Arts Fest & Rest

(Daniel Novela with some bloke)

My family and I were fortunate to get some time off this weekend to visit the Grahamstown Arts Festival. As always a weekend is not enough to take it all in. There is a risk of sensory overload. However after a day or so the sights and experiences filter a bit and I am left with a sense of gratefulness that I share a creative spirit with artists. I am also grateful that so many artists take the time and effort to show their work. Make no mistake it is not an easy business.
I was happy to catch up with Daniel Novela who is exhibiting his paintings at the Albany Museum. Daniel is a firm believer in outdoor painting and outdoor references to give his paintings energy. He has a keen perception for nature that can turn the most bare highveld scene into a beautiful sight. A nicer chap is hard to find so pay him a visit if you are in town.

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Grahamstown is cold this time of year so I was happy to acquire this portable "heater" from the village market. It was put to good use both outdoors and in! Mr Shapiro from Cape Town makes these ceramic stoves which are truly functional artworks. 
As the title suggests it was also a time to take a break from the business of art, get my thoughts together and get back to painting this week. Inspiration visits when work begins. The arts fest does remind me that whatever creative direction we may follow we are all in good company.

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