And so the tale begins…
“One winter’s day, with the crisp morning air whispering through the vineyards of a wine estate in Stellenbosch.
The sky was painted in shades of grey, but the chill in the air could not dampen the spirits of the five artists who arrived, their hearts aglow with the warmth of creative passion.
They stepped out of their cars one by one, arms laden with canvases, brushes, and palettes. There was an electric buzz in the air as they greeted each other, laughter mingling with the gentle hum of the estate.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted towards them as they gathered around a wooden table, their hands soon cradling cups of the rich, dark elixir.
The day stretched out before them, a blank canvas ready to be filled with colour, imagination, and the stories they were eager to tell.”
…If I had to write a story about our day together, this is how it would begin.
But this was not a tale; it’s the story of a delightful day spent with my artist friends at Kanonkop Wine Estate, nestled just outside Stellenbosch.
My visit to Stellenbosch was a short one, just a quick trip to see my daughter. As is my custom, I sent out a message to all the artists I know in the area, letting them know I’d be around, and arranged for a little catch-up gathering.
Usually, these meetups are over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, filled with conversation and laughter. But this time, I had a different idea—I suggested we turn it into a painting day, a collaborative art session.
Kanonkop Wine Estate immediately came to mind as the perfect venue, given its warm hospitality and beautiful surroundings.
When I reached out, Marcia from Kanonkop was more than enthusiastic, welcoming us with open arms.
Five artist’s hands on one Canvas
In the end, five of us gathered to paint: Helena Gerber, Herma Kitching, Chanelle Correia, Marianne Meyer, and myself, Mariaan Kotze 😉.
We decided on creating two paintings, with one to be gifted to Kanonkop as a thank-you for hosting us.
I had ambitiously ordered an 80x120cm canvas, declaring, “Go big or go home!”—though I must confess, I had intended to get a smaller one but mixed up the measurements.
Still, we took on the challenge with excitement, even if it was daunting.
A beginning with no plan
We began with no plan, just a shared understanding that each of us would approach the canvas as if it were our own creation. We rotated constantly, each taking turns at the easel, painting a section, stepping back, and letting the next artist continue.
We flowed between the two canvases, all while working on our individual pieces and, of course, chatting non-stop. It had been years since we had last seen each other, so there was much to catch up on. It was also the first time I met Chanelle in person. We had become friends through Facebook, exchanging encouragements and following each other’s work. Seeing her in real life felt like reconnecting with an old friend.
Throughout the day, a few other artists popped in just to say hello, adding to the lively atmosphere.
True to form, the wonderful people at Kanonkop ensured that we never ran out of coffee or wine, keeping our spirits high as the hours flew by.
The original plan was to have the paintings completed by 4 o’clock, but as the clock ticked on, we found ourselves racing against time like contestants on MasterChef, determined to finish before we had to part ways again.
We did it!
By 6 o’clock, with the last strokes of paint drying on the canvas, we stepped back, exhausted but exhilarated.
We had done it and I created a video that captured our day!
Click here to watch it now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIsA55Qbwu8
It was a day of creativity, friendship, and memories that I will cherish.
Thank you, Kanonkop, for being such gracious hosts and making this day possible. You were amazing!
The outcome of our two paintings
What the artists had to say about the day
“Spending time with fellow artists is such an important part of being creative.
But oh goodness me….
spending time with energetic super creatives, just put collaboration on another level!
Sharing ideas, laughing, inspiring and encouraging each other, not just in our art endeavours, but in life in general, is heartwarming and an absolute necessity!
Thank you Mariaan, our team leader, Helena, Chanelle and Marianne for a blast of a day.
It is true what they say: ‘Time flies when you’re having fun’”
Marianne Meyer:
“Let there be space in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” – Kahlil Gibran –
We are all familiar with this quote, but only a few of us have experienced the safety of this truth. Collaborating with fellow artists can be intimidating at first, until you start to embrace your own shadows and light.
We are so conditioned to be what we think other people want us to be, the norm, the prescribed version of what we should and shouldn’t be… When you are surrounded by people that have found the value of that shadows and light, not only in themselves, but on the canvas in front of them, that is when creativity comes to life.
Being able to trust the person within you and next to you with the value they contribute to expand the uniqueness of this work of art, was a huge privilege.
I’ve realised that comparison remains the real thief of joy and to never let go of the girl that started the women in all of us…”
Chanelle Correia:
“What an absolute honour to work so closely with other like minded souls. Each Artist with their unique style and technique, each Artist making their mark on a canvas. It was a celebration of Art, Artist and a collaboration of skill.”
Helena Gerber:
“The excitement and privilege of being asked to be part of an impromptu collaboration took me on a roller-coaster of emotions.
On the one hand, I wanted to be prepared but I also realized soon enough that this would be the biggest lesson in letting go and not having the faintest idea of where the process will lead me.
Emotions jump around between feeling proud, anxious and under pressure.
Boundaries are pushed and the energy of being a part of something bigger than yourself and your own work fuels the creative spirit so that you surprise even yourself in the end.
Trusting other artists to have an input in your work, is a vulnerable state, but so very freeing.
Consideration of the other artists’ styles and choice of colour at first dominates the creative process. Under the leadership of Mariaan, we all soon learn that we must stay true to our style of work and leave it up to her to tie it together with her artistic ‘elements’
The result is a combination of all the artists and their unique strengths, skills and the combined energy of the process.
A day to remember and surely something I will recommend to all artists.”
‘No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.’
Napoleon HillCollaboration painting with Glendine: https://mariaankotzeart.co.za/19027-2-2/
