Sonja Nel

My earlier works were displays of whimsical figurative elements in bold and colourful brushstrokes in childlike expression as a result of my 10 years’ experience as primary school Art teacher. Bold and colourful brushstrokes remain features of my work.

I am an avid reader and some of my favorite authors / poets are Karen Blixen, Breyten Breytenbach and Ingrid Jonker. I dabbled in poetry too: In one of my stories, I described the character as buying the colours of the flowers at the flower stand and arranging them at home in her vase. Poetic images became dreamlike expressions in my paintings. I still do the same when I paint. I unpack my colours and start to arrange them on my canvas. Colour is always a priority for me.

With my interest in colour and poetic imagery, I am inspired by Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Irma Stern, and Maggie Laubser. My work always aims at an honesty and childlikeness found in true expression of colour.

My figures do not attempt to be perfect; rather, I use the shape of bold brushstroke and line to create shape. Colour directs and dictates my canvas. Africa and her people with its lush colour, bold skies and wonderful hue of ethnic colour provide ample inspirat...

Teachers’ College, Oudtshoorn: Snr Primary Teaching Diploma
Teachers’ College, Cape Town: HDE Art
University of South Africa: Bachelor of Arts

Solo exhibitions:

Gallery 91, Somerset West, South Africa
Frames, Somerset West, South Africa
Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, South Africa
Old Nectar, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Hennie Niemann Snr Gallery, Onrus, South Africa

Group exhibitions:

Johan van Heerden Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
Canvas Devine – Robertson, South Africa
Fillingdon Fine Art, High Wycombe, London, England