ELIZE BEZUIDENHOUT

TITLE : PIETER
MEDIUM: OIL ON LINNEN
SIZE : 300 X 400

TITLE: TIGGER
MEDIUM: OIL ON CANVAS
SIZE: 400 X 500


ARTIST INFO:

My aim is to capture the essence of the people and animals I paint. I want to evoke an emotional response in my character studies....make the viewer wonder what the story behind the person is. I am an eye person, that is probably why I paint portraits and animals.
I work from my own reference material as I feel it is important to talk to the person and to get to know a bit more about the character I am about to paint. I believe in individuality and do not follow "trends" - you should always stay true to yourself and paint from the heart - it will show in your work.

Background
Born in Springs, Gauteng 1965
Matriculated at Hoër Meisieskool Hugenote in Springs 1982.



Obtained a National Diploma in Graphic Design at the end of 1986.
Worked as Graphic Designer in Pretoria from 1986-1989, Springs from 1989-2004 and Boksburg from 2005-2011.
2011 - Relocated to Durbanville, Cape Town. Worked as Graphic Designer in Bellville from 2011 - January 2015.
Full time Artist and Art Teacher from 2015 – present

Highlights
2010 - finalist at The Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards (previously known as Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Awards) and as a result, was included in the Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards group exhibition held in Kempton Park.
2012 - one of the 21 finalists of the SA Artist Magazine’s cover competition.
2013 - featured in a book "Paint and Create", written by the British Author and Artist, Jon Hammilton-Fford, as his "All time favourite artist". This was a huge honour as Jon is a highly respected artist and Author in the UK.
The May/June/July 2014 edition of the South African Artist Magazine featured my demonstration "How to paint your pet using less brush strokes".
September 2014 - my painting "Nina" was selected for the Vuleka 2014 Art Competition Exhibition where only the top entries were exhibited.
December 2014 my work was featured in Issue 17 of the South African Artist Magazine.
July 2015 - "Paarl Man" Received 'Highly Commended Award' at the Selection Weekend of the South African Society of Artists.
24 November 2015 - Winner of the Constantiaberg Art Society Founders' Trophy Competition 2015.
June 2016 - Featured in the June edition of the Premium Magazine - the official guest magazine for Bidvest Premier Lounge, the exclusive international and domestic lounges located at airport terminals across South Africa.
August 2016 - "Eduard" and "Railway Worker" received 'Highly Commended' awards at the Selection Weekend of the South African Society of Artists.
November 2016 - ''Fisherman'' Received Second Prize in the South African Society of Artists (SASA) Eleanor Palmer Competition
November 2016 - Winner of Constantiaberg Art Society Founders' Trophy for painting ''Eric''