather, always very important of course; we wonder what Sarkozy will be up to next and we stand together in showing our dismay about the rising gas prices! We might then drop in at the fresh market for our veggies and we'll say our goodbyes loudly and cheerfully, invigorated by caffeine and good relationships."

I love that last line! Thanks Ronelle - I love my card and package SOOO much!!!

The bridge and the birds at Montlouis sur Loire

People joke about those who will go the opening of an envelope!  However, if you ever get the opportunity to go the opening of an envelope from Ronelle van Wyk (African Tapestry) you MUST GO!

It's a real treat!  With added extras.  ;)  Ronelle is all about added extras! I oooed and aahhed and generally had a good time when I opened mine

I'm not saying any more than that about "the extras" so as not to spoil the surprise for my fellow Sketchercisers who will in turn get their envelope from Ronell!

Anyway, first off there is the envelope which I have down in the category of "added value" for both me and the postmen who have handled it.   Lovely pen and ink and watercolour sketches of the "muettes"  flying around the Loire

"Les Birdies sur le Loire" - sketch on an envelope by Ronelle van Wyk

Inside there were a couple of more sketches of birds on the reverse of Ronelle's sketch of the railway bridge over the Loire in February at Montlouis sur Loire - which I've been to!  That's a real February sky!

Pont de Montlouis by Ronelle van Wyk
pencil and watercolour

I so admire people who can just touch in watercolour here and there.  I've always wanted to be able to do that but somehow my brush manages to try to cover the whole sheet before I know it.

Here's what Ronelle has to say about the bridge and the birds

Dear Katherine

A loire sketch for you - the Montlouis birdge that has been bombed 13 times in WWII (by the Americans no less!!) and is the only bridge still standing.  How is that for hope and determination?  

The "muettes" are starting to nest on the islands in the Loire and along with all the bulbs peeping through the dark soil, Spring is tickling us with the desire to renew our lives..... our houses, our habits...like Sketchercise

I wish you the same... strength and determination like the Pont de Montlouis, renewal like the arrival of the Muettes and a non-stop flow of creativity like "La Loire".

Gros bisous

Ronelle

PS  It is a postcard even if it is a bit big - it has two stamps to prove it!

Ronelle van Wyk sketching the Loire - February 2011

It must be so lovely to be able to walk out of your front door and go and look at and sketch the Loire whenever you want to!

Now I wonder whose postcard I will get next month?

Postcards from Ronell

Thank you Ronell!

First I got shocked when I took your envelope out of the mailbox. The people at the post office have had so many other places to stick the labels on but they had to do it right in the center of the image.

But luckily the labels could be easily removed. (before scanning I've put them on my address)

And how surprising there was another card inside in company with some delicious and useful things. One part is already gone... the other one has to wait for proper weather...

I suppose your lovely cards represent some scenes of your home town. You must have a brilliant view over the Loire river. I love the way you sketch and use watercolor. Isn't it great to live next to a river? I enjoy sit on the banks of the Neckar or Rhine River which is a bit further away - always looking for a willow tree. Thank you so much!

A postcard from Albrecht in Germany.

Thank you Albrecht!
rissler art | drawing landscapes | photo community

The last time I can remember being so excited about my mailbox, was two years ago, when I've been doing the Flying pictures project...an international sketchbook exchange.

And once again, like that time, I've been all over the mailbox every day for the last week or two, which is unnatural behavior for me, because I don't answer a telephone and I don't check the mailbox.





And so my post card from Germany finally arrived...a beautiful view on the main street of Heidelberg in Germany. And he wrote on the postcard..."cold!!" With his choices of color he added, it does look cold! (Image to the right)

A week later, another one. This time, a graphite sketch from Ladenburg, at the Neckar river, andIi'm sure it's a willow tree...his favorite tree to draw and paint. (Image at the top)
Both of them, true Albrecht Rissler style.

I also want to show a video where Albecht was interviewed while drawing a willow tree by the Rhine river in Germany. Arte was doing a 4 episode broadcast on the Rhine river and its life and activities..


You can start watching at 8:54 to see Albrecht draw.

For those not understanding German or French,
"Albrecht expressed his love for drawing the willow tree, a robust tree growing on the banks of the Rhin. From the first time he saw the willow he knew it would be a tree he would enjoy capturing, because of its impressive form and shapes and the special balance between the massive trunks and the branches spreading out above."

Follow the link to see his television appearance.

EDIT: It seems the video is offline, which renders it unavailable for the moment. I hope it will be back online soon.
thanks!!

a bientot!
Ronelle
Africantapestry

Introducing Ronell van Wyk

I love the outdoors
I love walking
And cycling
I love sketching
I love plein air painting/sur le motif( painting outdoors...on the spot)

...painter..

My sketching tools, which I carry constantly in my bag, are very simple. A sketchbook, pen, pencil a little watercolor palette with a water spray and a brush.

...sketching tools...

When going for a longer walk or a bit of cycling, I’ll take my folding chair with backpack where all the tools fit onto nicely, but still it stays very simple with only the addition of some extra water soluble pens.

...let's sit a bit...

For a long plein air session of about 1 to 2 hours, the tools change a bit. I do plein air in oil and therefore will take along my French easel and oils...and oh yes.. very important...a flask of coffee!

...painting sur le motif

To do art en plein air, provides a satisfaction that is hard to find elsewhere. Whether it is drawing or sketching or painting...seating myself in a spot where I am surrounded by beauty and fresh air , with all its motion and smells and sounds, fills me with optimism and enthusiasm and challenges me to a point where I can’t say no. It stirs all of my senses at the same time. Even though I may not leave that spot with a perfect painting or sketch,(which happens more often that I would like!) I leave it nonetheless with a perfect expression of my emotions. Good or bad. It doesn't matter. The more do it, the more I want to do it.
The process becomes an addiction.
I don’t mind.
I just do it.

...à bientôt..Ronell