I studied Fine Art (Painting) at the Port Elizabeth Technikon from 1988 – 1992 under the tutorage of Vivian van der Merwe. I prefer to work in watercolour and oil, and the majority of my works are small, highly detailed paintings.
In 1997 I joined the Miniature Art Society of South Africa, and participated regularly in their exhibitions.
Selected Exhibitions:
Solo Exhibition: EPSAC Gallery. January 1993
Solo Exhibition "All the World is a Stage": PE Opera House. August 1995
Gap Exhibition: King George VI Gallery. May 1996
Miniature Art Society of South Africa Exhibitions: Various venues. 1997 - 2001
Celebration of Life Exhibition: Montage Gallery. September 2005
Joint Solo Exhibition: Cuyler Street Gallery. February 2006
Fractions Exhibition: Montage Gallery. August 2006
Metre by Metre Exhibition: Cuyler Street Gallery. 2006
Found Objects Exhibition: Montage Gallery. 2007
200 Eastern Cape Artists: Athenaeum, 2011
Which new trends or South African artists do you find inspiring at the moment?
Although I have a deep appreciation for the work of my fellow artists, I don’t really follow trends and other artists for my inspiration.
Which South African deceased artist do you most admire and why?
I don’t have a particular South African artist that I most admire at this time, although I do admire the work of international artist Joseph Cornell a great deal. My passion for the theatre is reflected in much of my work, especially those works that I call my “boxes”. I enjoy the way that Cornell creates a magical space, and the way he transmutes ordinary objects through re-framing and re-defining them.
Which exhibition that you have visited made the greatest impact on you and why?
Although I can’t recall any one exhibition that stood out for me, I am most impacted by work that exhibits both technical mastery and originality.
Where do you get your inspiration for your work?
I am inspired by what is within me - by the way I feel and perceive the people, objects, events and ideas that make up my world – and of conveying something of that in each new work. I am fascinated by the details of my world. I love to create my own little worlds, intense, highly personal, the contrast of dark and mysterious with the light and what it reveals. For me it’s all about the way I feel – the way painting makes me feel, and the way the feeling is the painting.
Do you have any rituals or habits involving your art-making that you can tell us about?
I like to make my own supports. I like knowing that I have created the work from scratch. In the same way that good drawing is an indispensible part of my process, so too is a well prepared board or canvas.
What do you like most about being an artist?
I love the painting process. The feel of the paint on my brush. The blending of the colours. The way that I use all of me to get something “just right” in the way that I want it to be. The solitude in which I am at one with the Universe.
How do you handle bad days when you experience artist's block?
I deal with the issues that are bothering me. I meditate and use an energy therapy technique called EFT to neutralize negative emotions. EFT is also great for dealing with any limiting beliefs that I might have about myself or my work.
What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?
Because my work is a reflection of everything that I am, and informed by all that I have experienced and felt, I would have to say that I am proudest of the ways in which I have risen above the challenges and tragi-dramas of my life to become a happier person, and therefore a better artist. (But as an artist, I’m especially proud that I normally receive very positive critiques of my exhibited work in the newspapers!)
Do you feel that you want to make a difference to the world or in people's lives? If yes, how?
I used to believe that in order to help others, you had to put their needs before your own. I have since learnt that unless you feed, nourish, bless and love yourself – you have nothing to offer anyone else. So now I nourish and love myself in many ways, but especially through my painting, and find that I’m a happier, nicer person when I do. I know it’s better for my family… and who knows how far this happy will go?
What are your plans for the coming year?
I want to paint as much as I can. I love painting portraits, and would love to have a waiting list of commissions to complete. I’d like to exhibit and sell as much of my work as possible, while remaining open to all the many new, exciting challenges that are on their way to me.