Although I attended the Johannesburg Art Foundation under the directorship of Bill Ainsley in the early 80s for four years, I have in fact not painted quite as wholeheartedly and enthusiastically as I have in the past three years since I turned 70. I never planned it so, it just happened and happy I am that it did.

I was a student at the Johannesburg Art Foundation in Saxonwold for four years in the early 1980s. The renowned abstract painter Bill Ainsley was the director and chief mentor at the Foundation. Whilst at the Foundation we learned a lot about history of art and general fine art etc., however the main leaning of the school was towards abstract painting which was greatly encouraged.

After leaving the Art Foundation I started a fringe gallery in Norwood, Johannesburg in the late 80s where I mostly exhibited work of unknown artists. I knew it was a risk but that was what I wanted and it worked out pretty well and the gallery became well known as a fringe type of gallery. It was called The Art House.

Around two years later I was offered an opportunity to visit India and live there for a year with all accommodation and food covered. I was not going to miss such a wonderful opportunity to really study this land of mystery and magic. As it turned out I found India to be as mysterious and ancient as any of my wildest dreams or nightmares could have portrayed and could never have imagined that I would spend the next 18 years of my life travelling, exploring and studying in a land which caused your emotions to soar to the heights of bliss and whoosh down to the depths of despair all in the matter of one minute! It was a roller coaster ride. I studied the Upanishads in the 18 years I was there and as much Vedic culture as I could possibly imbibe. India and its colours touched my heart like no other place on earth has and its colours remain locked in my heart only to be taken out whenever I paint.

I returned to South Africa at the age of 60 to settle down with my children and grandchildren. My time was spent largely helping drive the children around to their many and varied extra curriculum engagements.

On my 70th birthday I met the fabulous artist and porcelain sculptor Giovanna Biallo who invited me to come and work with her in her studio for a couple of months. I was overjoyed at such a great opportunity and we happily spent at least six months straight working together mostly every day of the week. What I learned just from being around Giovanna is too subtle to talk about but her mastery of colour mesmerized me and it is there in colour that some understanding , took root.

 

After my time with Giovanna I moved to a cottage in the PiketBoBerg mountains where I stayed for two years. During that time I completed many paintings some of which I am enclosing with all this information. I sold many paintings privately but would love you to take a look at my work and hopefully find a way to exhibit them in Gallery One 11 in whichever way you see as the best.

 

Newlands

May 12 2021