Boontjieskraal

My first Johan Smith painting - Boontjieskraal. I couldn't afford it, but Johan has the same attitude toward buying art than I do - if it jumps on you, you buy it. Fortunately he was also willing to accept payment in 6 post dated cheques.

Boontjieskraal is a farming community outside Caledon in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.

Johan has a Masters Degree in Agricultural Science and used to work with my sister and brother- in-law at the Small Grain Institute in Behtlehem, SA, doing research on wheat, oats, barley, etc. The people in his painings always had their eyes closed and a bird sitting on their heads, or, sometimes somewhere else. After he decided to resign from his work and do his art full time he realised that he was painting his people with their eyes open and the birds flying.

Had left over rabbit & pasta for tea.