Spotlighting on an Artwork

 

Every week, we introduce an explanation on one of Shirley’s works. In these brief descriptors, the ideas behind the work are explored:

Introducing Totem Pole Sisterhood (115cm x 70cm) commemorating a communal solidarity of womanhood. It is  a portrayal of four connected female figures depicted as beings linked and united, melded together. The idea for this painting emerged as I watched women harvesting fish together and imagery emerged  triggered by the spectacular sardine run on the Natal South Coast of South Africa. The jubilance of the women on the beach gathering fish from these bountiful massive shoals of South African pilchards, known as sardines. I  encountered this phenomenal occurrence on a  beach in Kwa-Zulu Natal. This sardine run, as it is called, is a natural phenomenon occurring during the South African winter months around June and July, when the ocean waters are cool, which is a requisite for this massive sardine shoal migration. It is uncertain why this migration occurs but it is suggested it might be related to the sardine reproductive cycle. This event draws immense crowds of excited human beings who gather on these beaches to witness this startling event, of great throngs of fish shoals beaching, as it is referred to when thousands of sardines are washed up onto beaches. This results in frenetic sardine related activity as fishermen net vast shoals of sardines from fishing boats, which they haul ashore – offloading their netted sardines. What most caught my rapt attention and became the focus of this painting were the exhilarated, animated groups of women on the beach. Exuberantly participating, gathering their billowing dress skirts up, in order to gather and scoop up sardines. Their soaked dresses and aprons heavy with these fish, they were so joyfully harvesting by the handfull. Whilst other women were scooping up and loading fish into pots pans and buckets jubilantly collecting and gathering from this this abundance of sardines, storing them in every available utensil. I have tried in this portrayal to capture the uplifting spirit of these women so gratefully harvesting this ocean gift in harmony with each other, the essence of a solidarity and a sisterhood. In their generous delighted spirit of sharing this bountiful and nourishing sea harvest, my painted narrative is a representation of a female totem pole of womenhood!!  An image indicating a lifting and being lifted up in generous support of each other. An inter-connectedness and unity. A theme I use repeatedly. I also depicted a multitude of tiny fish both above and below the women to emphasize  and suggest the sensation of seemingly endless sardines, also incorporating some birds in flight to denote the vast throngs of sea birds, gulls and gannets. Feasting on these hordes of fish  swimming up towards the ocean surface in a bid to escape a myriad of marine predators  the dolphins and sharks, sharks devouring them, only to now become prey for these for the plummeting plunging swooping sea birds skimming the ocean surface. Diving for these fish, gorging themselves in this shared ocean banquet , the human beings, the sea creatures and the birds. All partaking in this festival of fish.

 

Click on the following link to find out about art available for sale click here.

 

 

 

Update – October 2024

It is with much sadness that we share the passing of Barry McDaniel, my husband, in July 2023. I have moved from Trafalgar in Kwa-Zulu Natal, to Cape Town, in the Western Cape to be closer to my family.

I have been working on a book about my art with South Africa Art, and Jason le Grange, to help document my various styles of art. We have been spending many months working through my paintings, collages, mixed media and digital art. More information about this work will be shared in the coming weeks.

Jason and I are putting together various information sharing videos to explain a work of art every week. This will help to unpack some of the stories behind the works.

We will also be updating the website and continue to share new works developed.

Our final work in progress, is the sales page that will share current works available for purchase, as well as postcards and prints, which have been developed.

I can be contacted through the following email address jason@southafricawriting.com for information about the book or about sales of works.

Shirl

 

“Picture Narratives and Figure-scapes.”

My works involve scrutinising and digging through surfaces, delving through my thoughts and their roots and thus stirring up images. What I depict is highly personal and my imagery is accessed from many sources, both from within and around me. I work towards creating an overall harmony within my paintings, collages and mixed media and do not have any entirely preconceived ideas for my pieces, but allow them to evolve. An example of this evolution is illustrated in a series of found object (objet trouvé) face and figure assemblages I created. Images of these constructions, plus narratives, appear on my Mixed Media 3 page and in my Speak Eezy blog, titled “Marching To The Beat Of Your Own Drum” and “I Like Me … I Like You.” I have also created mirror frames, using recycled materials.

Much of my work is representative of human communication and my depictions largely incorporate the female form. My stimulus mostly comprises various aspects of womanhood, represented singly and interacting with others. I portray maternity and motherhood in terms of universal nurturing. My work frequently depicts bounteously pregnant women, as an expression of life energy. My images of women symbolise a connectedness, incorporating inclusiveness and tenderness. The subject of womankind flows from me and has become a recurring theme for my work.

I am inspired by generous womanly contours and tend to simplify the curved female shape into softly-rounded forms, seeking rhythmic lines within these female figure-scapes. My imagery frequently includes angels and various animals, reptiles and birds, as symbols of nature and freedom. I instinctively work towards connecting and linking elements of colour and line into an overall unity, the varied and distinct parts comprising a whole.

Incorporating and embracing elements that evolve, yields spontaneity. I might salvage an entirely unplanned area, or fragments of colour which emerge whilst over-painting. Embracing these unexpected elements may heighten an image, adding subtlety, or depth. Certain limitations may aid and sharpen my creativity in seeking alternatives, experimenting with limited palettes and searching out alternate routes. I might alter an image in order to “tighten” it up, perhaps rendering it bolder, shaping a piece into a more concentrated form, conjuring up chance-elements within the changing picture surface e.g. an area of paint left glimmering through, or an interesting texture which may then consciously become incorporated into a work in progress. Utilising these unexpected gifts and collaborating with chance, is stimulating … weaving the planned together with the unplanned.

I am inspired by collage, combining a myriad of juxtaposed facets, building up the imagery, areas of darks, lights, textures, colour and/or patterned surfaces. I overlap elements, creating a cohesive whole from many-layered, or superimposed fragments. My work is largely a blending of various distinct parts, combining and arranging elements into an integrated whole.

Thank you for visiting my website.

Shirley Mc Daniel