Monday, November 19, 2007

Johan Marais - South African Artist


South African artist Johan Marais was born in Kimberley on the 8th of October 1948. He took his first art lessons at the Diamantveld High School, during which time he received several awards. After matriculating he studied art extra-murally, and then decided to study for a B.Com at the University of South Africa.

After obtaining his degree, Johan Marais resolved to improve his art and took classes under the tuition of Christopher Haw, an accomplished artist from Natal, concentrating on landscapes. Over the years Johan has not limited himself to use one medium. He has qualified himself further, using oils under the tuition of Rina Badenhorst, a well-known artist from Port Elizabeth, and Vivian van der Merwe of the Central Art School in Port Elizabeth.

Johan Marais, who had a full-time job, painted part-time, a hobby he obviously enjoys and spends a great deal of time exploring. He is at present focusing on flowers, still life studies and Landscapes. Johan Marais is very fond of nature, from which he gets his inspiration for his new work.

His renditions of flowers, stems from the fact that they are those things in nature which he sees in harmony, something not easily seen or found when portraying humans. His preference is to use bright, fresh colours in his works. Johan Marais says that people need colour in their lives, especially as sometimes everything around us appears to be so dull.

Johan Marais has partaken in various group exhibitions in South Africa and he has also exhibited in Austria. He held his first solo exhibition, titled “Harmony”, comprising of oils and watercolours, at the Cyler Gallery in Port Elizabeth. Johan attributes his success to the love and support he receives from his daughters, Marlize and Lynette.

Johan Marais has in the interim moved from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria where he held his second and third solo exhibition at his home studio and also at Woodlands Estate. He also partook in group exhibitions since his move to Pretoria. The resent group exhibitions were held at the Artcoza gallery during January 2004 and Woodlands health Estate during May 2004.

Johan Marais also attended Master Classes at the Association of Arts in Pretoria presented by Andre Naude during 2003. During 2004 and 2005 Johan’s work was selected for Alette Wessels Kunskamer Annual Art Initiative. During 2004 he was one of the finalist for Johannesburg Art City Competition.

Johan Marais focus is at present on Landscapes and still life studies. His Artwork is currently exhibited in several Art Galleries in Gauteng.

Johan Marais retired in March 2005 to work full time as artist.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Estelle Marais - South African Artist


South African artist Estelle Marais' interest lies in landscapes, portraiture and imaginary compositions based on mythological and literary themes.

In landscapes Estelle Marais enjoys the rhythm, colours, tones and forms which express the atmosphere and character of the land.

In portraiture Estelle Marais places the sitters in the context of a personal, social, historical and cultural background to tell their stories. These works are done in watercolours, acrylics and oils. She also explores her themes in a variety of graphic media, including charcoal, pastels, lino printing and etching.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Greg Lourens South African Artists


Born in Johannesburg in 1948, South African artist Greg Lourens went to the Johannesburg School of Art, where his main interests were illustration, sculpture and photography. He then moved to London, where he worked in a design studio for almost two years. It was here that Greg Lourens was introduced to the art of Realism and the love of detail.

Greg Lourens then worked in Boston, Massachusetts as a member of a team developing multimedia as an integrated medium. Whilst in the States, Greg began his training in psychotherapy and he has been practising in this field for the past 30 years.

This interest in people has spilled over into his art, and has led him to delve deeper and deeper into himself and his subjects to touch into their unique mystery - to capture a glimpse of their spirit - an indefinable quality which most viewers can identify with. This quality resonates throughout his work. Greg Lourens predominantly draws women because he recognizes that they are the custodians of all that makes us most human.

In 2001, Greg spent a year drawing in rural Ireland. This concentrated time was a wonderful opportunity to hone his passion and develop his craft. His works fall into the school of Realism and are executed in pencil, coloured pencil, and some are a mixed media.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Amos Letsoalo - South African Artist


South African artist Amos Letsoalo was born in 1969 in Molepo vilage, Lompopo Province.
Amos Letsoalo was inspired by his mother's decorave, traditional African paintings done with earth pigments on the walls of their house. Amos Letsoalo use to help with these paintings.

Amos Letsoalo says the following about his art:

"My work is mostly inspired by indigenous people (in Africa) and their lifestyle. I find the household of the indigenous people in Africa very interesting, the objects/still lifes that one finds in every household. You either find objects like clay pots, some old bottles (which in many case are inherited from our ancestors to store traditional medicines and herbs).


I have my own perspective of what still life looks like to me as an African.

"I am appropriating indigenous vocabulary, in imagery, use of colour and language in my painting. I am at the same time not doing realistic images, but I am trying to create the realistic feeling. You will always find images of bottles, pots, cups, etc. I call this process 'painting and looking at the still life from an African perspective'."

