Spotlighting of 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:

Titled Amethyst Eyes (75cm x 79cm), the inspiration for this painting emerged when I saw a group of traditional isiXhosa women gathered together in the rural area of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Their faces were painted white with clay, giving me an idea whereby I painted decorative motifs representing our world onto white painted faces. Extending from the three faces to their bodies and their surrounds, becoming a unified whole in an overall adornment of nature – featuring cows and a hut styled homestead – land symbols. The fish depicted as being a symbol of water and the birds and the stars symbolize the skies. All of these are incorporated into a whole denoting our universe in its entirety. The three women are depicted grouped closely together evoking and suggesting their kinship, both to each other, and signifying their being an integral integrated part of the entire globe, of our planet earth . . .

 

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