About my journey in art...

  ​I am the proverbial ‘jack of all trades’ and have spent forever dabbling in arts and crafts and fabric.  I have gradually filtered out the crafts and hobbies and am now focused on Quilting primarily as I really enjoy sewing, especially when one can create works of art with the amazing techniques that are so popular at this time.  

 

I am a member of the Dias Quilters' Guild in Port Elizabeth where I am currently serving on the committee as Librarian, which I really enjoy due to my tremendous love of books.  

 

I am also a member of the "Olliecrocks" Quilting Group.  We meet every fortnight and our leader, Charmaine de Freitas, Master Quilter, is such an inspiration to me.  She has truly made me 'step out of the box' and explore my creativity with fabric.  Thank you Charmaine for all you teach our little group... The members in our group are Ann Bell, Joan de Villiers, Mary Ann Smith, Patty Mynhardt and Zena Carrington... not all quilters, but friends just the same.  I teach Quilting on Fridays at my home studio which I love - there is nothing more pleasing than seeing my students make beautiful projects.  

2017 brings a new challenge, as SAQG National Quilt Festival is being held here in Port Elizabeth, being hosted by our Dias Guild.  I intend working very hard to enter a couple of items as I have never entered a National Festival before. Exciting stuff....

 

I have no formal art training but I love to learn and am always on a path of discovery.  I feel that in art and quilting there is no better teacher than continuous practice and to this end I keep on working and can see the improvement in my work as I work my way through piles of canvases and fabrics!

  

While learning to paint, I attempted to learn from the Masters by reproducing an artwork occasionally – not with much success, I might add.  But who better to teach us than the true Artists of Yesteryear.  I love going on Workshops and make a point of attending classes when I can in order to improve my skills.  Mostly I am so inspired by the beauty around me.  I love going on walks and I take thousands of photographs, which I enjoy using as reference material for artwork.

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CREDENTIALS

Competitions/Prizes:

St. Dominics Convent, Port Shepstone, KZN
1971 Certificate of Merit for Arts & Crafts  

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Alfred County Group of Women’s Institute, Port Shepstone, KZN
1975 First Prize for Portrait in Charcoal Category - "
1975 First Prize for Flower Study in Watercolour Category - "
1976 Third Prize for Flower Study in Pastel Category -
1976 Highly Commended for Portrait in Oil Painting Category

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Durban KZN Teddy Bear Show
2006 Second Prize for own design Collectable Bear “Ozzy”

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Port Elizabeth DIAS Guild Annual Spring Show Exhibition
2009 Viewer’s Choice Award for Double bed Quilt "Autumn"

2015 1st Prize, Open Category for Wall Quilt "Bright Starry Night"

2015 3rd Prize, Open Category for Wall Quilt " Teddy Bear's Picnic"

2015 2nd Prize, Contemporary Traditional Category for Wall Quilt "Vase of Flowers"

2016 Best on Show, for Wall Quilt "Friends & Fruit"

2016 Best Machine Work, for "Friends & Fruit"

2016 Judges Choice Award for Wall Thread Painted Quilt "Bejewelled, Lady of the Nile"

2016 1st Prize, Pictoral Category for Wall Quilt "Bejewelled, Lady of the Nile"

2016 1st Prize, Geometric Traditional Category for wall quilt "Courthouse Steps"

2018 1st Prize, Bed Quilts Masters Category "Starry Night"

2018 2nd Prize, Bed Quilts Masters Category "Bygone Days"

2018 1st Prize, Wall Quilts Masters Category "Roundabout"

2018 2nd Prize, Wall Quilts Masters Category "How Does My Garden Grow"

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Bernina RSA Competitions:

2016 2nd Prize,  "Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dream-coat Competition" - Crazy Patched Throw

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South African National Festival "Siyadala" 

2017 Highly Commended - Open Category Standard - Bed Quilt "My Dresden Bloom"

2017 Highly Commended - Wall Quilts Pictorial Standard - Colorwash Quilt  "Everlasting Bouquet"

2017 First Prize - Wall Quilts Pictorial Standard - Portrait Quilt "Exuberance" ***

***Master Quilter Status Awarded for "Exuberance"

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Classes Taught:

2006 Teddy Bear Making, Richards Bay
2006 Teddy Bear Making, South Coast, KZN
2008 Quilting at Bernina, Richards Bay

2015 Quilting at Bernina, Port Elizabeth and at Kini Bay home studio

2016 Quilting at Bernina, Port Elizabeth and at Kini Bay home studio

2017 Quilting at Pied Piper Quilt Shop in Port Elizabeth and at Kini Bay home Studio

2018 Quilting at Kini Bay home Studio and taught at the Dias Guild SeaView Retreat day

2019 Quilting at Pied Piper Quilt Shop; Bernina and Home Studio and taught at the Dias Guild Seaview Retreat Day

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COMMITTEE

2016-Present - Serving as Librarian - DIAS Quilters' Guild, Port Elizabeth

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Shops Supplied:

1987 – 1989 Shim Shak Shop, Richards Bay – Country Dresses
1989 – 1993 Kosmos Home Industry, Richards Bay – Pottery

