My history, dreams and vision...
I was born in the picturesque town of Nelspruit, in an area formerly known as the Eastern Transvaal, today the buzzing capital of Mpumalanga.
My childhood was blessed by growing up on a small farm outside White River. With the river as boundary, birds, wild flowers and veldt surrounding me, there was a lot that inspired my passion for art.
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember and according to my family, some before that. I remember the greatest beauty used to be a white piece of paper and how it fascinated me - all the potential of what it could become. The challenge of creating something on paper more beautiful that the paper itself is what inspired me to better my work from and early age, today still paying great attention to detail.
I was lucky to have stayed on this farm for all the years of my schooling in White River, after which I furthered by education at the University of Pretoria in Engineering.
I have a great passion for wildlife, in viewing, photography and fine art. This has been deeply rooted since childhood and visits to the Kruger with my family on regular basis. I love realism and hope to portray the life, emotions and character of the animals through my work.
My preferred drawing medium is ball point pen, not a medium widely used by artists. All the different colours available makes it possible to complete a work entirely by using pens. This is the highest time-consuming task of all the mediums I use, but renders me such reward upon completion.
Drawing with ball point pen is however not the only medium I use, but also pencil, charcoal, pastel and painting with oil. For variation I do stained glass work and enjoy the variety of mediums, forms and colours of art available.
Today I am one of those privileged artists to live in the Bushveld, right next to the Kruger National Park in the town of Phalaborwa (meaning in Sotho: better than the South). Even though art is currently not what I do on a full-time basis, it is where I find purpose... a world of complete fulfilment and the most perfectly chosen talent that could ever have been bestowed upon me.
Art is my passion and even though I am self-taught, I hope to enrich someone's life with my work, even if only for a brief moment captured in time...
Testimonials
Portrait of a Girl
What a fantastic portrait. I have tried to draw uplclose like this and I find the detail so difficult to master and you have done just that! The depth and warmth of this little girls eyes could surely melt the hearts of anyone. Gorgeous subject, composition and real attention to detail making for a beautifully done piece! You've got my vote!
This is wonderful. Children are soooo difficult to draw and are rarely done well. They often look like small adults - not babies or children. You have captured it perfectly, I really like how you handled the eys - the eyes of a child looking at someone who loves them - the trust is there. Your talent is clear. I have visited your area of the world and share your love of it.