African card

Here is another small African card that I did

And a lion just for fun :) 

I am currently working on 2 commission paintings for a client and can hopefully post those on here too. With clients permission of course:)

Hand painted post cards

A few months ago I went to my favorite art shop (PNA in South Africa, they are specially good in Somerset West/ Strand area) and came across watercolor postcards- they are blank postcards that can be customized according to ones wishes.  I thought its such a cool idea. So here are some of mine:

They all are size A6. I find painting these fun as they are small and quick- well, compared to what I am used to. All are painted with acrylic, but i do think of giving an oil paint a try too. The only worry is if the oil is going to seep through the paper?

Now I need to figure out what to do with these postcards- cos at the rate I am going I will soon have a full house with these. I was thinking of maybe offering to do these for charity- in that case everyone benefits- charity with earning some bucks, me distributing my work. I think that's a great idea, what do you think?

For the pets

Here is another portrait of beloved dog. Luckily it is not my dog, as it is painted on a clay urn. To be honest, I wouldn't know how to deal with a pet that has crossed the rainbow bridge. But I know who could help - Flaura Funerals www.flaura.co.za

The personalized urn is just one of the products that they offer. This one is a small. The urn is made of clay and painted over with an acrylic paint.

I think it's a beautiful way to remember your pet :)

Pet portraits on urns - Flaura pets

I have teamed up with Flaura Pet Funeral services and came up with a unique product- a portrait urn.

Losing a pet is always hard and painful and funerals are never fun. However memories are different story. We want to remember our pets and some people prefer to keep pets ashes. The Portrait urn is a very personalized urn to keep your beloved pets ashes.

The portrait of the pet is painted on the clay urn where the ashes later are stored. Here are some of the portrait urns that I have done:

Urns can be ordered via www.flaurapets.co.za

Art on the door :)

We bought these doors when building the house extension, but eventually never used them- so they were standing around. It happened that I ran out of canvas or rather big canvas, but felt like painting something big:) So 1+1=2!

Lions Den

painted door- a unique decor:) 

Not available.

R

Happy paintings for cancer support

This is a follow up project from "Horse painting for cancer support" - I would like to have it as an ongoing project. Don't You think that would be awesome!

The paintings that can be seen on this page are the ones, that are available for purchase through the project. From every sold painting I would donate 50% of sales price to CANSA - The Cancer Association of South Africa (http://www.cansa.org.za/).

Why cancer support?

Since my family has been battling the cancer, I hear more and more people fighting or fought cancer- everyone knows someone that has cancer!? This clearly is a big issue in today- if we work together we can make a difference. Donating to cancer cause is my choice, if You would like to donate from a purchased painting to a different charity, please let me know :) I donate through http://www.givengain.com/. Info on previous project & donations.

Why call these "Happy paintings"? 

1. Painting them made me happy,

2. they hopefully will make the person purchasing the painting happy and

3. the donated funds will make whole lot of people dealing with cancer happier

Just thought its a nice reason to call them "happy paintings":)

LET'S SHARE THE HAPPINESS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

• All paintings are fully hand painted in acrylic or oil on canvas;
• All prices are provisional and negotiable. Provisional price can be seen below the painting, 50% of the paid price will be donated. Price excludes shipping and delivery costs. 
• If You would like to buy a painting or have any questions, please contact me on email or phone. 

Large horse 3,
Acrylic boxed canvas, 91x76cm,
R3000

Bob Marley
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 100x80cm
R2000 

Happy
Acrylic on boxed canvas, 91x76cm
R2000

White horse
Oil on canvas board, 40x50cm
R700

Angel
Oil on canvas board, 50x40cm
R800

Baby girl
Oil on canvas, A3
R700

Profile
Oil on canvas board, A3
R500

Little girl
Acrylic on canvas, A3
R300 

Arabian
Acrylic on canvas, 60x50cm, framed in white frame
R700

Horse painting for CANSA donations

I have to say the biggest THANK YOU to Alicia, who bought "Cancer horse" and enabled me to donate funds to CANSA - The Cancer Association of South Africa (http://www.cansa.org.za/). The donation has been made through GivenGain (http://www.givengain.com/cause/1056/) and was half of the amount of paintings selling price. The other half of the money was used to support the painting give away project .