2009 - 2013 Total of 608 Paintings Sold Online

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Group Exhibitions

   1981 Umfolozi Association of Art, Kwambonambi, KZN
1984 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1984 Richart, Richards Bay Town Hall presented by Round Table
1985 Richart, Richards Bay Town Hall presented by Round Table
1986 Richart, Richards Bay Town Hall presented by Round Table
1987 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1988 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1988 Started the Richards Bay Art Route with a couple of others in town (until 1995)
1990 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1990 Group Fashion Show Tie-Dyed and Country Style Clothing at Empangeni
1990 Richards Bay Trade Fair Stall with Country & Tie-Dyed Clothing & Jewellery
1991 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1992 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1994 Brown’s School Fund Raising Exhibition, Pietermaritzburg, KZN
1995 Kwambonambi Pre-Primary School’s Annual Group Exhibition of KZN Artists
1996 Prawn Festival Show, North Coast, KZN
1997 Garden & Home Show, Westville, Durban
2004 South African Association of Ceramic Arts, Annual Group Exhibition in Durban
2006 Annual Doll & Bear Show, Durban
2009 Dias Quilter’s Guild Spring Show, Port Elizabeth
2010 EPSAC “No Name” Group Exhibition
2010 EPSAC “Love This Place” Group Exhibition
2011 Dias Quilters' Guild Spring Show, Port Elizabeth

2012 Dias Quilters' Guild Spring Show, Port Elizabeth

2015 Dias Quilters' Guild Spring Show, Port Elizabeth

2016 Dias Quilters' Guild Spring Show, Port Elizabeth

2017 Siyadala National Quilt Festival in Port Elizabeth

2017 - 2019 SAQG Traveling Quilt Exhibition

2018 Dias Quilters' Guild Annual Spring Show, Port Elizabeth

2018 World Quilt Competition USA

2019 Interchange National Quilt Festival in Johannesburg

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       Courses & Workshops

                      1973 Watercolour & Charcoal by Grace Brokensha, South Coast, KZN
1985 Abstract, Graphic, Collage by Linette Goosen, Richards Bay Technical College
1985 Oil Painting by Diamond Boza
1986 Watercolour by Thelma Buzzard
1986 Watercolour by Barbara Mowton
1987 Watercolour by Matt Louwrens
1988 Fabric Painting & Batik
1988 Applique & Patchwork
1989 Ceramics, Handwork by Colleen Camp, Richards Bay
1990 Ceramics, Slip Decorating by Minette Saayman
1990 Ceramics, Slab-work by Bessie Coetzee
1990 Ceramics, Slip Decorating by Gail de Klerk, Johannesburg Potter’s Convention
1990 Ceramics, Slab-work by Anton van der Merwe, JHB Potter’s Convention
1990 Ceramics, Handwork & Molding by Graham Taylor, JHB Potter’s Convention
1990 Ceramics, Murals with Tiles by Sharon Mitrie, JHB Potter’s Convention
1991 Ceramics, Under-glazing by Hannah Payne, Durban
1991 Ceramics by Garth Hoets, Durban
1991 Ceramics, Decorating by Angelique Kirk, Durban
1991 Ceramics by Carol Hayward Fell
1991 Ceramics, Wheelwork and Slip Decorating by John Gibson (U.K.)
1992 Ceramics & Glaze-making by Michael & Norma Guassardo, South Coast, KZN
1992 Ceramics, Wheelwork by Charles Gothard
2005 Bear-Making by Jennifer Laing, Australia
2006 Bear Pattern Design by Jennifer Laing, Australia
2007 Quilting  Bargello Course by Antoinette Cronjè, Richards Bay

2007 Quilting  Trip Around The World Course by Antoinette Cronje, Richards Bay

2007 Quilting  Machine Appliqued Christmas Wall Hanging Course by Antoinette Cronje, Richards Bay
2009 Acrylic Painting by Nick Stobard, Umtentweni, KZN
2009 Acrylic Painting by Malachi Smith, South Coast, KZN
2010 Quilting Machine Art Applique Class (Pot of Flowers) by Marilyn Pretorius, Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth

2010 Quilting Machine Raw Edge Applique Class (circles) by Marilyn Pretorius, Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth

2010 Quilting Machine Raw Edge Applique Class (leaves) by Marilyn Pretorius, Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth

2010 Quilting Thread Painting Workshop by Kathryn Harmer Fox from East London
2010 Quilting by hand Class by Yolande Bowman, Pied Piper Quilt Shop, Port Elizabeth
2010 Quilting Hand & Machine Applique Course by Anne Thorburn, Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth

2010 Quilting Watercolour Course by Anne Thorburn, Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth

2010 Quilting De Freitas Star Workshop - Raw Edge Applique presented by Cheryl Wiggins, Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth
2010 Oil Painting by Jason Defrey. Port Elizabeth
2010 Oil Painting by Esmè Goosen, Port Elizabeth
2010 Oil Painting Louis Audie  Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Andrè Grobler Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Paul Schmidt Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Helen Van Wyk  Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Melanie Cambridge Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Ken Howard Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Karen Simmons Lessons
2010 Oil Painting Fred Cummings Lessons
2010 Oil Painting David Curtis Lessons
2011 Watercolor & Oil Painting Richard Rennie Workshop

