Artist overcomes sight barrier to paint
A stroke three years ago almost killed that dream, but luckily he recovered and through the use of a magnifying glass and his glasses, he’s still able to paint today.
Complete blindness in one eye and 50 per cent vision in the other eye has not slowed down Gert Els at all.
The 86-year-old man has been painting since he was young, and the deterioration of his sight has not stopped him.
“I stopped briefly for a while when I was 20 and became a farm foreman, and later a cattle speculator, but it is something that never really left me.
“In my day, once you reached the highest grade at the time, which was Grade 10, you had to go and find a job to support your family.
“My ability is a natural talent that I got from God; I wasn’t taught how to do it, it just came to me,” says Els.
Els says in his family, it was just him and his aunt who had artistic abilities.
None of Els’ three children have inherited the talent.
He mostly enjoys painting landscapes and animals.
“If I see a nice picture, I paint it.
“If someone brings me a picture, I can also put it on canvas,” says Els.
Els says although the material and tools he uses to paint is expensive, painting also provides him with a small income to supplement his pension.
He considers himself blessed that he’s still able to paint at his age.
A stroke three years ago almost killed that dream, but luckily he recovered and through the use of a magnifying glass and his glasses, he’s still able to paint today.
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His style has changed slightly since then.
“I’m a very happy person and I pray and read the Bible daily.
“It’s God that helps me, and all praise and honour should go to him,” says Els.
In addition to painting, Els is a devout Jehovah’s Witness who studies the Bible daily, attends Bible study every Wednesday and never misses church on Sunday.
It is his faith that has carried him through his colourful life, which has seen him get married three times.
He married his brother’s wife six years ago after his brother died and says they are very happy together.
It is Marikie who supports him and helps take orders for his paintings.
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