Great New Artist: Rev 5 Gideon Geldenhuys

As long as I can remember I loved art and have been creating since I could hold a pencil…”

Introduction

I am starting to sound like a song on replay, because whenever I encounter a new artist, I cannot resist from singing their praise. This particular subspecies of humankind is forever so brilliant in whatever they create and, as a result of meeting so many of these outstanding specimens, I am bringing accolades so frequently that I am starting to get concerned that people reading this blog may start losing confidence in my opinion. Therefore, for the first time, I am going to leave the exploration of the topic and the vocalisation of the joy up to you, because Gideon Geldenhuys’s artworks has the capacity to express themselves exceptionally well….

Background

Gideon stays in Centurion now, but was born in 1971 in Cape Town and matriculated in De Aar. He is divorced and have two grownup daughters. He is already an established artist, having been published and sold both locally and abroad. One of his major international acknowledgments was that one of his paintings was used on the cover page of the magazine of the Houston Safari Club in Texas.

Let us hear what the man has to say…

Firstly, Gideon, what jobs have you done other than being an artist?

I have never been a full-time artist as art does not bring sufficient income when you start out. It is therefore something I am doing in my spare time while following a fulltime salaried career. I have been working at the Police and studied Police Administration through the Technicon South Africa through correspondence. I worked in the Customs Anti-smuggling Unit, after that as a Retail Manager and now as a Sales Manager. I also do refurbishment of existing paintings that has some minor issues that need touching up.

What’s your art background?

I had Art as a subject at school, but as long as I can remember I loved art and have been creating since I could hold a pencil. An inspiration was when I won an art competition at the Central Karoo Agricultural Show in Grade 11.

Art has always only been a hobby, but I am still dreaming of doing it full-time. It is my heart’s wish to get that big break and to become well-known globally as it is my experience that one cannot make a living by only selling locally.

What has been a major art influence?

I always loved the art of the old masters. Their realism, the detail and the lavishly deep colours, their fine techniques and their extravagant, multi-layered style of oil painting amazes me. During the past few hundred years scientists have examined the old paintings and have produced many accounts on their findings – today the latest bunch of them uses X-ray and infrared technology to expose even the initial lines drawn on the canvas. To myself, however, the end result of the antique artists’ labour still amazes me and drive me to produce equivalent inspiring, realistic, high quality paintings by applying modern approaches and materials. 

One day, in 2010, I was surfing the internet for a photo of a Karoo landscape and I found one that I liked. When I opened the photo-link it took me to the website of Rob McIntosh and only then I realised to my astonishment that the photo was a picture of an actual painting by him. He was since then a great influence and his work inspired me to concentrate on painting as art medium. Rob McIntosh was born in South-Africa in 1949 and only started painting in 1980 after which he emigrated to America and now lives on a 65 ft double story houseboat on Lake Pleasant in Phoenix, Arizona. He is doing paintings mostly with nature and wildlife as topic. He is famous and well-known all over the world for his astonishing realism as well as for the power of his artwork at defining and preserving a mood. Although Rob was in South Africa a few times I never met him personally but he sent me a free signed copy of one of his books. His success however encouraged me and proved that there is much to be said for following one’s own guidelines and instincts.

Painting by Rob McIntosh

What’s the best thing about being an artist?

Art allows me to express myself by recreating inspirational scenes and to get the satisfaction of experiencing people appreciating what I have created.

How much time do you spend on creating art?

I spend as much time as I can on art as a hobby. When I do get the opportunity, I spend probably 4 to 6 hours at a session

Do you ever feel disheartened?

Sometimes I tend to get discouraged when my circumstances paralyse my creativity. This usually transpires when I have to travel for work and do not get the opportunity to pack out my brushes and capture the visions in my head.

What inspires you to create?

Inspiration often comes from my soul – from an inner feeling, emotions, imagination or even memories - but mostly it comes from observing stimulating scenes or photos. Inspiration is everywhere - one just needs to open your eyes, and take it in.

Topics that inspire me are the sea, landscapes, cars, trains, planes, ships and people – I love to do character portraits. 

    

Do you strive to be unique in your creative endeavours?

