|
Interview with the artist...
What type of artist are you?
I have a strong architectural background and fine art too, but I think I’m more figurative now, defiantly not abstract, not yet anyway. I also don’t focus on being any particular type of artist, but since I can render almost anything with technical efficiency, I let my ideas grow and develop until they find their way onto my canvas.
As I make more paintings, I become more unique to being South African, a flavor: rich in textures, pleasing to the eye and luring to touch. And on the same note: Europe is also rich with the same unique ambiance of a multitude of cultures, yet there still remains a deep sense of community.
A person who buys my paintings would be a person who appreciates comfort and functionality. I like to create a space which is fun as well a functional, sometimes classical, yet eclectic and funky with African textures which has much emphasis on color and space.
I believe people are moving towards a more metropolitan lifestyle. Therefor their homes are more important to them. As styles become more complexed, individualism becomes more important to the business, restaurant or home maker.
I would like to believe that my paintings provide access to all the traditions of the fundaments of art making. This sounds and is complicated, so my paintings has to look simple, fun and easy with clean lines and spacious, almost architectural.
This way I am sure that I am giving my clients a much better and stronger product, at the end.
When I start out, ever canvas is built from scratch and every space is as important as the one next to it. It has been said that this is the stylish charm I inherited from my native land.
I also don’t have a preference for any particular theme or technique either, it all boils down to what is best required to execute the idea. What is more important or should I say fun, is the actual process of taking even the simplest idea, trying something new by challenging a medium to create something that gives me that great sensation of a job well done. I treat each idea as an individual - there lies my success.
I’m confident about my work, I like to be playful and take a few risks, in color and new approaches.
The primary aspect in my designs is the concept, complimentary to that movement and then color. My aim is to allow the viewer the freedom of interpretation.
The intermixing of unconventional art materials to create an effect is my favorite pass time, mostly because it’s so unpredictable and my curiosity gets the better of me. Great art is when there is only the slightest balance between real and unreal. Creating warmth, inviting, a little casual - not the same levels of formality as my earlier works. A warm embracing feeling is more important to me now.
What inspires me are trends, style and even eating at restaurants. Art should be fun, so I design simplistic back grounds to showplace what its all about.
I create a negative - positive effect. Every aspect controlled by the artists imagery - making art is fun, from sublime to the unexpected. To achieve excitement, the newest, that which is constantly evolving comes from within.
People believe artists live in a world of make believe. My passion is like fashion, it changes three to four times per year and not knowing when these changes can take place (since they are subject to experience and gained from knowledge through experimentation), bringing new ideas to the canvas takes lots of effort. Artists have to stay well ahead of things in our ever progressive world and at the same time up date their ability to translate on to a canvas.
My favorite painting is when I achieve this with the added contrasting textures, color balance and a splash of spice (life).
Does everything you make, succeed?
Oh no, sometimes I just cant get the balance right, but I don’t mind either. My background with it’s rich cultural mix, never ceases to inspire my creativity for solutions.
As the sun sets every day, my mind becomes active, recalling the days events, smells, things I touched and colors I have met.
Having worked all over Europe, my senses are ever influenced and attracted to my canvas.
What do you do with your failed canvas?
I burn it. Sometimes I feel the need to think it through for another solution, but inevitably ...it burns.
I brush the experience under the carpet as school fees, it’s a great learning experience. I used to try to fix disasters, but now I just start again. Is`nt it true that one is wiser the second time round?
How long have you been painting?
Mmm, ever since I discovered that a plate of food makes for great art, smeared up against the wall or across the table.
Your joking?
Chuckle, No not at all - from a very early age I have been fascinated by my environment, how the light changes the shape, color or surface texture of all objects. I also pride myself in how observant I am of my environment and how lines repeat themselves, objects influence one another and how people psychologically respond to the things that they experience.
At what age did you become an artist?
I have no idea, what I do recall is that I was already selling art at preschool, at about the age of 8 years.
South African artist Leone Tonkinson was only 6 years old when she was captivated by art making materials.
What type of art did you make back then?
Drawings mostly, in every possible medium, drawings of designer writing paper with matching envelopes. In those days writing letters to friends and loved ones was common day. I also made large greetings cards, minute sculptures and even toyed with origami.
Who were you selling to?
Friends, my sisters, they would regularly ask for theme writing sets. These drawings ranged from cartoons to elaborate gold leafing and even mini portraits. I designed stencils, embossed and even made my own mini lithographic printing press to speed up productivity.
Presentation was very important to me too. I had my own logo and packaging.
I kept stock sheets and records of the most popular items
At school I became a quick solution for birthdays. Making oversized cards and even paper flower arrangements. I was popular, mostly because I was quick and efficient at folding paper - my little green origami frogs was quite popular, which I often traded for marbles, sandwiches or lunch money.
