A passion for painting and Africa inspires Robyn’s creations

A PASSION for painting and a love of Africa, with its wildlife, diverse landscapes and people, are the inspiration behind artist, Robyn Ansell’s art work.

Robyn who grew up in Kloof and now lives in Winston Park, always had a passion for drawing and art and loved doing creative things from a young age which continued into adulthood.

“Growing up with artistic parents I have always been encouraged to indulge my creative side. I discovered oils as a medium in my late teens and have never looked back,” said Robyn.

After matriculating from Kloof High School, she had the incredible opportunity to live and work in Botswana’s Tuli Block Game Reserve which fuelled her flourishing passion for the African wilderness even more. She completed her FGASA (Field Guide of South Africa training course) in 2009 and spent the next two years splitting her time between stints in Tuli and working for a local catering company.

“My brushes, paints and canvases were always with me and have made many trips back and forth across the Limpopo river. While I managed to do some painting I found I didn’t get as much time as I would have liked to paint.”

In 2012 she began working in Nambiti Private Game Reserve, a Big Five Game Reserve just outside Ladysmith, as a field guide and hostess. Guests and international tourists who saw her paintings encouraged Robyn to concentrate on her painting full time. Encouraged by the positive feedback her paintings were generating, Robyn made the momentous decision to leave her job in April this year to pursue painting full time.

“I have been fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time living and working in the bush which has enhanced my understanding and appreciation for the detail, colour and natural perfection which exists quietly and effortlessly in any part of land which is truly wild and without the influence or interference of humanity. Working in the bush has been mutually beneficial to all aspects of my character. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to live a lifestyle that is complimentary to the many different interests I have, a lifestyle where my passion for painting and music fit right in. Most importantly the industry afforded me the opportunity to meet a great variety of people who have guided and encouraged me to pursue my artistic ventures.”

Working from her studio at home, Robyn works from wildlife images produced by wildlife photographer, Chris Martin who she met a few years back in Botswana when Chris came to stay as a guest at the Lodge.

“We struck up a friendship and have remained close ever since. Seeing his beautiful work, with its acute attention to detail and light I felt compelled to paint it, luckily he felt equally appreciative of my work and gave me free reign of the use of his images.”

Robyn still makes as many trips to the bush as possible to feed her passion and creativity. In September she went to visit Chris who lives outside Hoedspruit on a private Big 5 Game Estate which allowed her a couple of weeks painting in the wild which she is hoping to make a regular occurrence. Chris is also the chairman of the anti-rhino poaching organization, “Rhino Revolution”, so discussions are under way as to how they can combine their shared arts to promote and raise funds for this worthy cause.

“There are so many things that I find captivating and rewarding about painting, the fact that I find myself to be continually learning, evolving and developing my technique affirms my belief that you can never get tired of doing something you love, something that you were born to do. I am so passionate about wildlife and conservation that when I paint I try to re-create a feeling.”

“I find simple effortless perfection in the true spirit of untouched Africa and the plants, animals, colours and textures of which it consists. To sit quietly and attempt to recreate this on canvas is for me truly exciting and fulfilling. I’m not sure that any artist can truly capture the magnificence and perfection that is wild Africa but I definitely get a great deal of pleasure out of trying. I wake up everyday and can’t wait to start painting. It is such a good feeling. I am very thankful for all the opportunities that I have had.”

Robyn can be contacted by email: hello@robynansellart.com or visit her web site (www.robynansellart.com) or follow her on facebook under Robyn Ansell Art.