Passion for Wool- Sheep Shearing Day

Today I had the absolute pleasure of witnessing sheep shearing at Nieuwedam Farm. Although I don't know how wonderful it was for the poor sheep, who either go into a kind of resigned lifelessness or a leg kicking resistance.  A team of very strong men, who have hellishly strong backs and arm muscles shear the sheep on a platform with electric shears. The sheep are herded up a ramp and into the wooden holding pen then popped through a door onto the platform. They are sheared at lightening speed and then sent through another door and out into the sunshine. Either way they are not hurt, maybe they are just a bit uncomfortable as they have to sit up on their tails and are tossed and turned on their backs a most awkward and indignant position for poor sheep! The farmer kept a stern eye on the shearers to make sure the sheep were not roughly handled and they came out at least 4kg lighter as that is what each of their fleeces weighed.... just in time for summer, getting rid of that very thick woolen jersey! The fleeces are laid out on large tables where the undesirable messy bits are pulled off, the fleece is then folded and put into the metal bin marked AM. There are different bins for grading the different parts of the fleece. I bought three wonderful fleeces at the current rate of R65/kg and am so excited as I have waited and waited for an age for the wool. Now my hard work begins in washing, dying and combing the raw wool before I can make it into wool paintings...

 

'Oh, What a Lovely Fleece'  ( Sculpture in progress)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiziana: Alchemical Artist

 Yesterday, on a visit, to my friend and artist Tiziana, I took photos of her magnificent work and studio. She is a genius paint effects artist who uses religious iconography in her personal work, particularly images of the Madonna. Her surfaces are mysterious and luscious, her images veiled and translucent as they merge and resurface in a symbolic layering of hearts, breasts, lips and alchemical musings.