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I
prefer working in oil. The feel and texture of this medium combined
with its timeless qualities is especially rewarding for me. |
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I
am a self taught artist that owes much to great South African artists
such as Lou Audie, Bertie Lewington, Richard Rennie and other kindred
spirits who took the time to share their cumulative wisdom and insight
into this wonderful world of representational art. |
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The Southern African landscape is a constant source of inspiration with
its ever changing seasons and topographies. As a native of the Northern
Cape and Karoo I am drawn to the stillness and mood that these vast
expanses instil in the minds of men should they care to tarry a while
and look within. I attempt through the use of light and shadow and the
harmonies encountered in nature, to capture this very important element
of painting when choosing subject matter. |
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Working from life ("alla prima or au premier coup - the art of direct
painting") is for me the ultimate in representational art because it is
about real experiences that demand special skills. I see this as an
opportunity to listen and to observe that which nature tells us and
capture this as the focal element in my rendition of my subject. It is
extremely important for me to have a reason for painting a subject, and
I find that invariably I can only accomplish this by experiencing first
hand that which I want to capture on canvas. |
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I
find more and more that the dictates of palette knife and the mood of
the moment will determine the outcome of and resultant look and feel of
a painting. If this is a shift towards Impressionism - so be it. I
attempt to stay with the underlying reason that inspired me to paint
something or someone rather than the detail that may surround it at the
time. Life itself can often be like this - so easy to become bogged
down by the clutter of our surrounds rather than remaining focused on
important and meaningful things or events. |
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| Thank
you to those galleries and individuals who have supported me over the
years. Your recognition and encouragement is immensely important to me
and serves to affirm that I have succeeded as an artist to add value
(in some way), to the lives of others. |
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"We
act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life
when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be
enthusiastic about."
~ Charles Kingsley |
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