Blog | Reviva Schermbrucker | author/illustrator/artist

The Observer

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Reviva

I add pebbles to an image that has haunted me for years. What does the observer see? How can s/he make sense of it using the crude tools of his/her understanding? The view coats the inside of his/her skull. Why so sad? The animal thing looms in the dark, yet another reflection.

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Nuts and bolts

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Reviva

The nuts and bolts of things aren’t supposed to be as pretty as this:

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Mulberry Mayhem

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Reviva

What’s cooking on the stove? Purple berry jam? Syrup?

It’s spring time and the mulberries are ripening.

Maya is impressed with the net Asher has rigged to catch berries as they fall.

Look how well it works!

The berries are even funnelled into a bowl (with a little help).

Still, some land up on the grass. You can pick them up before you squoosh them underfoot.

Or you can climb up into the tree…

…and pick them straight off from where they hang amongst the leaves.

Asher is in his element in amongst the screen of rough green leaves.

“I’m putting on lipstick.”

“Doesn’t that look cool?”

“I’m a Red Indian!”

“Me too!”

Look how many mulberries Asher has collected.

The mulberry stains don’t wash off that easily. Do you see how the swimming pool water has turned a little pink?

There are some very hungry silkworms in a shoe box.

“Let’s pick them some nice, fresh leaves.”

Mulberry leaves are silkworms’ favourite food.

Aaaah, that’s better.

Silkworms are such funny creatures.

Look how they cling to Maya’s fingers.

Asher helps a silkworm to find its way to fresh food.

Ella has come home. Actually, the silkworms are hers.

She likes to check on them in the cool shade of the fig tree.

She places a silkworm on her nose.

Where are you going, little man?

Bridging across my nose, I suppose

Don’t fall off, now.

Here, try my forehead.

It’s a puzzling thing for worm and girl. (See the question mark upside down.)

Ella places the worm back in the shoe box.

Safely back home.

Tomorrow there will be a whole lot more mulberries, ripe and ready.

Splat!

My thanks to Asher, Maya and Ella

Posted in food, Fun, People, the natural world, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Stepping out from behind the books

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Reviva

Visitors might have noticed the lack of photos of me on my website. So, to satisfy curiosity, a brave move: I step out from behind the posts, my books and the bookcases and present me to you. While I am at it, let me introduce our dog, Ajax, as well.

And just in case you think this was easy for me…here’s another version, closer up.

Both images are from “An African Suitcase”

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Old Man Africa

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Reviva

Might be old, might be burdened, but he’s edging us out to sea with his feet, the mischievous old sod.

Illustration from the story “Old Man Africa” in the collection “An African Suitcase”

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Romantic pastime?

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Reviva

The view from the kitchen into the train room on a spring night. A sweet picture of total immersion. Peter is servicing a loco. He is choofed with life.

Posted in Autobiography, My home | Comments Off

Monkey’s Wedding – embroideries for sale

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Reviva

Buy an embroidery – a whacky piece of Africana meticulously hand-sewn – and help me publish a picture book five years in the making!

Because of a difficult publishing climate, I have decided to self-publish this children’s picture book in hard cover format. I require a total of R82,000.00 to cover the costs. This includes reproduction, make-up, printing and a small budget for marketing. To raise the money I have decided to sell 10 of the embroidered panels for R8,200.00 each.

These are the 16 embroidered and appliquéd cloth panels that make up the illustrations of the picture book. They are approximately 700mm by 320mm each.

Click on the image for an enlarged view of the embroidery and to see all the details! To go back to the collection after viewing close-up of individual panels, press Esc (escape).

Embroidery 1: the monkey bride and some of the guests

Embroidery 2: the frog pot that inspired the story and “blushing bride” flowers SOLD

Embroidery 3: a view of the Johannesburg skyline from a balcony SOLD

Embroidery 4: ants on their leaf boats sailing down flooded gutters

Embroidery 5: the guests arrive at the venue under the trees

Embroidery 6: ducks and pelicans serve the guests SOLD

Embroidery 7: everybody is waiting for the bride to arrive SOLD

Embroidery 8: The guests ulalate, stamp and clap in anticipation SOLD

Embroidery 9: “Here comes the bride, all dressed in white…” SOLD

Embroidery 10: the guests eating, dancing, laughing SOLD

Embroidery 11: where is the groom? Rumours reach monkey.

Embroidery 12: a troop of monkey’s cousins gate crash the wedding SOLD

Embroidery 13: Lightning and hail slam down as the monkeys go ape

Embroidery 14: the ostriches bury their heads in the cake SOLD

Embroidery 15: time for everyone to leave

Embroidery 16: what will happen next time it rains and the sun shines?

The fine print:
1. People can choose from amongst the 16 panels on a first come, first serve basis. I will mark which panels are bespoken on this site as soon as the buyers inform me of their choice.
2. The embroideries are sold unframed but buyers can choose to ask me to hand sew each one to a larger backing cloth of unbleached calico which can be stretched over a board or stretchers for framing.
3. I will deliver, post or courier the cloths after ten have been sold and after they have been scanned for reproduction. I do not expect the process of reproduction will take more than a couple of weeks.
4. Unfortunately, if less than 10 panels are sold after 2 months, I have not raised enough to create the book that is my dream and the deal is off on all sales.