I live in the beautiful Assagay valley, just outside Durban, KZN.
Living in the midst of nature has inspired me to create larger than life floral paintings. I love to observe nature. My latest art works are mainly studies of botanicals. The magnification of these intrigues me and forces me to see details that are so often missed. There is a whole undiscovered world in the microcosm of nature that absolutely fascinates me. The more I look at nature, the more I see. Nature reveals herself to me through every brush stroke.
I use my living space as my bigger canvas. Art is a way of life for me.
One of my big loves is chapels. I create different chapels as an expression of the Divine Creator, which is of course my biggest inspiration. These are installations and buildings such as the Chapel of Love, the Chapel of Abundance and the Chapel of Life. The Chapel of Light is currently in the planning stages. This chapel will be constructed from lead glass for the visually challenged as well as people with sight.
I have explored many genres of art, such as ceramics, music, writing, fine arts, floral design, stained glass and interior design.
I was born on 19 September 1963 in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. After I completed matric in 1981, I studied art at Bloemfontein Technicon, and later Vaal Technicon and finally Durban Technicon.
I ran my own business for many years and I was privileged to grow a wonderful career in a very creative field. During these years, I made my art commercially viable and sustainable, first through manufacturing functional ceramics and later through the manufacturing and wholesale marketing of decorative products.
Art is everywhere for me, it is all around. Florals have always been a subject that I used in my creations. Although I love all flowers, I think I have a favorite. This would undoubtedly be “The Rose”. I believe this is the “theme song” for my life.
During 2010, my husband and I lived in Bali for a year. This is where I re-ignited my passion to express myself through painting. I joined a group of artists every Wednesday and Saturday at the studio of Pranoto in Ubud, Bali and we did life drawing together. 2010 was a turning point in my attitude towards art.
On my return to South Africa, I started my own art group, lovingly referred to as the “Mac Maestro Art Academy”.
I have hosted a number of group exhibitions and have very recently opened my own art gallery at Macnut Farm.
I have explored different subjects in my art. It is important for me to capture a mood or emotion in the artwork. My style is realism. This requires excellent quality references to work from before applying my own interpretation.
Due to the amount of time spent on a painting as well as the scale, I seem to hit a wall at times. This is where I push through as the finished work warrants perseverance. Keeping joy whilst I work is an excellent motivation.
I fall in love with the artwork and then I release it.
Paint
The application of the medium starts off with the bolder aspects of the floral design, mainly the focal point or the main flowers. I then embroid and create around that and within that. The more I create an artwork, the more I get invested in it. The detail can become addictive and satisfying to create as it unfolds. I am drawn into the painting by creating minute detail within bold areas of colour. I love scumbling and glazing techniques to achieve that. Smaller detail is achieved by using a very fine brush. Various artist’s brushes are used to create different effects. I am a firm believer that the “tools” that an artist use, should be used to achieve the result to the advantage of the instrument as well as to the artist.
I don’t believe in rules when it comes to creating art. I break the rules, as I always question “Who wrote these in the first place?”. I am free to express myself through my art, therefore I am also free to re-write the rule book.
Art is an expression of self, not someone else’s idea of what it should and shouldn’t be. I have fun when I create. I bring in imaginary elements into the realistic depiction of the subject.
Due to the large scale of my work, I often spend up to six months on a large painting. It is therefore important to me that I choose my subject carefully. It is a love affair after all!
Light and colour
This is where I get to play! I love expressing depth and form in my paintings. This can be particularly challenging when working on a large scale. I stay true to natural colour and light and create form through soft edges and an enhanced contrast between dark and light areas. Sharper edges are used at focal points.