Monday, October 22, 2007

Marlise Le Roux - South African Artist


South African artist Marlise le Roux completed her B-Proc law degree at the Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg, but the artist in her overpowered the lawyer. Now, several years on, she has grown into a formidable artist in her own right. Marlise loves to experience live in all it's facets and travelling forms an integral part of her life. Through her travels she gathers inspirational ideas and themes for her paintings. She recently moved to London with her husband Marcu. Her work is exhibited in galleries and private collections in South Africa, Ireland, UK and USA.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Isabel Le Roux - South African Artist


Isabel le Roux is a well known South African contemporary artist. She is a true colorist and her work vibrates with expression, energy and emotion. Isabel constantly bring new dimensions to her work by traveling and painting abroad and on different locations in South Africa. Her paintings are sought after by galleries and private collectors locally and internationally.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Cynthia Kuun - South African Artist


South African artist Cynthia Kuun was born in 1957 in Pretoria. Her father was a school teacher , and recognized her talents at an early age. She still treasures the palette which he made her when she was at high school. She now lives in Mogale City, Gauteng, South Africa, with her husband, two boys and a daughter. She has been busy with painting since 1990. The urge to paint surfaced during childhood and at primary school started selling pencil sketches to her classmates. It was only during the latter part of her life that she received formal training from a number of the best representational art teachers in South Africa which she continues to perfect as the years go by. With her enormous natural talent, self discipline love and devotion for her work, she mastered the skill. Her work is done in oil on stretched canvas. She paints whatever she feels like and sometimes also uses her artwork to give expression to her emotions. She also does special commissions and her artwork has already been sold to satisfied customers throughout South Africa.

Monday, October 1, 2007

South African Artist Hardus Koekemoer


South African artist Hardus Koekemoer obtained a National diploma in Lighting, Sound and décor painting from the Technikon Pretoria in 1985. He also holds a B -Tech degree in lighting design, and is currently busy with his M -Tech degree on the subject of lighting design in an African context.

Hardus Koekemoer is currently employed as a lecturer in lighting at the Tshwane University of Technology, and takes part in various solo and group art exhibitions in South Africa and Europe.
Hardus Koekemoer is also responsible for the lighting design of various productions, ranging from opera to drama, music and dance theatre. Since 1999, he was responsible for the various “Fire Dance” and “Fire Light” productions that took place in Pretoria and the Potchefstroom arts festivals.

Hardus Koekemoer latest original indigenous theatre productions “Ancient Stars, War, Destiny” were performed with great success during February 2000/2003 at the Breytenbach theatre. This production where performed for an ABSA bank function, and during the Aerospace 2000 conference as the main opening performance. Delegates attended this performance from 46 international countries, with Nelson Mandela as guest of honour.

During 2003 a indigenous production “Shaka X” were successfully performed in Pretoria and Botswana, Gaberone.

Hardus Koekemoer was technical director for the Y-Arts festival on the arts campus, and were responsible for the staging of events and placing of crewmembers for twenty productions in a period of two weeks. Currently Hardus Koekemoer lectures to more than 75 lighting students.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Barry Jackson - South African Artist


Bronze Sculptor Barry Jackson is a second generation South African, born of Scottish and Afrikaner descent. He was born in South Africa in 1949 and raised and educated in Zambia in Central Africa. Barry now lives and works in Cape Town, near to the slopes of Table Mountain.
Barry Jackson began his career in advertising as an art director but soon went freelance as an advertising illustrator. During this period he also did work for the philatelic services department of the GPO and designed and illustrated many sets of stamps and first day covers including some award winning sets for South Africa, Namibia and surrounding countries.

Barry Jackson's fine art career was developing simultaneously and soon the high demand for his sculpture required him to concentrate almost exclusively on his fine art. His works, of limited editions are sought by collectors and art lovers globally who identify with conservation, wildlife, African ethnic themes and the vanishing cultures of Southern Africa.

His main medium for sculpting is bronze, which is the most difficult and time consuming of all the arts. Barry Jackson does not delegate any of the work except for the foundry process because he believes this delicate and complicated process should only be carried out by suitably skilled and qualified people with the best equipment available.

Barry Jackson has participated in many group exhibitions at the Crake Gallery in Norwood, Everard Reed Gallery in Cape Town, David Thorpe Fine Art Gallery in Plettenberg Bay, The Johan Smith Gallery in Clarence and the Cape Gallery in Cape Town.

Barry Jackson's bronzes are renowned internationally and can be seen in boardrooms and reception areas of companies, private collections and game lodges throughout the world. There is a permanent display of his sculpture at Bushmans Kloof Game Lodge near Clanwilliam.


Monday, September 17, 2007

South African Artists


South African artist Carl Jeppe was born in Krugersdorp in 1949. After matriculating at St John's College he enrolled at Pretoria College for Advanced Technical Education. In 1981 he was appointed full time lecturer at the Technikon in Pretoria. He was appointed to the council of SA Association of Arts in Northern Transvaal where he served until 1984, and in 1989 he was appointed part time lecturer at the University of Pretoria, Fine Art Department.

