ANET DU TOIT

TITLE : LOVE IS NEVER HOMELESS
MEDIUM: OIL ON CANVAS
SIZE 500 X 600:

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Where I am today, as a full time creator of fine art painting, residing in Bethal, South Africa, almost didn’t happen due to my high school art-teacher’s harsh words “You’ll never make art a career” and her denying me the use of paint, allowing only pencils. I took her words to heart and instead expressed my love for art through leather work for the next 20yrs. Thanks to my friends’ and family’s encouragement, however, in 2007 I decided to pick up a brush and, without the help of an art instructor, I painted in my spare time. A friend stopping me from tossing my first work, which still hangs in her home, serves as a reminder of dedication to improvement. After trial and error, my artwork was finally decent enough to attract the interest of people, other than friends. Due to popular demand, I had to choose between being a leather smith, and becoming a full time fine art artist. (I’ excited to say that my paintings now hang in homes in America, Norway, Switzerland, Mexico, Australia, as well as New Zealand, and I look forward to where future travels will take us.) The idea of breaking away from this familiar and secure trade to make a name for myself in a new realm of art, which would present different challenges, was as exciting as it was daunting.
So here I am today living my dream, being a full time artist, constantly defining and re-defining my approach with oils, whether it’s my choice of subject or various requests from clients, each piece is viewed as an exciting challenge and opportunity for growth as I reach to learn more. This May I’ve begun teaching myself pallet knife painting, so it’s back to the beginning for me, with much laughter over quite blobby results, yet as before I will work to improve, something that is done daily with each canvas whether knife or brush.
Being a full time artist results in me working around 12hrs each day, and without my husband, André’s, full hear-ted support this would not have been possible. One of the greatest gifts he offers me is being able to see the expression on his face when he walks into my studio and catches a glimpse of the canvas on my easel, be it a silent nod of approval or a wide-eyed look of surprise and shock when I try something new and the relief on his face when he sees it worked out after all.
Although I share my studio with the resident cats, Leila and Oegly (named so because he was the cutest ugly cat I have ever seen), who along with keeping me company also lends me the occasional smirk and much needed break with their antics, a studio can still be a lonely place so I devised a plan to keep in touch with fellow artists and art lovers by posting progress photos on social media which my followers and I know as the ‘Canvas Quickstep’. Not only does this allow me to share some insight into my work and technique, but it has also helped me to reach out to people, connect, share inspiration and motivation with the kind people who support me and my art.
I look forward to meeting more art lovers and for now leave you with a truth my own story revealed to me. So long as you strive to develop purpose or passion you will find no failure, for that comes from never trying. Every moment you invest in reaching forward earns varying degrees of success, some sweeter than others yet each reveals a personal accomplishment. If there where but only one message to share that I have learned through painting, it’s this ‘If you ever doubt who or how you are it’s time to see yourself through the eyes of those who love and care about you’
Life with art has been challenging, rewarding, insightful and at times exasperating but I invite you all to visit Social Art Gallery and contact me regarding desired commissions. Social Art Gallery address, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anet-du-Toit-South-African-Artist/129439193875118 Commission Request address, anetdutoit@gmail.com