Every Friday I would have a few friends over for flap jacks or popcorn to promote or exhibit new designs or to discuss commissions.
I recall that my father bought me a fifty kg of plaster of Paris. I must have made a fortune from my sculptures and body casts.
How much did you earn?
I really don’t know, money only meant that I could keep myself in good stock of art materials.
In high school I made chess sets and painted T-shirts which was ever so popular with the boys, so by the time I graduated from the Pretoria school of art music and ballet, I owned the best and latest in art materials and mediums.
After school I went into architecture and furthered my studies ( which I paid for with my art) - in sign writing, CAD and portraiture.
My bosses were fantastic too, they all went out on a limb to help me maximize my career. I was allowed many privileges and often assisted architects in perspective presentation of buildings. I was moved around the Department, where ever they needed me. Before long I became a respected designer, and furthered my studies in magazine layout, photography and even advertising.
By the age of 23, I owned a car, had paid off my housing loan for a high rise 2 bedroom apartment with the most increasable view of Cape Town, but that all changed when my father died.
I tried to escape realty by traveling throughout South Africa and escaped to Europe - visited fifteen countries, but after 5 months of that I found myself right back where I started.
I am sure it would have been a great opportunity to apply the experiences to my art, but instead - I stopped painting altogether.
When did you return to your art , become a full-time artist?
I don’t believe I knew it at the time, but it happened while I was on maternity leave, ...about eight years later.
Care to tell us about it?
Why not, it all started up again in the early hours of one morning, after a restless night, I found myself in my studio thumbing through my portfolio of holiday drawings, acrylics and water colors- wondering if one could sustain oneself through art making. The next thing I remember was that it was three hours later and I was staring at a 100 x 150 cm canvas I had just finished, alla prima.
I could`nt believe my eyes, it was the most perfect experience I had ever encountered. It was flawless, the light, colors... it was just sooo perfect.
Then and there I realized that I had become someone new....
I was so thrilled with it, I took it to the office the next day, showed my boss and resigned from a thirteen year career in architecture.
I enrolled at UNISA for a BA Fine Arts Degree and took a part time job lecturing at CAUSE academy - all this happened before giving birth.
Wow, that’s quite a drastic change.
Yes it was, my ex-husband was devastated, even worse, he insisted that I get a real job. Since then, the more I hear this comment, the more I am driven to towards my art making in a professional capacity.
What did you do?
Well, I did`nt have much choice - I felt obliged loyalty, so I additionally worked at a pottery company called Pottersjoy and CAUSE academy, while he purchased a crèche for me to manage.
Finally it became too demanding so I took a job at one of the largest earthenware producers in South Africa namely, Argilla Pottery.
Within a year I became quality controller of the glaze department, and the assistant to the production manager, but that was short lived. I was absolutely devastated when my ex- husband relocated us to Port Elizabeth and it broke my heart to resign from Argilla, where I had met and admired this most dynamic business woman, Willa Krause.
Willa Krause had turned her hobby into a professional company and I had learned so much from her in the short time that I worked there.
What happened next?
What could I do? - I had to follow my husband. I applied for several architectural, art teaching and advertising position, but the salary scale in a coastal town is much much lower that the metropolitan areas, and PE did`nt come across as a promising in the building sector.
Finally, I settled for self employment. I opened my own business by reestablished my art studio - Autumn Shades, and enjoyed every minute. I supplied the local tuisnyverheid, got a my first big commission from Springbok Trading, which kept me busy for 6 months, and I offered art classes from home.
What was your husbands response?
Lets just say we could`nt agree, since he did`nt view art-making as a real job. We just grew in opposite directions and his disappointment in me just drove a wedge down the middle of our marriage. He was`nt even willing to give me a trial run period.
So you got divorced?
Yes.
Did your divorce have an effect on your work?
Absolutely, It was fantastic to be in my studio full-time and hands on, while the children were at school.
Art making is such a natural process, it heals my wounds and I found a sort of peace, sanity and balance.
I made tons of great friends and even went onto establish the Port Elizabeth School of Fine Art, the Artists Guild and Tonkinson Studios cc.
How did you end up in the Netherlands?
That’s a long story, but in short I met a Dutch lady who had immigrated from the Netherlands to South Africa with her husband and two daughters. They still own a guest house and farm called Stellenhof, near the Addo Elephant Park.
I bumped into Gae for the first time at an art exhibit in the local shopping mall, Walmer Park. Although we did`nt say much to each other we connected instantly.
The second time I met her was when she enrolled at the Port Elizabeth School of Fine Art and later we more frequently crossed paths at the Algoa Bay Yacht Club where I gave paint-out workshops to my art students and where Gae owned a Charter to Seal Island.
It was only when I left the Port Elizabeth School of Fine Art to start Tonkinson Studios cc. that Gae and I truly became friends. One day Gae invited me to join her for a family dinner, this is where I was introduced to her brother, Ruud who was on holiday from the Netherlands.
