Greg Schoeman
SOTA Selective
I started drawing musical instruments in 2007 whilst working in a music shop. I enjoyed drawing so much that I started experimenting with other mediums like charcoal and pastels and eventually acrylic and oils.I have been active as an artist for four years but I have always been involved with the creative process as a songwriter and musician. I have always been interested in art and I am particularly attracted to impressionism, something I would like to develop in my own art. I also enjoy the simplicity and dynamic of black and white.
Awards :
Bellville Library all round artist 2010
Which new trends or South African artists do you find inspiring at the moment?
I admire Vernon Swart's art for the mood it creates.
Which exhibition that you have visited made the greatest impact on you and why?
I visited the Van Gogh museum and felt the paintings were alive with vibrancy and emotion - I was also blown away when I visited the Orsay museum. But I have really been impressed with South African artists works that I have seen in and around Cape Town.
Where do you get your inspiration for your work?
Great art by other artists. Travelling on country roads seeing the wonderful landscapes. Great black and white pictures of musicians.As much as I love black and white I also love bright colours, which suggests happy emotions!
Do you have any rituals or habits involving your art-making that you can tell us about?
I enjoy making my own frames and matte boards. I sometimes find myself holding five paintbrushes in one hand at a time.
What do you like most about being an artist?
The same as writing a song where I can escape into my perfect batty world. I can do something without having to explain myself.
How do you handle bad days when you experience artist's block?
I don’t have enough time to get artist’s block.
What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?
People wanting to buy my paintings and a prize from the Bellville Library Art school.
Do you feel that you want to make a difference to the world or in people's lives? If yes, how?
Yes I would. By making people aware of art in all its forms.I would like to make people feel emotions through art and therefore make them more sensitive to other issues in life.
What are your plans for the coming year?
I would like to have my own exhibition when I launch my latest CD. I want to paint a whole lot more, really get into a painting groove.