Carl Jeppe has also served on the New Signatures selection committee in the years 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1984. Other activities include the presentation of a workshop at Soshanguwe Teacher's Training College in Bophutatswana, 1988, 1989, and 1990. Served on selection committee for "Art Alive" Ruddel Theatre, 1991.

Monday, September 10, 2007

South African Artist


South African artist Francois Gouws was Born in Molteno, South Africa on 30 October 1959.
Francois Gouws spent childhood years on a farm near Molteno in the Eastern Cape province. The roots of his interest in art were developed by the strong influence of well known South African writer and painter Johannes Meintjes, who was his first art tutor.

Francois Gouws matriculated in 1977 in Molteno. Obtain B.Pharm. degree at the Potchefstroom University of from 1978 - 1981.

During 1982 - 1984 Francois Gouws spent two years for national military service and an officers course in the South African Medical Services.

His formal art training started in 1990 at the WITS Technikon Fine Art department in Johannesburg, during which period Francois Gouws obtained the following awards: 1990 - Best first year student, 1991 - Award for print making (2nd Yr.), 1992 - Award for drawing (3rd Yr.). During this period Francois was strongly influenced by teacher and print maker Philipa Hobbs.
Francois' present work is strongly influenced by internationally renowned pop artist Andy Warhol, although his approach is more painterly and the silkscreen effect less obvious.

Monday, September 3, 2007

South African Artist


South African artist Rodney Gee combines the mystery and provoking subjects of Surrealism with the personal experiences in his life which clearly reflect the detail of his complicated thoughts. This makes him a true modern day Dali, with an even darker twist than the legend himself.


His work stimulates your visual fantasies with bright colours and well-constructed, thought provoking, intertwining subtle parodies and sometimes - serious questions.He captures the essence of thoughts and taps into what the subconscious would look like if reality painted its' picture.


His own theatre is created by his ability to entice you to climb inside his print so that you can explore the cabins of his mind. Rodney focuses on detail and tries to tell a different story in each element of his works. It would be truly difficult to decipher his thoughts, but it's worth a try once you own one.

Monday, August 27, 2007

South African Artist


South African artist Ilse Fourie says the following about her paintings:


“I paint from my soul. The human body is the vehicle through which I portray my concepts, emotions and thoughts. I retain a spiritual relationship with nature and it is in my latest work that I explore a metamorphic process from nature to man. By using a process of oxidation on the surface that I paint on, nature’s influence in the creative process is further enhanced.”


Ilse Fourie works from her studio in Johannesburg, South Africa. After studying fine arts at the University of South Africa and the University of the Free State, she completed two diplomas in fashion design and subsequently manufactured her own label for fourteen years, before returning to the arts in 1998. She has since exhibited her paintings at various galleries in South Africa.


More information on South African artist Ilse Fourie

Monday, August 20, 2007

New Oil Painting


It has been quite a while since I have posted a new painting. I have been working on a slightly different direction for my art and this latest oil painting is the first of what will hopefully be quite an expansive series. I will discuss the inspiration behind this new series more in depth as I post more paintings in the future but for now I will only say that it is strongly influenced by Biblical texts. More information on this latest oil painting can be seen here and any constructive comments are welcome.

Monday, August 13, 2007

South African Artist


South African artist Helena Fourie graduated in fine arts at the University of Pretoria in 1987, where she majored in painting. Since 1994 she has been working as a professional artist. Early in her career, she excelled in realism and started specializing in portrait painting.

Inspired by her absolute passion for nature Helena Fourie has been devoting herself to the painting of wildlife, redefining this genre, and applying it in an individual and idiosyncratic style.
Helena Fourie painted extensively for clients throughout South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the United States of America. She was commissioned to paint a mural and several paintings for the official residence of the State President in Pretoria. Her work includes many commissions for murals and tromp-loei'l in Safari lodges, guesthouses, casinos and restaurants throughout South Africa and Zimbabwe. Helena Fourie partakes in group exhibitions and held her first solo exhibition in September 2000, titled African Bestiary, at the Tina Skukan Gallery in Pretoria. In January 2001, one of her paintings was auctioned at the annual Hunters Convention in Houston Texas, for nature conservation.

Helena Fourie works in a variety of media, including oil, color pencil, and mix media. Her work is a journey of hidden discoveries; this is wildlife art with a difference.

Monday, August 6, 2007

South African Art Exhibitions

It is a new month and although it is cold today in Johannesburg, spring is just around the corner. Our art exhibitions section has been updated with new exhibitions for this month and I invite all to visit the page and plan their art galleries visits for the month.

