Local artist embraces her talent to be an inspiration
The artist described her type of artwork as surrealism mixed with a bit of expressionism.
Sunward Park’s talented artist Lea Kirsten’s creativity and urge to change people’s lives inspired her to become a professional artist at the beginning of 1980.
According to Kirsten, her motivation and passion to paint came naturally.
“My art career started at the age of twelve when I attended art lessons at the Convent in Ermelo. This led me to take art as a school subject up to matric level and as major subjects for my post-school studies. I studied art at the University of Pretoria and University of South Africa (Unisa),” she said.
The full-time artist described her type of artwork as surrealism mixed with a bit of expressionism.
“Everyone needs some uplifting and I believe through my art I can inspire people.
“My pencil drawings and portrait studies must be regarded as my strong points. I view the highlight of my career as the publishing of my pencil drawings in one of the monthly brochures of Unisa.
“My work also exhibited in Namibia. I was selected as one of the finalists in the annual Fynarts Art Competition as part of the annual Hermanus Art Festival in 2019. That specific painting was one of the very first paintings exhibited. It was sold within minutes after the official opening of the art exhibition, which was quite an achievement,” she said.
The mother of two sons has been giving art therapy lessons at the Johannesburg Children’s Home for the past 12 years.
Kirsten also started her own art school, Lea Kirsten Art School, in 2018. She also worked with the well-known artist At Botha who opened first her first solo art exhibition in Boksburg in 2000.
She plans to continue to satisfy her clients’ art needs and to enter the next National Sanlam Portrait as well as the Fynarts Finlayson Art competitions.
“It would be good to have an art exhibition of all artists of Boksburg and surrounding areas.
“My advice to aspiring artists is to be patient with themselves and to continue being passionate about what they are doing. They must learn to observe and think out of the box. You must always be prepared to learn.”
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