Passing storm (Tankwa Karoo)

Art, to me, is the story of connection—a deep, soulful bond with all the beautiful unknown, unseen, and loving things that surround us. The hope is that, as a landscape artist, the sheer magnitude of the moment experienced in nature is conveyed with enough emotion and soul to arrest the viewer and have them consider this beauty that we live in.

This painting is created using oil paint on a stretched canvas. I employ a technique known as glazing to apply layers of colour onto the canvas. In this scene, the clouds are meticulously crafted with approximately 10 thin layers of oil paint. Inspired by the methods of classic Dutch painters, I find that this technique imbues the colours with a luminous quality. However, it is a patient process, as each layer must fully dry before the next can be applied. Often, complementary colours are layered to achieve the desired hue directly on the canvas. I revel in the gradual buildup of colour, evoking the radiant beauty of nature.

I mix all of my own colours. I start with just the primary colours—yellow, blue, red, along with white and black.
Colour has always fascinated me—how each hue seemingly changes when placed next to others, how different colours can evoke different emotions, and ultimately, how a symphony of colours can convey a story and evoke feelings, much like music does.