Zebra Print

Born in 1975 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, I have always had an interest in visual concepts. Working as a graphic designer in the print and signage industry from the early 90s, I began developing a fascination with both image reproduction and photography. I was intrigued with the history and evolution of these processes, be it old-school woodcut printing techniques to Lithographic darkroom plate making, or from classic guilding on glass to digital sign imaging. Fortunate to have experienced a few of these processes hands-on, it was only in 2016 that I decided to embrace art as a means of personal expression. Being a do-it-yourself kind of person, I could include some of these interests. I could still use photography and apply its rules; I could still incorporate layout and design; and I could still incorporate visual reproduction by way of methods used a long time ago. As a fan of black and white photography, it was ultimately the Grisaille method of painting by the old masters that caught my attention. It was a methodical "Monotone" approach of reproducing a scene way back when.. before the advent of modern tech. To acquire more exposure to this craft and to paint alongside like-minded people, it was from here that I attended a few private tutoring classes and workshops hosted by local artists. These, although small, proved to be truly inspiring and invaluable, helping me to gain better habits and technique from the get go. With art I feel it's all about development and progress, as there is always something new to learn and discover. Acrylics are currently my primary medium of choice. With regards to subject matter, I enjoy painting animals and wildlife, with the occasional figurative or still life for variation. My painting style endeavours to capture the sense of realism from a monochromatic perspective. I am especially intrigued by the style of "Film Noir" for its simplistic lighting and dramatic feel. Stripped of colour, a visual cohesion comes into play and I simply love the contrasts and depth that can be achieved using tonal values.