On a personal not I have been working on a long overdue new oil painting the last month and it should be finished by the end of this week. If all goes well I will publish the details of the new painting within the next two weeks.

Monday, July 30, 2007

South African Artist Diane Erasmus


South African artist Diane Erasmus primarily paints landscapes, seascapes and floral compositions. The floral element in her work extends beyond still life into the realms of flowers in nature.Her approach to colour is both vivid and atmospheric with a generally impressionistic feel. The paintings are composed with a view to their specific compositional needs and requirements.

She paints in oils and acrylics on stretched canvas.
Painting for her is not only a powerful form of self-expression, but also a very important means of communicating both visually and spiritually with those who are exposed to her work.

Monday, July 23, 2007

South African Artist


South African artist Suzanne Du Toit was born in Pretoria, South Africa 1954, matriculated 1971 and spent the next 2 years travelling around Europe and studying art at the City of London Polytechnic. Suzanne Du Toit returned to South Africa and completed a degree in fine arts at the University of Pretoria, specializing in sculpture. Graduated 1977. Held a few exhibitions and held down various jobs including waitressing, signwriting and driving cranes. Suzanne Du Toit received a bursary from the Italian Embassy to study art in Perugia for 8 months. Returned to South Africa and spent 4 years in the paintshop of the Performing Arts Council of Transvaal (PACT) learning to paint and sculpt on a large scale. Left the theatre to work on movies, held exhibitions, did illustrations and met up with Lionel Levin and Partners interior designers in Johannesburg. Suzanne Du Toit worked on large projects such as the Carousel, Swakopmund Casino, the Windhoek Hotel, Sandton Towers, Michelangelo Hotel, The Sheraton Pretoria, Sheraton Albania, Caesar’s Casino and Montecasino.

In 2003 Suzanne Du Toit left the city and moved to a farm in Harkerville near Knysna with her life partner Anna-Marie de Vos and their children Nuschka and Reid. Built a house and a studio on their piece of paradise where they grow organic vegetables and look after a menagerie of animals.

More information on this South African artist

Monday, July 16, 2007

South African Artists


South African artist Monica Du Toit’s background is in Industrial Engineering. She was born and educated in Pretoria. Art has always been a passion, but in the form of a hobby rather than being a full-time artist. After friends and family urged her to start selling her art Monica Du Toit has decided to start painting for a wider market, where previous paintings were specifically done for family and friends.

Monica Du Toit’s favorite subject is sunset landscapes with human activities to give life to the painting. The sunset’s colors provide the paintings with a vibrant warm feeling which animates any room.

Monday, July 9, 2007

South African Artists


South African artist Guy Du Toit was born in 1958 in Rustenburg in the North West Province. He matriculated from Pretoria Boys High School in 1976 and graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1982. He was awarded his BA(FA) Degree with a distinction in sculpture. His work has been exhibited extensively, both locally and internationally. He has been consistently supported by private and public collectors, institutions, academics and fellow artists. He has been honoured with many awards and has in turn been invited to curate and adjudicate exhibitions. He has also lectured at a number of institutions, including Pelmama Academy in Soweto, Pretoria University, Johannesburg and Pretoria Technicons, and the Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music.

Guy Du Toit has given workshops throughout South Africa and has been involved in community projects, seminars and symposia. The past few years have increasingly been spent on private and public commissions and in working closely with artists and businesses, especially those involved in design, communications, architecture, advertising and entertainment. Guy currently teaches part-time at the University of Pretoria and works fulltime from his new home and studio in Swavelpoort.

Monday, July 2, 2007

South African Art

This month sees the opening of many excellent art exhibitions in South Africa. Visit our art exhibitions page to plan your exhbitions visits for the the month of July.

I have been hard at work adding more art terms to our art dictionary and you are welcome to use our free art dictionary for your personal research.

Monday, June 25, 2007

South African Artists


Sue Dickinson studied B A (Fine Arts) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg from 1981 - 1983. After running her own graphic design studio and pursuing a career in the advertising industry, she elected to paint on a full-time basis in 1994.

Since that time, she has gained a reputation for her paintings celebrating Africa in all its many manifestations. Sue Dickinson became an "Associate Member" of the Watercolour Society of South Africa (AWSSA) in 1995. Recently, Sue was awarded membership of the Society of Animal Artists (SAA), based in New York, USA.

She has exhibited her work extensively in South Africa, including with galleries such as Gallery on the Square (Sandton), Everard Read Gallery (Johannesburg and Cape Town), Bourbon Street Gallery (Franschoek), and African Window Gallery (Pretoria) and has taken part in many group exhibitions. She has also exhibited in Italy, France and the USA.

Sue Dickinson's work appears on several South African postage stamps, including airmail tags commemorating the discovery of Thulamela, the world-famous archaeological site in the Kruger National Park. In 1998, another set of Sue's paintings, depicting "Early South African History" appeared on postage stamps, postcards and in a prestige booklet.

