Richard Scott Blog - 16th February 2025

I looked back on my phone camera to see what I was up to on Monday and all I saw was nicely cropped photos of my art. Then I remembered we are putting together a catalogue of works and also adding, for the first time, a few original works on offer online. So, Watch this space.

Wonderwoman 16 from 2006. I kept this piece for myself as it was the signature piece.

Tuesday was Mervyn Gers day. I have finally committed to doing the ceramic vases series.

Here we go.

Spot the Scott's

Trying out my joining Skills.

Quick catch up with the silkscreen print team, Denzil and Chesnay.

Step one done. It is a little frustrating that you cannot go fast, but I guess clay is teaching me a lesson in life.

Layer one on Vase Two. Looks like an Ice-Cream tub.

Using found object to hold up the sides. Signs of cracking already showing. I need to learn the art of time and water.

Taking a short break and sending Joanne a picture. "Gosh, this is hard work" was my accompanied message.

Day one done. 3 Trial runs with three different approaches.

You have to keep everything wet and covered so that it does not dry out.

Wednesday was another town day. This time SHIFT, then off to Somerset West to see a client. We popped in to see Nick first at IN-FIN art in Wynberg. He recently sold three of my road sign series, so we replenished his stock.

Somerset West was hot. It was nice to go see the clients and collector and advise them on a new piece that are looking for. They offered us a light lunch which was very nice.

Then I Uber-ed home as Angelique had an errand to run in Stellenbosch.

On the way home, I realised I was supposed to meet Joanne at Andre, the florist, to discuss the flowers for the wedding. So, I diverted the Uber and arrived at the same time Joanne did. Who would have thought how easy it is compared to the old days of busses and taxis.

Andre put together a beautiful display of flowers for Joanne to approve. He really knows what he is doing. Super impressed. Only the best.

 Sneak Peek.

After Andre we popped into Checkers to get some supplies for the house. All the kids were home for the week, so the fridge was bare, as were the cupboards and snack draw.

Then home to a relaxed evening for the first time in a few days.

Ha, spotted another Scott. Slowly taking over the world.

Thursday, was the 3^rd day in a row that I went into town. Up early, dropped Joanne. Quick Coffee at SHIFT and then a 8.30 meeting with Tania from Bridges for Music. They are a charitable organisation based in Nyanga. They use music to help others. I have been involved with them for many years helping them help others.

After my meeting, I got Joanne an iced latte, dropped it off, and headed to Mervyn Gers for the second time this week. It was nice to do something for myself. Mervyn was away and David, the Studio Manager, left me to my own devices. I am not quite sure I am going about things the right way, but HEY HO, as Uncle Stuart would say.

There were many inquisitive people from Mervyn's Studio popping in and asking what I am doing. It was nice to get some advice from each of them as I went about my mission to take over the Ceramic Vase Art Market. 

I managed to fettle the first one I did. Fettle is when you scrape off or shave off the bits you don’t want. It made me realise that I can add more at stage one and then take off what I don’t want. So, I don’t have to make it perfect the first time.

David checked in on me now and again to see if all was good. He was super cool.  As I got there, there were 15 brand new slabs of clay they had rolled out for me. What an operation. They made me feel like a king.

I made a list of stuff I need to bring with me next time:

• 1.     Old Towels (to wet and keep the clay moist so you can work on it the next day)
• 2.      Vinegar (you use vinegar to join the clay up)
• 3.      Apron (My clothes get full of a white powder that come from the clay. I look like I have been renovating a house)
• 4.      Small floor scoop and a brush (To clean up after myself. You make a lot of mess and it is easier to clean up as you go along)
• 5.      Buckets (need to bring a few buckets to put water in to use when you are shaping the clay)
• 6.      Clay Tools (David gave me a bunch of tools, but I feel I should get my own, so I will do that)

I finished up at around 1.45pm and headed out to Joanne. I was meeting Angelina, at Joanne's office, to take her to get a new laptop. 

I managed to get in a quick kiss and a hug with Joanne and Angelina and I were off. 

I took Angelina to Atlas Trading to look see. She has never been there before and then off to Incredible Connection to get her laptop in time for University.

Joanne and I officially tasted the world’s best ice cream on Friday.

We both turned to a plant based diet a while back and decided to drive to Paarl, a fairly large town, outside of Cape Town, to go to a small nut based company called Butternut. They make nut based milk and lots of nut based products. Joanne’s favourite is there macadamia milk and mine is the small school lunch box packets of assorted creamed nut paste. 

Well, we got our supplies and the lady asked if we would like some plant based almond ice cream. Well, what can we say, other than you must make the trip out there or wait till we install a SOFT-SERVE ice cream machine in our home.

After this wonderful experience, we were on our way to lunch with our good friend’s Tony and Alison in Somerset West at 1pm.

It was nice to see our dear friends and spend quality time over a delicious lunch at Somerbosch.

Got the picture.

Tony being Tony. My Dear friend.

I forgot to mention that on the way to ice cream heaven we stopped to get our monthly nut supply in Killarney Gardens and then our weekly biscuit supply in Paarden Eiland and then to pick up Joanne’s skirts Nicola had made.

Friday afternoon was nice to catch up with Angelina, Dean and  Daniella around the table as they showed us their Friday shopping items, and we shared our nuts,  biscuits and ice cream stories.

Saturday was nice to get back into a routine. It’s been a strange few weeks. Joanne and I cannot pin point the reason, but nonetheless it was good to get in an early morning beach run and then a delicious impromptu breakfast on the deck as the sun was breaking on the waves.

We planned to go out and sort a few bits and pieces at the shops, but the, “Keep the car in the Garage” gods were having nothing of it.

I made a delicious 4 bean salad with the beans I got from Atlas which I soaked overnight. It was Kidney beans, Black beans, Harriet beans and Red beans. I added in some tomatoes from the garden, a whole onion, cucumber, olive oil and brown vinegar. We both scoffed it without speaking.

Saturday afternoon I did an hour or so in the studio working on a few commissioned pieces.

As luck would have it we had to take the car out as we committed to fixing the drawers at the flat. While I did that Joanne helped Chad get some order on his study desk. Then we hung some art and were off home.

It still felt like a lazy Saturday as we sat down, and binge watched the new series of Yellowstone over a cup of tea and some of the stash of healthy rusks we got on Friday.

Sunday was Sunday. No kids today as they are all getting ready for University this week and jobs, in Richard case.

Last year I helped John, from Woodstock Brewery, raise the annual funds to take the elderly of Sharon Assembly of God in  Steenberg, for a day outing and a nice big, yummy lunch. John sent me some pics Sunday of the gang enjoying a Nomm Nomm fish and chips. It warms my heart to be able to help other help others. Such a small amount of time and you can make someone's day. Thank you to all the people who bid on the Gold Wine Barrel Lid, which was used to raise the funds.

The smiles on the faces says it all. My Fish and Chips is the same size as yours :)

Finally, Joanne and I are harvesting our own tomatoes. It's taken them 3 months to get going. Thank you Jane for the seeds. There is definitely a big shift in the season form last year. The vegetables are even telling us that.

I sent Angelina a pic of the tomatoes and she sent me a pic of her nails she had done as tomatoes. SNAP.

Sunday Lunch.

Thank you for reading

Until Next Sunday

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