To enter to win Pera's painting, "Egg and Lace" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.
From Pera's DPW Gallery page:Artist Pera obtained an MA in Graphic Design and an MA in Photography in Aachen, Germany, before immigrating to South Africa. She worked as a graphic designer with architects, as an art director in the film industry and later as an interior designer for many years. In 2005, she started to paint in oil, experiencing intense pleasure and joy from playing with color. (click to read more)
Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.
Strangely enough, I just heeded the call from my inner artist, bought oil paints, brushes and canvasses, and off I went. The year was 2005 and I haven’t stopped since. As a novice to the medium, I was bold and naïve enough to follow my heart. I took photos of flowers and painted them close up and oversized: floral portraits.
I was blessed with some excellent teachers from the Stellenbosch Atelier and also with early business opportunities to sell my work in an artist run gallery with lots of overseas visitors.
One of those customers commissioned me to paint vegetables for their kitchen, I did some research via the net and discovered Daily Paintworks. The rest is history.
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| Egg and Lace (click to see original image) Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the home page announcing Pera's interview. |
Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?
No, I found my calling (a great surprise to me, since photography was always my first love and forte.)
What mediums and genre have you experimented with?
In the early years at art school, I experimented with water colour, pastels, pen and ink, pencil and charcoal, but never oil.
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| Two Persimmons (click to see original image) |
Which ones have “stuck” and which ones have fallen away?
Pencil and pen and ink. I love a good, old intricate line drawing with a pencil!
Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?
Both as well as joining the urban sketchers movement.
Who or what inspires you most?
The strong light here in South Africa, the people with their love for bold colours, graphic patterns and the diversity of cultures, landscapes, fauna and flora.
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| Orange II (click to see original image) |
What does procrastination look like for you?
Sometimes fear of a new project lets me dwindle time away, luckily it doesn’t happen often.
What techniques work to insure that you make time for your art?
I do everything else first thing in the morning to clear myself of any lingering “to do’s.” That includes emails, marketing and life itself.
I paint from 12.00 to 18.00h straight, Mondays through Fridays, and weekends when I have a deadline.
How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?
By observation, I like to look at everything.
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| For Things to Come (click to see original image) |
How do you keep your art “fresh?” What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep you work vibrant and engaging?
Feeding the “Well” with images from books, fashion, movies, music, history, other artists and the world around me!
What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?
Improving my skills on all levels. Edges.
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| Heavenly Chocolate II (click to see original image) |
What makes you happy about your art?
Feeling blessed to be able to follow my true vocation and to give people joy and pleasure with my paintings!
Thanks, Pera!
© 2014 Sophie Catalina Marine Cruse
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