I am a portrait artist with clients in Europe, Australia and South Africa. I started painting as a young girl and trained in graphic design, qualifying at the Vaal University of Technology in 1985 (formerly the Vaal Triangle Technicon), which instilled in me
a sense of discipline and a love for detail.
I focussed on watercolours for a number of years and in 2001 designed a range of minutely detailed paintings that have become a sought after range of greeting cards.
I began training in fine art in 2006 under the tutelage of Esther Surdut (2006 – 2008) in classical oil painting. In 2007 I started teaching watercolour classes and was asked to teach a six-week course in oils for beginners at the Vanilla Canvas Gallery in 2009. In 2010 I completed courses by Kerry Evans, which has had
a major influence on my current work.
I have exhibited at the AVA (Association of Visual Arts) in a group exhibition and at the Vanilla Canvas Gallery. I am a member
of SASA (South African Society of Artists).
My inspiration comes from the world around me. People fascinate me, though children are my favourite subjects. I love the promise they hold; their potential not yet discovered; their positive energy. They have the ability to take pleasure in the simplest things. I love their pure, focussed presence.
For many years my medium of choice was watercolour. Later, painting in oils has become my passion. I use a limited colour palette: three primaries - cool and warm of each, together with white. This allows me to get rich colours which enhance any subject matter. Each subject provides a platform to learn new lessons. Shadows within shadows, light travelling around an object, edges both hard and soft, the wonder of white never being “just white”, as well as shapes, patterns and tonal values all give me the opportunity to fill each canvas with life.
More recently, I have been painting with oil and medium. I find I am able to achieve soft, gentle finishes, well suited to painting children, and with which I can best express my emotional attachment to my subject – specifically the mother-and-child theme, which I love.
I am passionate about teaching and sharing the knowledge I have gathered over many years. I am always learning, together with my students whom I teach in my studio. |
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Artist: HEIDI BURSTEIN
Title: Cape Sugar Bird and Proteas
Size: 61 x 45 cm
Media: Oil
ID: 25730
Price:R12 500 Unframed |