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lthough she is officially labelled a landscape artist, it would be a disservice to restrict Durban artist Tanya Wetteland-Reid to any particular genre. Her work is impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, energetic and, most of all, courageous. The very fact that this exhibition doesn’t have a name probably reflects that this collection of work cannot be confined by definition.
She says “what is it?” was a common question at the opening of her first South African exhibition in six years and her first ever solo showing. Her answer is simply paint on canvas. “I love nature, the joy of life. I want people to look at my work and just feel. Anyone can learn to paint technically but the real issue is not to be bound. There are no rules, no recipe. I do not want to just be known as a landscape artist.”
This is almost a description of Tanya’s evolution as an artist. After formally studying art at what is now the DUT, she worked for four years before relocating to the UK. She also lived in Vietnam and Thailand, painting “very part time”. Her eventual return to South Africa has, at last, seen this mother of three begin to paint “very full time”.
In terms of style, she says her work has become bigger and bolder, both in size and in style. “It’s a bit more ballsy! My earlier works were darker. I’m not scared any more when it comes to the use of colour. This is where I am going now in terms of style.”
In fact, Tanya’s work is characterized by warm and vibrant hues. Rich and warm pinks and reds feature prominently with others from her clear, bright palette (blues and greens) adding contrast.
“My work is about energy and colour. I want to see the brush strokes – which is why I don’t use painters’ brushes. I use hardware store brushes.”
Larger than life might be the best way to describe the substantial canvases that she favours. When would-be buyers complained that her paintings were too big for their walls, she tried smaller creations. But the end result was “a bit safe”, she says.
Quickly removing a nameless painting of a vase of flowers from a wall, she declares that it was painted a few years ago, does not belong and will be going home with her. Her work has moved away from clichéd subjects.
That means Tanya is all too aware of the dangers of painting flowers in the first place. The only two pieces that have clearly identifiable subjects – one of flowers and one of lemons – are bold and up close. You won’t see a vase or even a table, she promises. She comments that she wants her paintings to be “beautiful but not pretty”.
Spontaneity is also important. “This type of painting needs to be fresh and energetic. I try to paint quickly and not labour a work. If I make a mistake, I leave it. That keeps the spark and the energy. It fits this style,” she explains, adding that when she finds herself taking too much time over a piece, she simply turns it around to face the wall and returns a few days later with a totally new approach.
Three of the canvases on show – 'Path Of Light', 'Hillside Pathway' and 'Out For The Day' – were completed in a single day. She makes a point of keeping titles simple and “gets a kick out of painting every day scenes” – whether these are interior or exterior vistas. The former such as ‘Still Life By Window’ tends to include more geometrical strokes and architectural detail while outdoor scenes seem to flow a little more.
However, the trick is not to analyse her pieces too closely. “My work appeals on a totally emotional and not a purely intellectual level,” she stresses. |
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