Artist Statement

I am a landscape painter. Landscapes thrill me!

I paint in oil paint and cold wax. This medium has a matt finish and enables me to lay the brushstrokes on pretty thick.

My preference is to paint en plein air, in the environment that I am painting. This gives me the full experience of what I am painting, e.g. the heat of the day, the wind in my face, the bugs in my hair (you get the picture 😜)

After painting the Overberg area for 10 years, I have recently (October 2024) moved to the Karoo. Here, I’m studying how the light interacts with the environment. It highlights the shapes in different ways at different times of day. On different days and at different times the landscape changes and moves. The same scene painted yesterday looks entirely different today. I heard somewhere that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results. Interestingly enough this happens to me quite a lot as an artist. The results are always different.

Painting en plein air (outside) creates a balance between structure and looseness in my artworks. I start by carefully mapping out the values. Then, I allow myself total freedom with color and brush strokes. I do this within the parameters I’ve set out in the initial planning stage. The limited time and the ever-changing light of the outdoor painting experience force me to work quickly. This injects energy and vitality into my work.

My studio work tends to be more careful and considered than my plein air studies. I endeavour to maintain the same energetic brush work in these.

The steps of my painting process help me immerse myself in the landscape. I familiarise myself with the shapes and shadows of my surroundings. I begin with a value study of my chosen composition in pencil. Then, I create a paint sketch on canvas or board. I focus on the shapes and values before blocking in the general colours of the value masses. Once the basic composition is in place, I use a large brush and make big strokes. These actions capture an impression of the scene. I add more detail and apply thicker paint as I refine the painting.

My paintings connect me to my environment. They allow me to repeatedly experience the awe of creativity and nature all at once.