This is what Alicia wrote:

Dear Ritma,

I have looked at this painting so often. I dream of it. Your talent comes from your heart. God put it there.

I come from a very large family. I am 67 years old now. We all came together at one of the family homes over weekends, and sang songs and danced. We were a very happy lot. There were about 79 of us when I was born.

There are now 4 cousins left. Everyone, barring my Own Mother, and Father and my Grandfather died of cancer. I give to all Cancer Fighting Causes....as much as I can. I have added Hospice too, as my father died recently, and without hospice’s help my poor mother would and could not care for him alone at home. He died of Sepsis, after he fell off the bed at the hospital...went for one night for tests. Was left on the floor for 3 hours with only his night shorts on. He had the bell in his hand, but it did not work. He had a heart attack, a stroke and eventually fell into a coma. He died in agony. And the day before he went to hospital we all went out for lunch as so many times before. He made us laugh all afternoon.

My shop Malaika, is opposite the Builders Warehouse. This painting is going to hang above my bed....till the day I die.

Alicia

What a sad story:(. I don't know Alicias' family, but that must be an awesome family, to make Alicia in a wonderful person she is today!:)

Here are some more links from Alicia, if You feel like donating:
http://www.pinkdrive.co.za/
http://www.mrc.ac.za/cancer/cancer.htm
http://www.cancerbuddies.org.za/donations
http://childrenshospitaltrust.org.za/red-cross-war-memorial-childrens-hospital-2/
http://www.stlukes.co.za/

Art Lessons in Somerset West

So, it was decided- I will be available for art lessons as off May 5, 2014.

 If You are new to art, come and explore under a supervision of experienced artist and if you are an established artist- come paint with me! :)

The lessons will be held in informal setting, Limited number of students, due to space restrictions.

Studio space- come join me.

Location: Victoria Park, Somerset West, Western Cape, RSA

Times: Please contact for available times, 0611776609

Cost: 

• only R100 per 3 hour lesson during the week
• R150 per 3 hour lesson on weekends.

Bookings essential! Min 2 students. 

The lessons will be addressing following subjects: 

• Form & shading (pencil and acrylic)
• Color wheel and mixing;
• Different materials (glass with water, fabric etc)
• Composition
• Differences between acrylic and oil color
• Still life
• Portraiture

Students are able to choose their preferred subject for the lesson. 

Materials not supplied, please bring your own. Tee and coffee provided. 

Lessons have no age limit, children welcome - to learn with or accompany an adult who is attending the class. (Child-minding service available @R100 per lesson).

We all have different style in art, come and discover Yours!!!

What it costs to be an artist - business plan:D

I recently see the posts about artists being asked to give away their art- be it paintings, music, written etc... so I found myself "playing with the numbers in my head".

This is a very primitive estimate about what is needed if You would like to take up painting:)

1. Computer, lets say we can pick up a basic laptop at R5000.  Computer is an essential as it is used to communicate with the clients and to see the reference photos. One can argue that it is possible to do all of that in internet cafe- well, it is, but I find laptop much more handy. And lets face it- printing in color these days cost quite a bit... especially if You need the same reference photo in different varieties. I tend to increase/ decrease color value quite a bit through the process- to understand the picture better;
2. Internet- again, can be used in internet cafe, but much easier to focus when one is at home. And if you are like me who like to paint at night- it is irreplaceable! I use about R150 a month in internet; 
3. Camera/ cell phone- to take photos and share your work. I would guess that R2000 shall do, if You don't have one already;
4. Paints - I would guess that about 20 colors should be enough to start with. I have about 35 tubes of acrylic paint and about 30 tubes of oil paint. Let's imagine you want to paint in oil paint. On avarage a tube of 50ml oil paint would cost you between R 45-70. You would by 20xR45= about R900
5. Brushes - the price on brushes is very variable, starting from as little as R5 for the small ones. 10 brushes would be a good start, R20 per brush = about R200;
6. Other materials like: as turpentine, linseed oil, detail, drying mediums, glazing, palette paper - just the basics would come to R600;
7. Canvas - of course the art will have to be painted on something... now this is hard to predict as it really depends on each individuals choices... An A3 stretched canvas costs about R50 (this is the one that does not need framing and can be hung as is). lets say You would use 2 in a months= R100
8. Easel- one should be able to find a free standing easel or easel-box for about R600
9. Website- well, this is not essential, but is nice to have:) self designed and private domain would can be found from as little as R100. 
10. Talent and painting classes- this really depends on each individual and can not be priced. 
11. Space and time- if You really wnat to paint, You will find it!:)

SO, what do we have here?

