Maths teacher turned painter
After 10 years of teaching mathematics at Boksburg High School, 53-year-old Helene du Preez, has turned her passion for painting into a full-time career.
Du Preez took a leap of faith at the age of 49 years, and pursued her dream of becoming an artist.
The decision has paid off, as she will now host an art exhibition of all her paintings at her home in Van Dyk Park, on Saturday, November 23.
Du Preez studied at the Bloemfontein Art College and has been involved in art her entire adult life.
Three of her paintings were selected for the Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards, which were recently held in Kempton Park.
The awards celebrated the best in South African fine art, and du Preez was invited to exhibit her paintings which are portraits of Boksburg residents.
“The same paintings will be on view this Saturday among other portrait, landscape and wild life paintings,” says du Preez.
Her artworks comprise mainly of oil paintings, but she is also capable of using other techniques such as pencil, acrylic and water colour.
“I’m a realist, not an abstract painter. I paint what people can identify with – it’s fairly close to photograph painting,” adds du Preez.
Du Preez is also the chairperson of the Paint and Palette Art Group – a club based in Edenvale that promotes fine arts, as well as provides a venue for art demonstrations presented by professional artists.
“Demonstrators are artists who can create a painting in an hour or so in front of an audience, while explaining the different techniques they are using,” she explains.
Du Preez says being an artist is lucrative if you are also a tutor.
It also depends how much effort you put into it.
“I don’t have to make a living from it, because I just do it for the love of art,” says du Preez.
The art exhibition will take place at 3 Bloubos Street, Van Dyk Park, Boksburg, from 10.30am to 3:30pm.
For more information you may contact du Preez on 073 282 3901.