Sue Dickinson lives and works in Nelspruit, near the Kruger National Park. She spends a great deal of time carefully observing and recording Africa's rich diversity of fauna and flora. Her optimism about all things African is celebrated in paintings such as "Days of Miracle and Wonder", a painting which was a finalist in the Winsor & Newton Millennium Painting Competition.

The composition of Sue Dickinson's paintings is critical; based upon the law of proportion known as the "Golden Mean" - an aesthetic principle used by the ancient Greeks. Sue's focus is the animal itself. Sue's preferred painting medium is watercolour.

Monday, June 18, 2007

South African Artist


Today I want to introduce you to South African artist Patrick Crumplin who was born in 1938 in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. He presently resides in the mother city of Cape Town which he moved to when he was 24 years old and were he predominantly paints in the mediums of water colour and oil pastel.

His subject matter varies from landscapes to entrances and door ways from his travels across the world. He has travelled extensively and this is demonstrated through his work and subject matter. He is presently concentrating on the mother city for his inspiration and drawing on its amazing energy. He has had major success with the subject matter of entrances and door ways.

More information on this South African artist

Monday, June 11, 2007

South African Artists


South African artist Wilma Cruise uses the body as the vehicle for the exploration of meaning. The body provides the metaphorical link between unconscious realities and the conscious known world. Her sculptures are rendered in expressive life-size figures in bronze and ceramic which in recent years have included animals such as horses and sheep. In collaboration with David Krut Arts Resource she has produced a body of work on paper that incorporates the figure, animals and text.

Recent works include The Dolly Suite. This suite of works includes installations and a series of mono-prints made in collaboration with David Krut Arts Resource and the commission Sheep May Safely Graze: the Return of the Bultfontein Sheep for the Oliewenhuis Museum in Bloemfontein. Another public work The Right to Life was installed at the Constitutional Court in 2004.

Cruise has had eleven one-person shows and curated several others. She has won awards including Architect's Project Award in 2000 for the Women's Monument at the Union Buildings, the Quarterly Vita Award in 1993 for Nicholas - October 1990 and the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award at the Biennale Internazionale Dell’arte Contemporanea, Florence.
Her work is represented in The South African National Gallery, the Corobrik Collection, the Pretoria Art Museum, The Durban Art Museum, the University of South Africa, MTN, the Billiton Collection, Standard Bank and the Constitutional Court.

Monday, June 4, 2007

South African Art


June is packed with excellent art exhibitions throughout South Africa and you can plan your visits to art exhibitions with our South African art exhibition guide for the month of June.
Today I want to introduce you to South African artists Collin Cole, a Master of fine Arts (MFA) Graduate from Rhodes University. Collin Cole has to date participated in over 140 local and international group exhibitions and competitions. To date Collin has had four solo exhibitions, the last been at the Stewart Gallery in September 2003. He was a university lecturer for 14 years and currently works as an Artist and Art Consultant. As a lecturer for various Departments of Fine Art, his forte is printmaking, which formed the of his work at Rhodes University School of Fine Art, the University of Bophuthatswana, and the University of North West.

To date, his public collections include the University of Silcsia (Poland), Rhodes University, and the University of North West. Between 1984 and 2004, Collin has participated in a range of group exhibitions that have seen his work shown in diverse areas. Locations such as The Kahn Gallery (Florida USA) Millennium Africa (NY) Designer Gallery of the Americas Inc, African Festival of the Arts (Panefest 97 Ghana, West Africa, South Naples, Stockholm Sweden, and London.

Collin Cole was born in Johannesburg on 25 May 1960

Monday, May 28, 2007

South African Artists


South African artist Nicky Chovuchovu was born in Harare and is now resident in South Africa.
His Dad – Norman – is an accomplished artist and has been his lifelong source of inspiration. He grew up fascinated by him, watching him at work in his studio.

After a four year stint as a Commercial Artist and trying his hand in the Public Relations sector – he made the decision to leave the corporate world and become an artist full time.
Fascinated by Expressionist paintings – he began reading everything he could find on the Fauvist Movement. Although he prefers to talk about the lighter side of life – he realized that being ghetto born and raised - that this is what he must paint.


He sees himself as a poet who works with the brush on canvas - a Graphic Poet. He refers to his work as silent music.

Nicky Exhibited at Art in The Park 2006

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

South African Artists



South African artist Lesley Charnock was born in 1952 and grew up in Cape Town, South Africa.

In 1972 Lesley Charnock studied Fine Art at the Cape Technicon under the tutelage of Herbert Coetzee. For many years she studied oil painting with the late Joe Osser at the Green Point Art Centre in Cape Town. In 1988 Lesley Charnock went to the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town and studied life drawing and oil painting with Ryno Swart.