2012 Oil Painting Joyce Pike Lessons

2013  Acrylic Painting Leonie e Brown Workshop

2014 Oil PaintingPortrait Painting Lessons by Rob Wareing

2014 Oil Painting & Acrylic Painting Landscape Painting Lesson by Diane Erasmus

2014 Oil Painting Landscape Painting Lessons by Anton Benzon

2014 Oil Painting Rudolph Rossouw Lessons

2015 Quilting Owls in the Forest Workshop by Mari Strydom at Quilt Camp in St Francis hosted by C'nSew & Bernina

2015 Quilting Naive Hand Applique Workshop by Mari Strydom at Quilt Camp in St Francis hosted by C'nSew & Bernina

2015 Quilting Free Motion Quilting workshop by Mari Strydom at Quilt Camp in St Francis hosted by C'nSew & Bernina

2015 Quilting Mandala Workshop by Marilyn Pretorius, Dias Quilters' Guild, Port Elizabeth

2015 Quilting Hand Applique Workshop by Antoinette Kriel, at C'n Sew Shop in St. Francis, Eastern Cape

2016 Quilting Reverse Machine Applique Hens, Workshop by Mari Strydom at Quilt Camp in St Francis hosted by C'nSew

2016 Quilting Advanced Free Motion Workshop by Mari Strydom, at the Spring Show hosted by Dias Guild, PE

2016 Quilting Appliqued Portrait Workshop by Mari Strydom, at the Spring Show, hosted by Dias guild, Port Elizabeth

2016 Quilting Art Quilt (Bird) Workshop by Mari Strydom, at the Spring Show, hosted by Dias Guild, Port Elizabeth

2017 Quilting: Jenny Bowker Workshop at Siyadala National Festival

2017 Quilting: Paul Schutte Colorwash Workshop at Siyadala National Festival

2017 Quilting: Machine Applique & Quilting - Reverse Workshop by Telene Jeffries, Siyadala National Festival

2018 Quilting: "Distortion" by Paul Schutte at Quilt Camp 2018

2019 Quilting: Rosalie Dace Workshop in St. Francis

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TEACHERS ACCREDITATION 

2016 Quilting: SOUTH AFRICAN QUILTERS' GUILD : Teacher's Accreditation course passed.

 

Commissions

                     1979 Oil painting of Ox-wagon (1.5m x 1m) for Dusty & Brenda Lucas

1979 Oil Painting of Lady in Beautiful Dress (1.5m x 1m) for Dusty & Brenda Lucas
1983 Watercolour Portraits of children for Bonnie Jones, Richards Bay
1983 Watercolour of Shopping Centre commissioned by Des McLean for presentation to Mr and Mrs Clive Vivier
1988 Wildlife Tufted Wall hanging & Village Scene Tufted Wall hanging
1988 Batik 2 ½ m x 2m Street Scene
1988 Batik Wildlife
1988 – 1995 Vast number of Tea Sets, Ceramic Water Features, Pots, Vases, Bowls, Wall Hangings & Garden Features for numerous visitors during whilst we had the Richards Bay Art Route.
1989 Mural for Herb Shop in Richards Bay – Garden scene with bench
1989 Mural for Hairdresser in Richards Bay – Ladies
1989 Mural for Magda van Tonder – Ivy around arch
1989 Mural above Kosmos Home Industry Shop, Richards Bay
1989 Name Board for Kosmos Home Industry Shop, Richards Bay
1990 Mural in bar room of private residence – grapevine
1990 Mural in kitchen for Yvette Olivier, Richards Bay - Ivy
1990 Mural in bathroom for Marlene Swart, Richards Bay – Mykanos theme
1990 Candlewick Double Bed Quilt for Sandy Morrisson, Richards Bay
1991 Mural in Mother’s Room of RB Community Church, Richards Bay
1991 Mural in Church Hall for Richards Bay Community Church 3m x 15m of Temple and 6 Worshippers.
1992 Mural for Youth Group Meeting Hall of AGS Church, Richards Bay
1992 Mission Conference Hall of RB Community Church
1992 Mural on Cloth for RB Community Church Outreach Program
2001 Mural for Baby room for Kai, Richards Bay
2009 Portrait of ‘Alfred Edgar Spicer’ commissioned by Lorna Clark, his daughter
2011 "Ophelia" Acrylic Painting 4.5m x 2.5m for Jolene Santana, Qatar
2012 “Starry Night” Oil Painting commissioned by Morne Share, Port Elizabeth

2013 "A Secret Treasure" Oil Painting 4.4m x 2.5 meters for Jolene Santana, Qatar

2013 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Oil Painting 5 meters x 2.3m for Jolene Santana, Qatar

2014 Dresden Bloom Double Bed Quilt for Peter Bradshaw, Port Elizabeth (sent to London)

2014 Log Cabin Double Bed Quilt for Byron & Rene Clark, New Zealand

2017-2019 Many quilts quilted for clients on Q'Nique Quilting Machine

 

Paintings ​Sold Online

608 Paintings sold