Scratchboard / Scraperboard Art by Solly Gutman 'The Colour of Black and White'
  • HOME
  • ABOUT SOLLY AND THE TECHNIQUE
  • GALLERY
    • Animals and Birds in Black and White
    • Animals and Birds in Colour
    • Big Five
    • Botanicals in Black and White
    • Botanicals in Colour
    • District Six
    • Early Cape Town
    • Early Durbanville
    • Early False Bay and Surrounds
    • Malay Quarter Bo-Kaap
    • Table Mountain
    • Robben Island
    • Cape Town Harbour
    • Kalk Bay and Hout Bay
    • Arniston & Joostenburg
    • Knysna
    • Oudtshoorn
    • People, Portraits and Characters
    • Nudes
    • Miscellaneous
  • BLOG
  • PRICES AND CONTACT DETAILS

The Ostriches of Oudtshoorn

10/27/2019

4 Comments

 
Picture
The quiet town of Oudtshoorn lies between the majestic mountains of the Klein Karoo. In winter, snow covers the nearby mountain peaks and in summer temperatures sizzle. Its dry, extreme climate has much to do with the town’s success, where once ostrich farmers bathed in brandy and papered their walls in pound notes, when Oudtshoorn became known as the ostrich capital of the world.

It began when ostrich feathers became a major European and British fashion accessory in the mid-1800s. Oudtshoorn farmers were quick to realise that the Karoo environment was ideal to raise ostriches and began ripping up their agricultural fields and domesticating wild birds. Breeding pairs of birds thrived and farmers pocketed up to R200 per kilogram for their feathers, an astonishing amount in 1884.

Although the demand for ostrich feathers has drastically decreased, their skins are now used to produce high-end fashion accessories. Ostrich meat has become a popular alternative to beef or lamb. As a result, Oudtshoorn continues as an active ostrich farming town, boasting the largest number of ostriches in the world.

​​All my works are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on stretched canvas.
Visit the online gallery here to view my available work.
​
Place your order
by phone on +27 79 247 7532
by email to gutmansolly@gmail.com
contact me below or inbox me on facebook: Solly Gutman Scratchboard Art

Other prints and a range of lifestyle products are available from Fine Art America - worldwide shipping available.
4 Comments
Dan Mauer
12/1/2019 10:38:57 pm

I love your work. I've only met a few that color their work and yours is EXCEPTIONAL. May I ask you what you use? I haven't had much success with the watercolors I've tried. Your feedback would be most appreciated. Thank you.

Reply
Solly link
12/2/2019 09:14:23 am

Thank you Dan! I appreciate the compliment.
In answer to your question, I don't use watercolours. I use translucent inks, specifically FW Ink or Schmincke. I find these give the colour intensity without obscuring any of the underlying artwork.

Reply
Dan Mauer
12/5/2019 11:22:56 pm

Thank you for your feedback. I'll have a go at it and let you know about my experiences. Again,thanks!

Solly
12/6/2019 05:30:43 pm

I'll be interested to hear how you get on using the inks, Dan.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I started my 'journey' with Scraperboard or Scratchboard Art in 1968. Since then I have been working exclusively in this medium.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

Scratchboard / Scraperboard Artist