I strive for photo realism and that does not allow for creative expression in terms of extensive paint techniques or the abuse of line, colour and light. I find that my creativity is focused on the best composition of the visual elements and the amazing natural light, true colours and the mood of the scene I want to portray. I am completely dedicated to realistic perfection.

What if you’re not inspired to create?

I seldom am not inspired to create. As soon as I sit down and get going, I can get lost in my art as a rule. I take breaks when I get tired.

How important are titles for you?

Simple titles are vital to identify artwork for reference purposes, but most importantly to provide the people looking at the artwork more information without just stating the obvious. The art must do the talking and I find that Facebook and other friends understanding the piece are coming up with effective names. Most of the time, however, the titles are already in my head as soon as I start creating.  

Examples of titles that speak to me are the three classic ships that I have recently had immense joy in painting as I lived through their stories and the essence of life in general. The first one I named Persistence and if you look at the picture you can understand why. The idea behind it was to demonstrate that one only needs to push on and to charge the waves of life from behind and break through them.  The second one I named Legacy. It is about a ship that keeps on sailing and never sinks – like a father leaving his son an inheritance and the son and the son’s children after him will use it as foundation for their lives. The third ship is Steadfast and does not allow the waves to change its course – the ship is super steady, secure and unwavering.   

  

Which mediums do you like?

I specialise in oil paint and pencil or graphite – it gives me the most joy. I however also use water paint when I doing some of the miniature paintings. Graphite and pencil are faster mediums and allows for mistakes to be corrected easily and can be used with great effect to capture mood. I find that graphite and pencil also allow for more flexibility to create as I do not have to carry lots of paint tubes and brushes along when I am going away for work.

What else have you enjoyed experimenting with?

In 2015 I made some sketches of steam locomotives and sold it to a buyer who then commissioned me to do a series of miniature paintings. In total there were about 50 of the locomotives as well as 13 Mercedes Benz classics, 6 Spitfire fighter planes and a number of Russian Orthodox Saints. I have never done miniatures before, but I soon got the hang of it and started to adore this art form. These days I also do miniatures like the ones below (100mm x 70mm) in any medium.

How do you know when a piece is done?

As soon as nothing bothers my eye anymore and I feel the same inspiring feeling when I look at the painting as I did when getting the vision or seeing the subject matter that inspired me.

Can I see your studio?

What can artists not do without?

A quiet and private space to create in.

How much time does it take to complete an artwork?

I am working full-time from 8 to 5 every day and I am on the road about all the time. As I don’t get much time to do my art, it can take weeks to complete a painting. Hour-wise though, probably an average of 24 to 30 hours per artwork.

Do you listen to music when you’re create?

I’m quite happy with being alone while painting. I love classic music, country, instrumental, lots of 80's music and listen to Queen very often. These music genres have the ability to encourage powerful emotions and the type of music I listen to depends on my mood and the artwork that I am creating at the time.

What is the hardest part of creating a work of art?

Getting started and getting everything ready is the hardest. The most favourite part is week-ends when I can focus on my art!

Where can prospective buyers see your work?

I showcase my art on Facebook and on my personal website at as well as on the website of South African Artists. I find that my art appeals to buyers that are somewhat older – 30 and up, mostly over 40. I never kept record of sales but the income from my art helped to pull me through during tough times when I was laid of at work.

I have a few works hanging at the Blue Saffron restaurant in Waterkloof, Pretoria. I initially contacted a woman displaying art at the restaurant and she commissioned me to do a huge painting of an elephant up close for the restaurant and also to paint some horses to showcase there. I painted a series of six horses and my Facebook friends came forth with names for the paintings. The name of the series is Scuderia which is the Italian for a stable for war- or race horses.

Isn’t it hard to part with your artworks?

Success in the art world is being able to make a living through your art, but it is hard to say goodbye to a piece that I created from a unique inspiration Commissions are usually not so hard to part with.

What should artists do these days to market their art?

To get famous, one needs to get a big break. This is usually is instigated by favourable commentary by a well-known critic or someone with influence and respect in collectors’ circles

How do you feel about your future as artist?

