It’s a crazy-short 3 day working week here in South Africa. We have just celebrated Freedom Day (yesterday) and we celebrate Workers Day on Friday. Whilst that means we might have plenty of time off work, for those of us with family, but who are freelance, it’s hard to squeeze all our deadlines into what remains of the week. ‘Being present’ for both ourselves and our loved ones is what counts to us. It’s why many of us give up a ‘safe salary’ or a steady job to forge our way independently. Which can sometimes be scary / tricky…especially when you can’t hide behind a boss or a company policy when it comes to working on weekends. You have to be available for your loved ones… especially when they are wanting to go away and have quality time with you. And it’s why this collection of work I’m putting together for “The Breath Between” is so important to me. It’s important as it represents the breath between the rush. The rush out the door. The rush back in. The chasing of deadlines. The delivery of work. All the business bits of an artist’s life. It’s always important to hold on to that. And to give oneself time to take a breath between. And see what comes… “The breath between” A group show with @lilymaas.art and @sjqwatercolour Opens 6pm Thursday 7 May Stellenbosch Voorgelegn Museum

Time for a tea break? On top of a mountain? With my art supplies?? Heck, yes! 6 months ago I was invited by @hermien_art to be part of a fantastic initiative where local artists got to be ‘in residence’ at the top of the iconic Table Mountain. Thanks to @tablemountainca for the easy ride up with my supplies! Now, half a year later, we get to put on a group show @artistsgallery_capetown at 33 Bree st in Cape Town, paying homage to one of the most famous mountains in the world. Show opens 7 May (yep, two weeks today) Stay tuned (top tip: maybe turn on notifications for my account or, better still, subscribe via the link in my profile) to see the work that was produced in situ, as well as works inspired by the raw beauty and majestic presence of this amazing place. You really don’t want to miss out! Just a clue: it’s got something to do with where I had my tea break ☺️☕️🫖

🌍 It’s E A R T H D A Y And, with Nature being a primary source of inspiration to my artistic practice, I figure it was a good enough excuse to give back. An Earth Day Giveaway 🌍❤️ And it’s been a while since I gave back to you all too. For being here. For showing an interest in my art. For sending me all the loving feedback and comments every time I post. (Well, some of you seem to get quite excited anyways 😜) Here’s YOUR chance to share your love of nature and love of my art with someone you know who loves Nature and art too. Just swipe through the carousel and follow the prompts. Super easy. Good luck! … (Competition runs from today 12noon until Friday midnight. Because I posted this a bit late. Because I myself hate hearing about competitions that only run 24hours an/or just after the deadline has closed. And, besides, I make the rules. ☺️ Winner will be announced on Saturday)

Just some highlights of yesterday evening’s Art Hang at @lamottewine Ateljee where I got to meet even more of the amazing artists who have their work on show alongside mine as part of this beautifully created and deeply meaningful exhibition. I am in awe! I learned so much about my fellow artists’ lives, loves and labours. Thank you @kristenmcclarty_art , @willemseemma @rentiaretief @michael.amery @jennyparsonsart @alice_toich @ingesempleart and @_nina_kruger_ and @mieke_curation for bringing us all together! Just hearing so much more about the symbolism and inspiration behind the works makes one truly able to appreciate the works on the walls. If you missed out, don’t worry. The exhibition still hangs for another couple of months. And, if you’re just not sure if this is your scene; or if you’re not looking to buy art but maybe just like looking; or simply want to find art more accessible and need safety in numbers(!) why not follow @arthangcapetown ? Because behind the initiative is a gorgeous woman called Lisa who is going ‘all out’ to making art more accessible and approachable, fun and fantastic, enriching and enthralling… you get the picture ☺️… …’cos anyone who knows an artist, knows this too: we’re not always that great at promoting, sharing or even just chatting about our work 😁

Multi-tasking, Mountains and Motherhood Much of my days as an artist are spent multi-tasking. One of the joys / tragedies of being self-employed is that my week days bleed into weekends …and vice versa. This week has been no exception. The weekend started with a climb to the peak of the highest mountain in the Winelands. The sunrise was a sweet reward for the hard work to earn the privilege of staying overnight up there. Sanding, varnishing, oiling, cleaning and fixing. All in all morning’s work, before running (yes, running!) down the mountain to get back in time to meet clients for a Saturday studio visit. (Yes, if you ask nicely, you can arrange a private studio visit on a weekend ☺️) Back in the studio, I’ve been priming more boards, sanding, priming again. And doing some preparatory layers for new works. I often take on Wolverine characteristics holding multiple paint brushes and palette knives on the process! Lucky for me, I work from home so I can manage the daily domestic chores, a poorly child, doctor’s appointments and other curve balls without too much trouble. But sometimes something has to give. And usually it’s posting up here on social media. So, if you’ve not been seeing my posts lately and wonder if there is any way to be sure of not missing out, there is! Every once in a blue moon I send out my Studio News - to which you can sign up in seconds - as well as my broadcasts (pop me your number on WhatsApp) as well as my studio channel… all to make sure you don’t miss a thing whilst you too multi-task your way through your week 😅 And now for laundry and coffee 🧺☕️

