art – Monique Day-Wilde

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Off the Beaten Track

16 May 2023

Walking shoes required for this workshop! I’m so looking forward to “Off the Beaten Track” on Saturday the 20th May in Pringle Bay, as its brand new and will include a gentle walk in the fynbos, some simple mark making inspired by what we see, a bespoke working surface, a little drawing (no drawing skills required!) and even some simple stitching if you like. We will make an abstract recording of our walk with fabric, paper, pencils, pens, paint, thread, etc.
This is a jam packed mixed media workshop so will run a little longer than most.
*If the weather doesn’t play ball, we’ll go for an imaginary walk!
Includes materials, refreshments and a light lunch.

to book please request a booking form

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Anything is Possible

21 March 202221 March 2022

There’s a lot going on at the moment – both personally and in the rest of the world. This begs the question as an artist: do I mirror that in my work or do I look for a little diversion? A diversion almost seems like putting my head in the sand ‘ostrich style’, but on the other hand using all the external triggers may well tip me into the black hole. Personally, I feel like using colour, lots of it – not something I usually do, my general palette choices being fairly muted. It’s fortuitous then, that a slot given 18 months ago happens to be now and given me my answer. I have teamed up with a number of artist friends and we are exhibiting at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville until the end of March. The exhibition is entitled ‘Whimsy’ and is lots of fun, and frankly a breath of fresh air. Escapism for sure, but with an edge to it. We all need to escape every now and then, it’s good for the soul! See the Catalogue here

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Portrait

30 December 202130 December 2021

Even taking the dreaded lurgy out of the picture, it’s been a tough year – the toughest. I’m not always sure how I manage to keep making work but somehow it’s what saves me, time and again. It’s a valuable lesson to keep creating, in spite of circumstances – it’s very definitely therapy. I may not be creative every day but there is generally something on the boil to keep me moving forward. I have found in the last couple of years that I am stitching into my work more than I ever have – perhaps an analogy for keeping things together.

The South African portrait award was held again this year, hosted by Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, despite losing their major sponsor. All kudos to the team for keeping things going under very difficult circumstances. I took the plunge and entered my stitched self portrait with the title “Every Woman in me is Tired!” Read more “Portrait” →

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Brunsvigia orientalis

8 April 202130 December 2021

What fun I’ve had in the last while, discovering where the Brunvigia are flowering locally! It’s been a good year indeed, but in the end I opted to sit under a tree in a friend’s garden and draw and paint a paler specimen. There are just so many colours and movement and the shade on a hot day was most welcome. I used watercolours, water soluble wax crayons, coloured pencils in a Hahnemühle Carnet de Aquarelle Journal. It’s a heavy weight 400gsm Cold Pressed Watercolour journal and perfect for outdoors as there’s no paper buckling and quite secure in our wind.

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Flight of the Bumblebee

1 March 202130 December 2021

A valuable part of my process is walking. Besides being good for your health, it’s good for the psyche too – and Scout, our dog would never say no! I’ll often sit and do a quick sketch or watercolour but collecting samples is also an important part of my practice. I pick up all sorts of things, from dried leaves to rusty bits and pieces and Fynbos too from which I make monoprints. Most of my work starts with printmaking, whether it be a print with stitching, a collage, or painting – and I’ll often experiment with different papers, including teabags. Read more “Flight of the Bumblebee” →

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Fynbos and Fantasies

29 December 202022 January 2023

Every year or two, I gather a group of artist friends together and we mount an exhibition at our local Bistro over the festive season.

There are six of us this year and a wonderful exhibition it’s turned out to be too. Our opening was sadly cancelled due to Covid restrictions (how I look forward to the day when the word Covid is a distant memory!), but not to be too daunted we’ve put together an online catalogue. I’ts an eclectic exhibition of painting, pastels, printmaking, ceramics, fibreart and woodcraft. Read more “Fynbos and Fantasies” →

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Vice Versa

12 May 201730 December 2021

What a wonderful theme for an exhibition! I am part of an exhibition running at Art.b gallery at the moment entitled Vice Versa, curated by Juria Le Roux. Invited artists were asked to find a ‘partner’ and each were then asked to to a work of their impression of the other. This could take the form of a construction, written work, sculpture or a portrait which some chose to do, while others are more abstract works and some just simply quirky. My partner is Victor Harley, and these are our contributions… every picture tells a story. Victor’s mixed media work is entitled ‘Conversations with a disproportionate loss’, while mine is ‘The dichotomy of the seen and the unseen ‘. Read more “Vice Versa” →