If I had to start over, I would never choose a different hobby, but my goal is to become a professional artist and have my studio overlooking the ocean. My dream project is a commission for a series or art works for a hospital or huge company

A piece of advice to others?

Art today is like music or fashion…it is only popular once a trend setter says so. Artists should never fall into that trap, be yourself - develop your own art and do not become a copycat. Young artists should start marketing their work sooner and live their dream

Great New Artist: Ref 4 Amelia Boshoff

Artists are generally defined as human beings who expresses themselves through their unique experience of existence and who create something that communicates more than its surface value. Maybe Henry Ward Beecher realised this and had Amelia Boshoff in mind when he said: Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.

Well then, let us meet this Amelia…

Hi Amelia, pleased to meet you! Where are you from?

I am a self-taught free-time oil painting artist from South Africa who was born 49 years ago in Carolina, Mpumalanga and grew up in Pretoria.  I currently live in Valhalla, Pretoria with only my husband at my side.

Did you have any formal art training?

I took Art as a subject at high school for five years where I learned the basics of art. I never had the opportunity to study further or to get advanced art training. However, through the years and while doing art as a hobby, my creativity continually developed and my own natural style evolved from that.  

 

                                                

Protea Love

Protea Explosion

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

I started working full-time in 1990 at the SA Air Force until present – I am a Codifier.

Did you always want to be an artist?

Art has always been part of my life and gave me pleasure from very young age. My goal is to become a professional artist, because I always had that desire to create outside the stereotypical ideas of what makes art “Art".

Art stereotypes are misguided perceptions or beliefs people have about what art is or should be. Their observations are based upon how these art objects look on the outside only and this on itself is a type of prejudice, because what is on the outside is only a tiny small part of what there really is in a specific body of art. Courageous artists feel comfortable taking creative risks to make a work of art break the stereotypes.

What inspires you to create?

I am inspired by music, nature as well as the books and publications I read such as SA Art Magazine. 

God blessed me with an analytical mind and great patience. I have a kind-hearted, spiritual, striving, sentimental and determined personality and it contributes to my art. All this and being an artist in my free-time gives me freedom and a peaceful mood. My thoughts then nourish my creativity and allows me to give special attention to detail.

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Thomas Merton.

Do you use photo references?

I have an extensive computer-based reference library containing a large collection of wonderful images. I enjoy anything that is tempting and challenging and studying these inspiring pictures allowed me to develop a unique style. I love to paint scenes of lighthouses, flowers, vintage cars, cobble stone streets, seascapes, landscapes and especially narrow street scenes. 

       

New York Lights

Vintage Creek

Which artists are you most influenced by?

Thomas Kinkade and Andrew Tischler are my hero’s and my role models.

Thomas painted realistic, pastoral, and idyllic subjects. He used glowing highlights and pastel colors which I adore. I admire the scenes such as gardens, streams, stone cottages, lighthouses and streets that he painted. Like Kinkade I also have the passion to capture memories and to evoke and emotional connection in a painting.

I also adore Andrew Tischler’s magnificent, beautiful and imposing realistic landscapes. He seems to pour himself into the paintings – something I similarly attempt to achieve.

                        

Painting by Andrew Tischler

                   

Painting by Thomas Kinkade

Do you do commissions?

I have done a few commissioned pieces for friends and family and I will gladly accept any requests from other art lovers.

Which medium gives you the most joy?

I personally love painting in oil.  The colours and textures of oil creates eye-catching works of art. Oil paintings are easy to care for, it is only required to use a damp cloth to get the dust particles off.

How did you make this piece?

Table of Serenity

If you look at the picture and detail you will notice that I developed a unique style.  I love to contrast the rough mountains and the coarse sea sand with the softness of the deep-blue sea, the white foam and the lighter shades of the sky. This way I am trying to, in my own personal way, reflect calmness and serenity in an old, much-explored setting.

How important are titles to your artworks?

Titles are really significant as it directs the viewer of the artwork to firstly identify the artwork and secondly to put the piece in perspective and appreciate the underlying meaning. The painting then “speaks” to the viewer and makes them feel they are actually there themselves.  

Can I see your studio?