Lesley Charnock is well known as an enthusiastic and inspirational art teacher. For many years she has taught drawing and painting. Many of her students have gone on to enjoy commercial success with their own work.

Lesley Charnock is regularly invited by various art societies as a guest artist to demonstrate painting. She has illustrated three popular children’s books.
For eight months of the year, Lesley Charnock runs one day workshops in portraiture, still life and landscape painting. She also takes groups of students on five day drawing & painting holidays to picturesque Cape country villages. Lesley Charnock has had solo exhibitions and taken part in many group exhibitions. Her work is sold through several top galleries in and around Cape Town and other centres in the Cape.
For more info about South African artist Lesley Charnock click here

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

South African Artists - John Campbell


Today I want to introduce you to the work of South African artists John Campbell.


John Campbell was born on 1 December 1946. His preferred media are Oil and Acrylic. As a 12 year old he won a first prize for his art from the South African Art Society.

He studied Fine Arts at Pretoria Technikon and also got his Pharmacy diploma from the same institution. He studied further under guidance of famous artists such as Walter Westbrook & Ben Bothma and teached art at the Kimberley Art Society.

Monday, May 7, 2007

South African Art and Artists

I have in the last month added many South African artists and international artists to the Arcy Art Artist Directory and I invite everbody to browse through the excellent work on display at the directory. I have also updated the upcoming exhibitions page for may, visit the South African art exhibitions page to plan your art viewing for May.


Todays featured South African artist is Retha Buitendach.

Retha Buitendach was born in Vereeniging in 1968 and matriculated in 1986. From 1987 to 1989 she studied B (Arch) and from 1990 to 1993 she studied and completed her BA (FA) degree at the University of Pretoria.

Retha Buitendach's artworks deals with nature in both its macrocosmic and microcosmic detail. The hidden interconnectedness of all living things is an important underlying theme, as is the chance connections between seemingly unrelated things or even words. Unusual and microscopic life-forms as well as those seen everyday are sometimes portrayed in unusual contexts, thereby inducing the onlooker to discover them anew. The human figure is seldom directly visible in her artworks, although man's presence is often implied. Man is shown to be unique in his ability to experience nature as a supremely beautiful artwork and to be unique in his ability to destroy it all. Retha Buitendach's work is both naturalistic and surrealistic, combining the recognisable with what the imagination can add to it.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

South African Artists


This month we continue our series of featured South African artists listed on the South African artists directory of Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings.

Peter Binsbergen's art works speak vigorously for themselves. It is exactly through their strong visual impact that they convey their message or rather messages. What messages, could be asked. They are messages of both the past and the present, messages of struggle, messages of lost dreams and even messages of human brutality. But pay special attention to his generous use of symbols form the world of fauna and flora. What does that mean? It means life and freedom, since wild animals in their natural state roam freely. And trees, shrubs and flowers grow and bloom abundantly in freedom.

Movement and growth in freedom, that is a message which Binsbergen's fauna and flora convey to us. At the same time, however, he brings another threatening message, namely a message of destruction. Through human interference with wild life and plants, whether through the destruction of the gun, or careless methods of financial gain, we ran the risk of destroying our ecology. At a first glance, the symbols you see, appear disparate and confused. But seen against the vast spaces in which the artist situates them, we understand that they become mirror images of our lives. The ultimate messge is very clear: we live in our own personal space, we live in the space of our land and it is up to us to gather our treasures in form of symbols.
Peter Binsbergen in his art, combines intellectual and emotional qualities. This is the essence of a good work of art. One can look at a beautiful painting and may feel aestethically uplifted. However, after a while, the initial feeling of beauty may simply turn into boredom, because it lacks the stimulus of intellectual.

Binsbergen's works will never fail to excite and stimulate because they combine a strong visual impact with intellectual depths. To put it very shortly: to live with one of his works will constantly stimulate your thoughts and fantasies and provide you with much aesthetic pleasure.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

South African Artists


South African artists Bongi Bengu was born in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, grew up in exile, in Geneva, Switzerland and studied in High School in Switzerland and later Waterford Kamhlaba in Swaziland.

As a student in Swaziland, Bongi Bengu received a distinction for a research project, which included interviewing established and major artists who are now her colleagues at The Bag Factory Studios in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Bongi Bengu enrolled and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree Mount Vernon College, in Washington DC, and an Masters Degree in Fine Arts from The University of Cape Town. She has since participated in numerous international residencies and workshops.

Friday, April 20, 2007

South African Artists


Today we are featuring South African artist Regi Bar David. She is one of South Africa’s few painters who has stuck with the genre of abstraction for many years and the inspiration and passion that she manifests in her work demonstrates her sincerity in her conviction, which offers the work integrity and justifies the critical and commercial successes it has garnered through the years.

