I have been addicted to travelling, seeing the world and doing art as long as I can remember. I grew up in a small place called Mposa, near Richards bay, in South-Africa. I grew up surrounded by art as my mother did ceramics, organized art exhibitions and encourage us to paint and draw. I did ceramics with my mom throughout my school days and loved every moment of it. My favourite subject at school was art and I devoured every book about art that I could lay my hands on. I developed a love for oil painting and before I left for University I had already sold 2 paintings.
I fell in love with art at a very early age but was torn between my love for art and my desire to travel and see the world.
After University I decided to travel while I am young and unattached, before I focus on my art again. I travelled and worked my way around the world for more than a decade before returning to South-Africa, and have had some amazing experiences along the way. When you live in a country you get to experience it from a different view than that of the ordinary tourist, I think it’s the people of the country and the little crazy everyday things that keep it interesting. These travels have changed me and my view of the world.
I loved travelling and exploring all these foreign countries and cultures but have reached a point where I want to focus a bit on my art and not have to move around for the next couple of years. I found it quite difficult to find time and space to be creative while travelling. Actually, I think that taking photos and blogging about my travels was my artistic outlet while travelling.
I have made the big move back to South Africa where I now teach English online and have a lot of time to focus on my art! I have family in the Western Cape area of South-Africa and decided to buy a little place of my own in Cape Town. While looking for a place of my own I stayed with my aunt, Karen Kieviet, on their small wine farm in Stellenbosch. Karen has her own ceramic studio and it is here that I again uncovered my love for ceramics and working with clay. I had forgotten how much fun it is to create something with your hands from scratch and seeing how it takes form. The end product is either surprisingly beautiful or not what you had in mind but with a beauty of its own.
Once I started it was all I wanted to do again. I couldn’t think of anything else but pottery, painting and art! So I bought a two bedroom flat in Parklands, 8 min drive from Blouberg strand, and converted the one bedroom into a studio for myself.
I now teach English 4 days a week and in between and the rest of the time I either do ceramics or paint something. Every Friday I drive through from Cape Town to Stellenbosch where I spend the weekend working with Karen Kieviet in her studio on Aan de Vliet farm. At first it was only for fun until Karen suggested that I should start selling my bowls.
Travelling to so many countries and experiencing all these different cultures has changed the way I do art and I am sure you can see the colourful influence of the world in my art now.
The thought of actually making money with my art has always been a very distant dream and I always thought it was something that might happen in the far off future. I didn’t really think that my bowls were that good yet and wanted to wait a bit until I felt they looked a bit better. But my aunt convinced me to take a chance and see if they sell.
Karen Kieviet has been selling her art in a couple of different art galleries for years now and with her help I got my ceramic bowls into two galleries. It was and is a dream come true!! I am actually making some money with my art!
I have been doing ceramics with Karen Kieviet for a bit over a year now and working from my own little studio the past 6 months, and I love every moment of it.
Hi Janaline. I’ve nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award. Here’s the link-https://shamimsobhani.wordpress.com/2017/03/29/mystery-blogger-award/
Congrats!
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Thank you so much for that lovely compliment of nominating me!!
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I wouldn’t do it if you didn’t deserve it!
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Oh so clever! Love your work .. And your aunt’s farm looks very special 😃
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Thank you Julie! The place is beautiful and I love spending time there with the family and doing ceramics
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These are all beautiful, and I haven’t seen anything like them.
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Thank you so much!! I am trying to bring to life my own ideas and am having a lot of fun!
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Oh. btw, I think your art looks amazing! ⭐
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Thank you!!
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Janaline, it seems you have made a great life decision. It is all very exciting. You go!
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Thank you Resa. I am so excited and can’t wait to see what happens next
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Your story is wonderful and your artwork is out of this world! truly could take my breath away beautiful!!!
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Thank you so much for that great compliment! I do love doing art and I am always so happy when I get positive feedback!
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Well your love for doing it truly shows! You are very welcome! 🙂
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Love this Janaline, and I love art in general. Your art pieces are gorgeous and unique. And how lucky to be able create a work space in your home. All the best with artistic endeavor. Enjoy!
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Thank you so much! I know I’m very lucky right now and I am so happy that I am getting this chance to be creative and that I am getting so much positive feedback about my art! Thank you!
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Very beautiful, creative… What a great new adventure! 🙂 You are talented, Janaline!
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Thank you so much Amy! I am so excited to see where this adventure will take me!
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[…] Use daily items that have cadence […]
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Wow! I love your bowls! They’re beautiful! Love your story….thank you 😚
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Thank you so much! I am loving my art journey so far and can’t wait to see what happens next.
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You have created some beautiful pieces. I love the face vases.
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Thanks Colline. Thos are some of my favourite pieces so far.
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So adorable.
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Thank you!
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I love your bowls! beautiful!
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Thank you so much for that lovely compliment.
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Congratulations! How exciting to have your own little nest where you can fulfill your dreams. Your work is lovely. My favourites are the bowls with the cute birds.
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Thank you so much! It is so lovely to have my own little place, a place to call home and knowing that I will be staying a while.
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They are interesting and they might just take off! Hope they do! 🙂
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Thank you Jo! I enjoy this so much, it is lovely to get into touch with art again and to get to create beautiful things.
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Good luck Janaline 🙂 cheers PedroL
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Thank you PedroL. I am working hard and hope that it all goes very well!!
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keep your readers updated 🙂 wish you a pleasant week! PedroL
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nice!
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Thank you!!
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