Liru Toureen, a former patient at the Life Esidimeni Randfontein Care Centre has been discharged and is back on her feet.
Liru, 29, was in the institution for nine months before being released to start afresh. She was treated for bipolar disorder. She now spends her days sketching and painting at her home in Greenhills.
“I haven’t been out for long so I haven’t found work yet. I sketch a lot and paint. I’ve been working on a painting for a while now. I’m quite proud of it,” she said.
Her most recent painting could easily be mistaken for a photograph and she did it with water colours.
Liru has been doing so well that she has sold close to 50 sketches of people since being discharged.
I’d like to do more paintings but I don’t know how to do oil paintings. I mean, I could probably do some of the things I’ve seen but it’s a skill you have to learn,” she said.
She’s looking to join up with artists in Randfontein to exhibit as well as learn from them especially now that she want to try her hand at oil painting.
Liru is a Life Esidimeni Randfontein Care Centre which is scheduled to close its doors at the end of March next year. “I don’t understand why they would close the place. Some of the patients need full-time care. My heart broke during my stay there. It’s very difficult for them,” she said.
Now that she’s out she has a lust for life and is taken everyday by the horns. “I’m so excited to be pursuing art again. I’d like to try different things like sculptures. People have also been asking me to make sculptures,”
On her kitchen table is a sculpture of her boyfriend’s father which is surprisingly life-like and it was modeled from a mere old photo of him.
As far as artists go, Liru is one to watch especially after life dealt her blow after blow.
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