Regi is inspired by the challenge of creating something out of nothing, the unpredictability of the medium and the thrill of pushing and pulling her medium to make this happen.
“My work offers me the freedom to be myself without social conditioning,” she says. “In it, I search for something bigger and more meaningful than myself.” In grappling with colour, line, tone, textures and the complex sensations they evoke for her, Regi is always surprised as images begin to appear out of the pouring, scratching, drawing, a methodology she uses based on gut instinct and passion. The layering of thought and possibility in Regi’s work blend a deep realization of spiritual evocations and physical existence, much of which is not on an articulate level, but operates with intuitive response.

She refers to the experience of one-ness with her colour as symphonic, and understands the thrill of blending possibilities and thus creating new, kaleidoscopic ones, as overwhelmingly exciting and addictive. “It’s the ultimate experience”, she says, referring to the ineffable which can be attained only occasionally and fleetingly in music or scent, in food or memories. The realization that a work is complete is beyond verbal explanation, but the sense of closure and beauty calms an inner sensibility within her. More info on this South African artist.


Wednesday, April 11, 2007

South African Artists at Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings



Today we are featuring South African artist Alan Ainslie from our directory of South African artists. Alan Ainslie's career as a wildlife artist commenced in 1984 when he was commissioned to produce wildlife paintings for a calendar. Alan Ainslie has had several solo exhibitions and has participated in numerous international wildlife exhibitions where his paintings were exhibited with the works of world-renowned artists such as Raymond Harris-Ching (New Zealand), Keith Joubert (South Africa), Kim Donaldson (South Africa), and Paul Bosman (USA). His first solo exhibition in 1987 was opened by well-known South African conservationist Clive Walker.
Committed to the conservation of wildlife in South Africa and elsewhere in the world, Alan Ainslie has donated part of the proceeds from his work to various wildlife organisations such as the Rhino & Elephant Foundation, Endangered Wildlife Trust, World Wide Fund for Nature and the Wildlife Group of the South African Veterinary Association.


In addition to his wildlife art, Alan Ainslie is also a successful graphic designer and illustrator. He has illustrated numerous stamp series, miniature sheets and first-day covers for India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. His stamp designs not only cover wildlife, but also portraits of international figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nobel laureates including Nelson Mandela, Nadine Gordimer, Albert Luthuli and Desmond Tutu. In addition subjects that the artist has illustrated for stamps emcompass architecture, culture, transport and tourism. In 1996 Ainslie was commissioned by the South African government to create the inside front cover and watermark design for the country's new passport.



Wednesday, April 4, 2007

South African Artists at Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings

Todays featured South African artist listed on the South African artist directory of Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings is Joan Abrahams. She works in a variety of media including oil painting, ink, acrylic, gouache and watercolours. Joan Abrahams has paintings in private collections in countries around the world including UK, Canada, Israel, Australia and South Africa and has had several art exhibitions, both locally and in the UK.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

South African Art / Oil Paintings

Last week I received an email which was suspicious and most likely an attempt at fraud. It was the second email of this kind I received in the last couple of months and it prompted me to write an article about some ways in which artists are targeted over the internet and what you can do to protect yourself against them. I advise all artists who are selling their work online to read this article and also to do some research on their own to make sure they are aware of the methods used by criminals to defraud artists. Click here to read more about this.

I have been hard at work adding artists to our directory of South African artists and we have close to fifty artists listed and are in the process of adding many more. If you are a South African artists and would like to be part of this directory please complete our application form.

I have not started work on a new painting but will be working on my figure drawing for the next couple of weeks. I am looking to gain a better understanding of the human figure and will be studying the human skeletal and muscular structure in order to enhance my figure drawing skills.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings

I finally completed the oil painting that I have been working on for a while. Originally I started out with the idea of making this painting as a part of the 'Dust to Dust' series of paintings. The oil painting developed in a slightly different direction and I decided that the final result did not fit in with the other two 'Dust to Dust' series of paintings. For me the oil painting developed around the them of the cycle of life through birth and death and I decided to name the painting 'The Circle of Birth'.
The main element of the oil painting is the female figure enveloped and formed by strokes of oil paint which was inspired by an image of supernova debris filaments as captured by the Hubble Telescope. The figure can be read as formed by the brush strokes or can be read as disappearing into the brush strokes enforcing the theme of birth and death. The rest of the composition is filled with symbolism with images of a leafless tree, an empty seedpod and an empty cocoon further emphasising the overall theme of regeneration and degeneration.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings and South African Art

The past week I added some more historical South African artists to the Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings art history section. Some of the new historical South African artists included are Iris Ampenberger, Stefan Ampoenberger, John Amshewitz, Nils Andersen, DC Boonzaier, Sydney Carter, Willem Coetzer, Leng Dixon, Pranas Domsaitis, John Dronsfield and Enslin Du Plessis.