This all comes to R9650 + TALENT + Space & Time:)

The nice thing is - some of the items all of us already have at home and others can be bought one by one:) LET'S PAINT!!!

What do I need to start painting?
PS The cat and coffee optional :P

A painting for the cancer support

Today I had to take my mother-in-law to the hospital for her cancer treatment. It is not a happy place... So, I was thinking- how can I help. I also attended a great conference past weekend where it was said that we should give more! So adding this all together, I have decided to donate half of the proceeds from this painting to Cancer Association. I do also hope to get at least the cost of material back, so I can continue with painting...

Painting for SALE
Cancer support Horse
Acrylic, 76x91cm

Let's see How it goes!

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away!
- Pablo Picasso

SOLD!!! 

Thank You Alicia! More info in this site:

http://ritmart.blogspot.com/2014/04/horse-painting-for-cansa-donations.html

Horse painting - large

Ok, it is not a secret that I LOVE horses:) Horses are the most amazing, elegant, strong and gentle (in most cases) animals. I have always wanted to paint a large horse painting. IT'S DONE!

Finding the right horse/ photo took the most effort!

Enjoy the painting!

Horse painting by R Grizane

Large painting - horse

One day I will own a horse and he/she will look just like this one!:)

R

Creating a portrait

 How is a portrait created:

Voila!

This portrait is painted using acrylic paint.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela has passed away at the age of 95:(  (December 5, 2013)

R.I.P.

Nelson Mandela portrait. Acrylic on canvas. Sold, 2012

Exhibition in news

Hey, this is so cool!!!

My exhibition in Riga today is featured on Latvia's biggest news platform www.delfi.lv.

Here is the link.
http://www.delfi.lv/aculiecinieks/news/riga/vina-dzivo-afrika-un-nu-atrada-savus-darbus-dzimtaja-latvija.d?id=43737360

Apologies to those who don't read Latvian.

Exhibition Nr3/ Izstāde Nr 3- Restorācija, Rīga, Latvija

The 3rd Solo Exhibition in Latvia is up and running from 7- 20.October in Restaurant/ Bar Restoracija in Riga, corner of Terbatas and Stabu street. http://www.restoracija.lv/home.php

Thank You all for making it possible!!!

Trešā personālizstāde "Portreti" ir skatāma Restorānā/ bārā "Restorācija" uz Tērbatas un Stabu ielas stūra. Visi laipni aicināti baudīt mākslu un, ja ir vēlme- padoties tiešām fantastisko ēdienu un dzērienu kārdinājumam (to saku no pieredzes:)). http://www.restoracija.lv/edieni.php

Paldies visiem! bez jums tas nebūtu iespējams!!!

More colors

As a response to my last post on my favorite colors- I decided to do a paintings with different / happier colors:

Save the Rhino,
Acrylic on canvas
29x40cm

I still used the ultramarine blue as the darkest color on the palette, but introduced some yellows and reds as well. Hope You like it:)

R

Going black & white again

This is my latest painting in black & white.

Acrylic on canvas, 18x24inch

Solo exibition / Personālizstāde - Riga, Latvia

This is the 3rd Solo - exhibition in Latvia (my home country).

Šī ir trešā manis gleznoto portretu  izstāde, kas apskatāma Rīgā, "Latvijas Gāze" Mācību centrā, Stirnu ielā 34 līdz 13.septembrim.

Beggining for the good energy!

Thank You to:

Taiga Treimane- for organizing the venue;
My sister- for logistic help;
My dad- for making all the beautiful frames;
My family- for accepting my crazy painting times:)

New works

Here are my latest paintings. After coming back to Cape Town I felt so inspired and painted a few painting in a few days! Or maybe I should give credit to my husbands bike trip through Africa (http://1man1bike1adventure.blogspot.com/), because I was so worried about him, that I could not sleep at night and got into painting? :D

An African dream

Baby - palette knife

One can call it a self-portrait