I studied oil painting many years ago as a part of my fine art degree, but I got sidelined by having a family, working as a graphic designer, having a wedding invitation company, teaching and being a lettering artist. Moving to the UK from South Africa entrenched me further in staying with a secure form of income in a familiar territory.
I have just completed an intensive year of studying oil painting with Martin Kinnear, a recent award winner of the Medaille d’Argent by The Societie Nationale des Beaux Arts in their Paris Salon where he was invited to exhibit.
I realised in 2011 that I needed to rediscover my identity as an artist and I began a five-year journey – recorded in my blog – through watercolours, printmaking, lettering arts and illustration and finding my soul in art.
I had two main artistic highlights: a lettering-based artwork Pythagoras QED was accepted by the Fitzwilliam Gallery in Cambridge as part of their collection;
and the illustrated book ‘Rope of Words’ that was requested for the Bodleian Collection. Rope of Words (2014) was written by my daughter Megan Kerr who came first in the British Fantasy Short Story competition 2012. We collaborated; with me illustrating it and doing the book design and layout. There are now just 110 copies left of this limited edition book (available on line at ropeofwords.com)
Now I am about to begin a new chapter in my blog.
But firstly, why blog at all?
My blog is there for me to share my studio and my passion for art with other people; enthuse them and encourage their creativity. I am so privileged to have been given a second chance of studying art in depth and excited by a new vision of what it means to be an artist. My ideas need habitation and I invite you to join me on this next chapter of my journey.
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