This week I will continue working on adding new historical South African artists and I will also be adding contemporary South African artists to the artist directory of Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings. I did not get time to work much on my latest oil painting last week and I am hoping to be able to spend more time on completing the oil painting this week.

The South African art exhibitions section has been updated and there is plenty of good exhibitions opening this month. Because of my interest in painting I am especially excited about the Robert Hodgins exhibition opening the 17 March at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings

I happy to announce that the art history section containing quotes from prominent historical artists is now complete. In the past week I have added quotes from these following artists Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Auguste Rodin, James A McNeill Whistler, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin,Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso,Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, Marc Chagall, Giorgio De Chirico, Paul Klee, Franz Marc, Max Beckmann, Wassily Kandinsky, Jacop Epstein.

This week I will be adding more South African artists to the historical South African artists section and I will be spending more time on my latest oil painting and trying to finish the painting this week.

Monday, February 19, 2007

This week I have been working on a new section featuring quotes on art from famous artists through out art history. I am about one third of the way through with the section and currently have quotes from the following historical artists: Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Nicolas Poussin, Jacques-Louis David, Jean - Auguste - Dominique Ingres, Eugene Delacroix, William Blake, John Constable, Gustave Courbet, Alfred Sisley . I will be completing this section over the next week or two.

I also want to welcome the following artists to the South African Artists Directory added over the last week: Magrit Prigge, Susan Nind-Barrett, Isabel Le Roux , Nicky Chovuchovu and Hosea Matlou. Remember that all artists, both South African and International, are welcome to apply for inclusion into the Arcy Art Artist Directory.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings

This week I will be taking a break from updating the Art Dictionary but I will be updating it periodically through out the year. I have been some research and I have a collection of quotes from prominent artists throughout the history of art. During the next few weeks I will be adding these collection of artists quotes to the art history section. I personally found these quotes interesting and at times inspiring. It was interesting to see how opinions on art changed over the years and an in some cases stayed the same. At times prominent artists in the same era would have contrasting opinions about art which reinforces the subjectivity of art.

I a have done some work on my latest oil painting this past week but I would have liked to have done more. I am at a stage in the painting where I often slow down and run low on inspiration and I need to make more of an effort to complete the painting. Aspiring artists often think that they can only paint when the inspiration strikes them but if I had to always wait for inspiration I would hardly ever complete a painting. Sometimes it takes effort and willpower to sit in front of the canvas but it usually goes much better after a few minutes of work.

Monday, February 5, 2007

Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings

The past week I have been working on the Art Dictionary containing explanations of terminology used in art. The art dictionary is sorted alphabetically and I am currently busy with the letter 'F" section. At this moment the art dictionary is by no means comprehensive but I will be working on it through out the year and my goal is to make it the most comprehensive art dictionary on the net.

Work on my latest oil painting has been going well. I am currently busy with the second layer of oil paint and I have added some new elements in the painting from the original sketch I did. I decided to bring symbolism into the painting and I feel it really brings something new to the painting. The three symbols I added were a tree without foliage, an empty seed pod and an empty cocoon. These are loaded symbols in themselves and combined with my existing concept I believe they bring new levels of meaning to the painting. In the past I have been reluctant to stray too much from my original idea for a painting and I feel that being able to add new elements so far into a painting is a positive move for me.

Monday, January 29, 2007

This week I made good progress with updating the South African Historical Artists directory. The following artists have been added to the directory: Irma Stern, Alice Tennant, Erenest Ullman, Maurice Van Essche, Jean Welz and Florence Zerffi. I will be taking a break for a couple of weeks from updating the directory but will definitely return at a later stage to work on it again.

The new project I started on is the Art Dictionary; it will contain a list of widely used art terminology with a definition of each term. I am currently busy with art terms beginning with A and will be adding terms daily for the next couple of weeks, this will be an ongoing project and I am aiming to develop it into the most comprehensive art dictionary on the web. I am hoping that this dictionary will be usefull for art students and artists in their research.

I have just updated the South African Art Exhibitions section and there is plenty of worthwhile exhibitions throughout the country for you to visit this week.

My third oil painting in the "Dust To Dust" series of paintings is coming on nicely. I am enjoying working on it and I am excited at how it will come out as it is quite a bit different from the first two paintings I did. I finished the first layer of the painting and started today on the second layer. When working on an oil painting I usually work in layers with the first layer of paint heavily diluted with mineral turpentine. As I add more layers I use less turpentine and more raw linseed oil until I only mix raw linseed oil with the oil paint on the fourth or fifth layer. This is a traditional oil painting method called "fat over lean".

I am still looking for fine artists both internationally and from South Africa to join our artists directory, it is completely free to get listed and we will not take any commission on the sale of your work. Please apply here for inclusion in the artist directory.