The Benguela Current flows up the West Coast from the Southern Ocean. It is icy cold. The Cape Peninsula directs most of the flow away from False Bay. Water circulating in the bay is bracing, but much warmer than the West Coast
and the Southern Coast.
Geography, geology, fauna, flora and people together make False Bay a treasure
False Bay was so named because it looks so good in calm weather but is battered by South Easter winds in Summer. This prevented sailing ships from making their way around Cape Point and up the West Coast of Afrique. However there is something good about sitting on a beach and seeing a range of mountains on the horizon. False Bay is my watercolour project for 2023. From the Light at Cape Hangklip to Cape Point.
The Calendars are ready for distribution. Drop me a comment or an email if you would you like to order a calendar.
- The price for an A3 calendar is R300.
- The price for an A4 calendar is R250
Here are the watercolours
Hangklip from Moonlight Beach with a storm brewing
Hangklip is the outcrop of Table Mountain Sandstone standing as sentinel on the eastern entrance to False Bay. The dunes on Moonlight Beach, between Hangklip and the Hangklip lighthouse are covered in metalasia muricata and other fynbos plants.
Caves Beach at Kogelbaai in the Winter
The Winter storms strip the beach clean. The Summer currents in
False Bay return the beach sand scrubbed clean for another season.
Bikini Beach in Gordons Bay
Looking from the Harbour Breakwater towards Nuns Pool. Cape Point is just out of sight behind the headland.
The boardwalk at The Pipe
The boardwalk at The Pipe, our local surf break is named after the remains of effluent pipe from the local canning factory – which of course is gross. But this is the way people did things in those days. The boardwalk is now well-covered by the shifting dunes
The house on Old Stellenbosch Road with a view of False Bay.
In our basin we catch glimpses of the bay from many different places. I grew up inland and still recall the thrill of the first sight of the ocean when we travelled to the coast.
Another view of False Bay from our town. We have a vineyard above the town where people are allowed to walk their dogs. And there is another view of the bay.
The fishing boat K coming in to Kalk Bay to offload their catch.
Fishing boats leave Kalk Bay harbour soon after midnight to be in the fishing grounds before dawn. They
return at about midday to offload their catch.
Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed
610 x 460 mm
The first is of a view from the walk-way above Boulders Beach – looking towards Elsies Peak in Fishhoek. I have also included a button to the other Boulders paintings.
Boulders Beach was a favourite place to enjoy the bay. Then the dress code went up when jackass penguins began nesting amongst the granite boulders (This is a joke – referring to the formal-looking attire of penguins).
Stunning paintings and a wonderful topic !!
Hey Thanks Mike
Your work is wonderful.!
I am so pleased to have 2 of your works hanging in my home to enjoy every day
I cant wait for the next calendar ,I treasure 2022’s and am loving 2023’s so these works will be so special for 2024 calendar
Living in England its extra special seeing your stunning paintings of … home
Hello Amanda
Great to hear from you here – Yes the 2024 calendar is well on its way – well the watercolours are almost done
And I have some other watercolours coming out
it is so good to know that my work is hanging in a far off land
SJQ
Your watercolors are always so beautiful
Hello Carol
thank you so much
this one was a bit of a Haul – eventually I had to pat it into shape and ship it out
it is lekker to hear from you