Sheltered

Original mixed media on canvas

Available for purchase

The Langeberg mountains stand guard behind a row of farm cottages near Swellendam. In winter, these villages seem to settle into themselves. Woodsmoke hangs in the cold air, roofs glisten after overnight drizzle, and the first shafts of sunlight slowly work their way down the mountain slopes.

This painting began with memories of winter holidays: pulling on jerseys and scarves for morning walks, warming cold hands around a mug of tea, and waiting for the day to warm. The charcoal speaks to the smell of smoke and soot, while layered paint and mixed media create the textures of weathered walls, damp air and mountain shadow.

The line that traces the mountain is deliberate. Part contour, part memory, it introduces a hand-drawn quality that reminds us this is not a photograph but a remembered place. Like many childhood memories, it sits somewhere between observation and imagination.

Sheltered is about more than buildings. It is about the feeling of protection offered by familiar landscapes, the comfort of simple rituals, and the quiet reassurance of knowing you are exactly where you belong.