Klaarstroom Soft Light

I just love the soft evening light in this painting. Hence the title — Klaarstroom Soft Light.

It’s called that because it’s one of the fruits of a day and night spent in the superb Klaarstroom Hotel in the tiny village of Klaarstroom in the Western Cape.

Now, if ever you find yourself driving the incredible Meiringspoort pass — that surreal route that wends its way through the mighty Swartberg range between De Rust and Prince Albert — and you’ve got a bit of time on your hands, do yourself a favour and spend a night in Klaarstroom on the Prince Albert side of the pass. You’ll be rewarded with some of the most beautiful evening light you’re likely to encounter anywhere in the Karoo. And yes, I say that with full artistic conviction!

A Village That Glows in Late Afternoon Light

Make sure you stay over in the quaint Klaarstroom Hotel — a classic, old-school Karoo establishment. It’s not five stars, thank heavens. But it’s five stars in charm. The kind of place where time has taken its foot off the pedal. A throwback to a quieter, more genteel time. And isn’t that exactly what you want when you step into the platteland?

Klaarstroom is one of those villages that just glows in the late afternoon and early evening. Like any Karoo town, it’s got that magic-hour transformation where everything turns cinematic. The hard, unflattering light of midday gives way to long shadows, soft edges, and golden tones. It’s like someone’s turned the contrast dial down and the warmth up. And I’ve learned over many years of wandering the Karoo that this is when the soul of the place reveals itself.

Take Time Out In The Far Away Karoo

I always try to make sure I’m not rushing when I pass through these parts. That I can afford to linger. Because Klaarstroom, like so many other small Karoo towns, deserves more than just a passing glance from behind the wheel. Especially if you take the trouble to get off the highway — and I mean really off the highway.

Because let’s be honest — how many of us make that classic Johannesburg-to-Cape-Town run with tunnel vision? The goal: Cape Town. The route: N1. The mindset: foot flat, no detours. And while I get it — we all love the Mother City — I think we’ve robbed ourselves of a richer, deeper journey by skipping over the heartbeat of this country: the Karoo.

So here’s my plea: next time you plan that trip, slow down. Take a detour. Forget the N1. Try the N9 or N10 instead. Stop over in Middleburg. Graaff-Reinet. Swing by Aberdeen. Meander through Willowmore. Wander into De Rust. And — if you really want to taste something special — point your bonnet toward Klaarstroom.

A Late Afternoon Stroll In The Only Street

For me, Klaarstroom is more than just a painting subject — though it’s featured in quite a few of my works. It’s one of my most favourite destinations in all the world. Seriously. There’s something about its setting in the shadow of the mighty Swartberg range, its timeless architecture, and the sense of stillness that wraps around the place like a well-worn blanket. It’s humble. It’s remote. It’s beautiful. And it’s very, very real.

On the particular trip that inspired Klaarstroom Soft Light, I had just checked into the hotel and decided to take a stroll. There’s really only one street in Klaarstroom — so that’s what I walked. Up and down. A few times. And with each pass, the light changed. It dropped. It softened. It deepened in colour and feeling. As the sun lowered itself behind the mountains, the harsh outlines of the Swartberg started to melt into a dreamy haze of blues and purples. The distant ridges faded into quiet silhouettes, and the finer details of vegetation and building gave way to soft blocks of colour and tone. It was as if the entire village exhaled.

A Typical Old School Karoo Structure Still Standing.

“Klaarstroom Soft Light” depicts a beautiful old Karoo building — simple, solid, and stoic — bathed in the hush of early evening. It’s a typical Karoo structure, probably once a village church or remote mission station. These buildings tend to hold their shape and stature, even as the years pile on. Nowadays though, It seems, it’s been turned into someone’s home. Or maybe a weekend retreat for a city-dweller longing for stillness. Either way, I’m just glad it’s still standing.

Because the alternative? Well, sadly, we’ve all seen it. So many once-proud Karoo buildings lie in ruins — roofs caved in, walls buckling, the veld reclaiming its space. It’s a quiet tragedy, really. The slow crumble of history. That’s why I find it so encouraging when I see buildings like this one not only standing but cared for. Renovated, restored, repurposed — yet still holding onto their original soul.

Some folks might scoff at the idea of city people buying up old Karoo homes (or an old long standing church building) for weekend escapes. But I say, if it means these beautiful old structures are being loved again, then I’m all for it — provided the restoration is done with sensitivity and respect for the original character. It’s a far better fate than letting them rot away into the earth.

And in Klaarstroom’s case, I must say — most of the renovations have been done with real care. The vernacular has been preserved. The rhythm of the village remains. It’s quiet. It’s quaint. It’s still got that lived-in, authentic feeling. It hasn’t turned into some twee little tourist trap (and let’s hope it never does).

A Place Where Time Stands Still

I think what draws me back to Klaarstroom — and to so many other small Karoo towns — is the sense that time has slowed down. Or maybe even stopped altogether. You feel it in the way people greet you on the street. In the dusty hush that settles over everything just before dusk. In the fact that there’s only one little shop and one hotel, and neither is trying very hard to be anything other than what they are.

It’s the kind of place that reminds me of why I paint what I paint. Why I keep coming back to these wide, open spaces and remote towns and settlements. The light. The stillness. The feeling. It’s not just about depicting a place — it’s about capturing a moment, a mood, a memory.

And that’s what Klaarstroom Soft Light is, ultimately — a memory made paint. A tribute to an evening that gave me something quiet and beautiful. The kind of moment that stays with you. The kind that makes you want to slow down and pay attention. The kind you want to take home and hang on your wall.

So if you ever find yourself wondering whether it’s worth taking the long road — the slower road — I hope this painting helps answer that question.

Take the detour. Linger a little. Let the Karoo show you what soft light really means.

Comment or enquire:- petebon@icloud.com