It was at this dinner that I shared my plans to study my sabbatical in France. I explained that I required an accreditation from the University of Port Elizabeth for my art courses/silybus at Tonkinson Studios, but the university insisted that I had to complete a one year sabbatical, before they would consider my application.
By 2005 Ruud and I were still corresponding. He offered me a sponsorship to study in the Netherlands, he also secured me the position of establishing the Radio Kootwijk Kunst Centrum on the request of Dienst Landelijke Gebied.
How long have you been here?
5 years now. I arrived here in May of 2006.
Have you been back to South Africa?
Absolutely, my family still lives there and South Africa is still the most exciting place in the whole world. It is rewarding to be in a position to purchase South African art.
Do you own a lot of art?
Not as much as I would like to. I have a nice collection, small, but personally satisfying.
Do you have a favorite South African artist?
Yes, Duncan steward, and of course all my old art students.
What is he like?
I don’t know, I have not met him yet, but I’m sure we will cross paths one day.
Is he very famous in South Africa?
He should be, but that is not why I bought it.
What about Dutch artists?
I have not decided what to buy yet, Europe is so full of art - I still have a long way to go. I have only been here for 5 years.
Do you have a favorite Dutch artist?
Other than the old masters, yes, quite a few contemporary artists. The choices are quite difficult here because you have a wider variety of categories to choose from, ...
The local artists who have caught my eye are Cees Bloem, he’s a fine artist. Elske Brehler, she fantastic - spontaneous. There’s also John Ligtenberg - he’s my idea of a great abstract artist, Mahoff - amazing, .....it’s difficult to explain his work, but it’s exciting and very unique. there’s Dominique Ampe too - excellent and great knowledge of his mediums...
... actually your putting me on the spot here. I host the europARTexpo triennial and I should rather....
Sorry, we’ll move on. Is it true that you are the Founding Director of the Europe Art Expo?
Yes?
How did you get involved in that?
While working the Port Elizabeth School of Fine Art. The Baron of Fulwood walked into the Gallery, one day and asked to be put in contact with some of the local artists.
He purchased one of my paintings, before he returned to Miami.
About a year later he walked into my coffee shop/art gallery in South Africa and bought my entire collection off the walls.
Wow, how many?!
14 - Oh yes, that’s every artist dream.
When I arrived in Europe I got in touch with the Baron, bounced the idea of the Europe art expo off him in Amsterdam in 2007 and he loved it. He even assisted the 5 Brazilian artists to attend the 2009 Europe art expo.
In 2009 I invited the Baron to the opening of the Europe art expo and introduced him to all the attending artists. He popped in 3 times during the 5 day show, since then we have stayed in touch.
Are you going to host another expo?
Absolutely, we have a selection Committee of 12 members who will organize the expo. It takes 2 years to put this kind of expo together.
We have already booked the AMERICA HAL, a conference center and are now looking for sponsors. The Selection Committee is already under way. We hope to see you there too.
Tell us why TAM is so successful?
The Radio Kootwijk Kunst Centrum was established under my company - T.A.M. (short for Tonkinson art masters).
TAM consists of an art school, which was registered in 2008, where all levels of artists are welcome and where professional artists are invited to give classes and workshops.
TAM art gallery, was established in 2010, as a training art gallery. Inviting reputable artists to learn more about the art collectors needs and to exhibit in groups to reduce costs.
TAM prints, began in 2011 when a hotel chain approached me for prints of original artwork. Our collection of fine art prints has since grown to 12 artists. I also saw this as a opportunity for children and beginner artists to see their artwork in print, weather it be a poster, a print, a greeting card or a functional item. Because we make large orders we keep our costs low.
TAM art materials, is our next extension for 2012. We hope to eventually hold stock of art materials from 112 different international art and hobby art material manufacturers. A sort of warehouse, so that artists can place larger orders and we can also assemble workshop kits for our painting holidays in Europe.
Do you ever sleep?
(Chuckle) Yes,
Where did you get the idea from?
I love working with in a team, everyone has their own expertise and the bringing together of the perfect teams is very rewarding, to see in action.
Noticing peoples talents, comes easy to me, and I like to see like-minded people working together and getting excited about a project. It’s similar to creating a family and I enjoy providing the family with all it needs to thrive and have fun in the process.
To me it just makes logical sense.
And the greatest reward of all is the opportunity to see people maximize their skills and work together to achieve greater things, after all, is`nt that what we are meant to do.
Why art, why not something else?
Art is the one and only “thing” that runs through our entire world, from as far back as the beginning of mankind” and it will always continue to do so.
Art is spoken and understood by every nation, creed and culture. It’s one language, with an infinitive alphabet, because it’s source is the most precious commodity of a human being .......the soul, the core of man, the one thing that we take with us into the after life.
Profound
Courtesy of Adam Wells
|