Make creativity happen: 
1. Create space. 
2. Sit down and breathe. 
3. Work when stimulated and enthusiastic. 
4. Cultivate purposeful connection 
5. Try new things. 
6. Engage with topics and processes that are totally different.

The favourite part of being an artist is being my own boss in my studio and not having to answer to anyone else in what I create.

What should artists do these days to market their art?

Artists should present and promote their art on as many social media platforms as they can, Examples are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and art websites.

Where can prospective buyers see your work?

Some of my art I just give away as gifts. The rest of my artwork can be viewed on the SA Art Explosion online portal at this link:

http://netel.in-tranet.co.za/system/gallery/index.php

I never held an exhibition before but I am hoping to do so someday.

What would you do different if you had the change and opportunity?

I wish I could learn more about the intricate techniques and details about creating a three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface and the science of light and depth (eg. atmospheric perspectives).

What role does the artist have in society?

The unspoken expectations of society are the fears of an Artist. We as artists must commit ourselves to be a creative contributor towards society and believe in ourselves. 

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Be true to yourself, don’t give up, learn by doing and keep your mistakes close! 

My Remarks:

Thank you Amelia, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you and we wish you a wonderful art life!

Regards

Steph

Let’s Get Creative: Ref 2 Artistic Creativity Takes Courage, only?

Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

I must confess that I am, or was up to now, completely ignorant concerning the concept of “creativity”. I had to bring myself up to speed about it, but once I commenced with an awfully “surface” research on the topic, I was instantly impressed by the fact that creativity should be superior or tremendously treasured as both the artist- and the non-artist factions are firstly in a frantic rivalry to define the concept and secondly are wrestling to death to claim sole possession thereof.

At the practical end of things (let us call this end the “Engineers”), I was met with a plethora of terms, processes, stages, components, characteristics, theories, etcetera up to a point where my tender artist mindset was totally confused, yes – virtually overstretched beyond restoration. At the opposite “Artists” end, definitions like artful, artistic, aesthetic, and gorgeous were in profusion. This academic glug-and-all by this time already started making me feel more than slightly lame in the brains department. Until I made few discoveries….

Firstly, what made it somewhat bearable was when I read that the cool-headed Engineers are dead certain that Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. This may be true for a small number of us hot-blooded Artists, but not for me – I must admit that I tend to produce while I think and then make improvements where and when I think necessary. Is my reverse artistic creativity even slightly analogous to reverse engineering?

Well, the second great finding that I made was also kind of comforting to me. I namely discovered that the academics are stating that there two main types of creativity, namely Deliberate and Spontaneous - you surely guessed that I like the last one better, so let us then please leave the first one to the Engineers. Each of the two types has “Cognitive” and “Emotional” divisions. Yes, and again I preferred the latter. I mean where do you get an emotional Engineer - crying because they created before thinking - for pete’s sake.

Thirdly, the professors then rambled on and tried their utmost best to explain to my worn-out left mind the different parts of the human brain and how they function - blah, blah, blah, big-words-times-ten – and then, eventually, they came to the phenomenal conclusion that Spontaneous and Emotional creativity (the ones I like better!) happens when a certain part of the brain is resting (yes, resting!). Furthermore, only at the end of their hard day’s work, the poor academic lads and ladies then realised that spontaneous and emotional creativity is mostly found in great artists such as musicians, painters, and writers etc. They even gave it a nice name and linked it to “epiphanies”, whatever that means, just hoping it does not refer to "lazy brains".

Fourthly, these guys even went to extreme ends to please me by declaring that there is no need to have specific knowledge for “spontaneous and emotional” creativity to happen, but that there should be a skill such as writing, musical or artistic. They concluded their "glorious assignment" by stating that “this type of creativity” can’t be obtained by working on it….

Well, let us then summarise it for ourselves: Artistic creativity equals 1) resting brains, 2) zero knowledge, 3) no work? Hallelujah. Amen.

Someone once said that everything outside of the world of art has concrete rules which may not be broken. Art on the other hand with its freedom to interpretation, only has loose rules which are broken often and freely in order to create higher calibre art.

In conclusion then: To be artistically creative par excellence, should we not give our brains a rest, take that courage and start breaking those loose art rules?