Richard Scott Blog - 5th October 2025

Monday we decided to clean the studio as I made a bit of a mess with having the Melkbos annual Saturday and Sunday open studio and, you know me I’m trying to get back into some routine.

Milk Crate full of used Stencils.

Circular Splash Works 40 x 40cm and 30 x 30cm.

Four different but beautiful originals.

I have all the admin and sales and marketing down to a T.  As I’m typing this I wondered where that saying comes from. For interest sake, a quick AI search reveals: The saying "down to a T" comes from the older phrase "to a tittle" or "to a jot and tittle," meaning "down to t.

Here are a few weekly studio shots to keep you up to date.

A client sent me a photo of this beautiful Joyride print up and framed.

Tuesday was, as I promised myself, the first clay production day.

I dropped Joanne at her office, ordered got a quick SHIFT coffee, admin and the a take-away coffee and headed to Mervyn.

Morning Angelina photo swap.

My second home for a while, as you know.

The slab of  clay I requested was a tad smaller than I wanted and had been left out overnight.

That is what I requested, however, the temperature is ever so slightly warmer today than last week and that had a quicker drying effect which didn’t help.

To top it off, I bumped into Patrick, head of kiln production and he showed me the fine cracks on the 1st four pieces that came out last week.

He offered to help and show me where I was going wrong. It turns out I’m not  scraping the  clay rough enough where I join the slabs. He also got out a 20 liter bucket of grey magic. Apparently it’s as old as the hills and just contains water, clay, sugar and vinegar and acts as the glue.

The master, Partick.

Patrick showing me how to fit two panels together. I was chatting to him how here I am defeating the whole purpose of clay with round cylindrical object made by playing with your hands. Here I am with a very flat “Anti-Clay” technical approach. 
It reminds me of the time I went to Mark Atwood’s lithograph studio press in 2004 in Mpumalanga to do lithography. After a few days Mark suggested my style is suited for silkscreen. Go figure. 
Here is the link to the photo's:

https://archive.richardscott.com/press/2004/02autumn/artistpress/index.shtml

Applying the magic clay glue.

Zoom Zoom. The rough part on the right was fine with a standard eating fork. The grey on the left is the magic mix applied.

So, the entire method changed, but it was for the better as the process was quicker. Let’s see. I will revert.

Tuesday afternoon was spent in the studio finishing off the Tarpaulin Drop Sheet piece. I’m absolutely loving this piece. Another artwork to add to my Academic series. 

There she is. I am trying to think of a really cool title linked with the materials used and the fact that this piece of tarpaulin has been used on my own house for 10+ years to prevent paint splatter. Its final use was at The Church September this year (as you know). I know “Girls in Heavan”. 

Left side with Stoep Paint.

Right Side. Waterproof black paint. All paint designed for houses.

I also managed to paint a clementine tree on the box’s Abraham gave Joanne and I as a gift last week. I have a great plan for these two artworks. News to follow.

Wednesday, I popped into town on my Vespa. I promised myself I would get two vases done a week now. Well, I managed to finish the one from last week. I didn’t manage to get the clay timing right to finish the one I started Tuesday, so I prepped it for Friday.

I also had a facial with Wilscha at 12.30, so I had to fit in my beauty treatment. 2 hours later as I left I noticed rain. Eeeek, I got caught out on the Vespa. It was just on the side of too wet.

Nonetheless, I headed home, via Donkey Long Tong to pick up a donated braai tongs for Wednesday nights New Somerset Hospital Auction we were hosting.

I got home. Changed my wet clothes and settled in for the auction. I did find an hour to do some bonus lots and even got David Higgs to host Paul Gerber of Colmant Wine Farm, Jacques Lagrange, King of South African Couture and myself for a Colmant Cap Classic experience at Marble Restaurant in Cape Town. The winning bidder paid R6 300 for the experience. The auction went well, and we helped raise R120 000 for the cause.

Gift set won in the auction for R2,300. So cool to be able to help others help others.  

Thursday was Yom Kippur, Jewish New Year so Joanne had the day off. Plan was to go to Hermanus and have lunch with Joshua of Rossouw Modern, but we both realised there was way too much work to do on the follow up to The New Somerset Hospital Board auction we hosted Wednesday night. So, rain check as a lunch with Joshua at Niblo’s is a real treat. 

Thursday afternoon was chill and try rest and celebrate the day. Another early night as Friday was a long day.

Friday morning, I was up super early.

Sending Angelina my early morning photo. Me in the deck doing banking enjoying a delicious cup of Checkers Guatemala coffee. 

Tobie popped in with his Vespa for a Richard Scott My Girls take over.

We got stuck into graffiti painting it for him.

There she is in her glory. Joyride Mandy.

Zoom Zoom. Graffiti Spray paint with Montana Graffiti paint then the same spray paint decanted and applied with a brush.

r  i  c  h  a  r  d

Then I got a call from a long standing collector who bought the very last 1/1 Gold Money Tree Studio Print from me. It was the one I saved for myself. Well, it’s going to a great collector who is gifting it to a friend.

Last Silkscreen Gold Money Tree.

Then Hendrik and I popped into town to The Church. There were still three minor fixes. On route we spoke about the joys of working at The Church. Fond memories. 

Job done and then I walked all the way up Long Street, then all the way up Kloof Street to Joanne for a lift home with my wife.

We stopped off for some home shopping and picked up some NOMM NOMM fish and chips from the local in Melkbos and ate it on the deck at home. We’re both into fish at the moment as a source of protein. 

We were both a bit tired from a long week, so after that I potted in the studio finishing off Tobie’s Vespa while Joanne potted around the house.

Then it was crash on the couch and catch up for an hour and then popcorn and a movie.

Saturday was up late as both Joanne and I struggled to sleep Friday night. We’re not sure why. Possibly a change of season and lighter earlier now. Nonetheless, we went for a long beach run. We then both decided to trash our clothes cupboards and give all the clothes we did not want away to charity. Joanne took a lot longer than I did. 

Then it was time to pop out to the local Melkbos Annual Fete/Bazaar. We went hungry and looking for something healthy to eat, only to completely forget we live in a little Afrikaner West Coast town where pancakes, curry and rice, boerewors rolls and vet koek and mince were served for breakfast/brunch. So, we got a few bobs and bits like local jam’s etc to support the local community and were off home. I did get a few pancakes on the way out which were a 6/10. 

We got home, cooked up a storm and had lunch on the deck. I opted for pasta and simple tomato sauce from Woollies canned tomatoes, and Joanne opted for the Salmon I bought her yesterday. I grilled it, Shombie style, with some yummy home-made fish spice. 

We both got stuck into some admin and I am currently printing small 30 x 30cm trees for a Collector while Joanne sorts the last bits of her cupboard.

Here’s the link to the trees:

https://www.richardscott.com/collections/trees

So now it's time for tea and a movie. Until Tomorrow, Sunday.

Sunday morning was a repeat of Saturday. Sleep in, cup of coffee, run on the beach. 
But this time the kids were coming for Sunday lunch. Joanne made lamb bean breadie for the meat eaters and Mexican beans for the vegetarians. 
Ben, my brother, is in town with his business partner from Dubai and he popped in as-well. Ben is out here setting up his own business which is so cool.

Best ever bean braedie and focaccia bread. Was delicious.

Messing about. Angelina got the pic.

Great to see Ben.

Brother balcony life catch up.

Thanks for reading and viewing. Until next week.

r   i   c   h   a   r   d.