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.