As much as I love social media to be able to ‘spread the word’ I think most people agree that art itself is best appreciated when we get to see it in person. And I am very lucky to have my art currently hanging in some beautiful galleries. The most recent installation is this special exhibition at L’Ateljee at @lamottewine. I have four pieces here, hanging among some of the finest contemporary artists I know. It’s a real honour to be invited to exhibit in this beautifully created space (thanks @_nina_kruger_ and @miekesmit._ ), and especially so alongside artists who have taught me and inspired me so much. Both living ( @willemseemma @jennyparsonsart @rentiaretief @ingesempleart to name just a few) and departed (thank you @strauss_and_co for the privilege of hanging alongside Pierneef for the day!) Please. Do yourselves a favour and go to see this wonderful collection - “Van Horison tot Horison” - which “invites contemporary artists to respond and enter the dialogue with both the landscape and the visual language of their predecessors, while shaping their own evolving narratives” (words from the L’Ateljee exhibition catalogue).

If you’re new here, you might want a quick introduction to what my work is ‘about’… …which is tricky to summarise as my work is so diverse. But here goes: a simple carousel for you that attempts to draw together glimpses of artworks I have done over the years, and the philosophy that underpins them all: My aim is to look beyond the surface and outward appearance of a subject, and rather to try and capture the spirit and emotional significance of it. If, in doing so, I have enabled others to see what they might not otherwise have seen, or felt something that they might not otherwise have felt, that is a very humbling privilege indeed. Welcome to my art. If you’d like to see more, please head to my website where you’ll find some of my works online (still being uploaded so please be patient!) and also you can find out where my work is on show - in galleries - right now. If you want to stay in the loop, the best thing you can do is to sign up to my newsletter. You get to be the first to know when I have a new show, what’s happening in the studio and all the latest news. Or just pop me a DM …and we can chat.🤗

Hello! In spite of my relative inactivity up here, I see I have gained a few new followers to my account 🤗 So, firstly, welcome! Here’s a post to introduce myself and to give you a little more insight into who I am, where I come from, and what makes me tick. If you’d like to find out more about me, please do head to my website (the link is in my bio) which has been revamped a bit. But which is still - like me - a work in progress! If you’d want to see more of my work, again - head to my website. Lots of works still to be loaded up there. Bear with, please. Better still, sign up to my newsletter (yup, the link for that too is there in my bio😁). That way you can also be first to know where my work is showing And, if you’d have any questions, or want to know anything else about me, pop me a comment or a DM. Look forward to getting to know you better! Artfully yours, Ros x (All artwork and photos my own)

Tell me… … what it is you’re planning on doing with your one wild and precious life? Many of you who know me know that I do not take much in life for granted. I try and squeeze the most out of every day I get to live this life. Recently I lost a friend to cancer. She was one of those people who always rallied the troops, and got us to commit to doing things. One of her most endearing qualities was her drive to live life to the full, even if it meant dropping everything and dealing with the drudge later. I loved that about her! If the first two months of the year are anything to go by, I hope I’m doing her proud. I’ve been travelling to the other side of the world, as well as to wild places just here on our doorstep. I’ve been in deep rivers and climbing high on the mountains. Dangling from a rope. Hopping between massive boulders. Diving into deep, dark waters. Constantly in awe of this amazing world we get to live in. And now I’m going to follow her lead of rallying the troops too! If you want to plan your life with intention, or if you are simply looking for some inspiration, get your diary out and get the dates of my upcoming exhibitions (slide 5, I think?) in your calendar. So much of my recent work has been inspired by these adventures and the emotions and lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’d love you to share in them too. I’ll try and share some behind the scenes shots and videos once the shows are open. If you want to get first dibs, you know what you’ve got to do. (It rhymes with “pick on the pink in my try-oh” …cos we all know Algie Rhythm punishes us for being too prescriptive!)