Painting her dreams
A glimpse into the interesting and creative world of Salt Rock painter Roz Cryer.
“I dream my painting and I paint my dream” was famously said by Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh.
His words aptly describe the work of Salt Rock painter Roz Cryer.
“The characters I meet in my mythological house inspire me,” said Roz Cryer, speaking of the place she visits in her dreams to be inspired.
The fine arts masters student is fascinated by Transpersonal Psychology, which focuses on the meeting point between psychology and spirituality.
“By becoming constantly aware of my negative self and befriending it, I improve my positive self,” said Cryer.
The Jungian inspired theory is about getting back to your core self through dreams, giving her work an ethereal quality.
“This girl, for example, I saw lying in the fetal position in one of the rooms in my mythological house and she made me think about my inner child,” said Cryer, while holding a delicate sculpture.
“Like a child, I tend to shy away from overwhelming crowds or moments and want to curl up like her and go back to my comfort zone.”
Three years ago Cryer was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and had to have an operation immediately.
Even so, six months after the operation, Cryer had a heart attack, due to a blood clot.
“It was a year of ups and downs and it taught me to slow down, rest more and listen to my body.”
The year of near death experiences made her braver in her art and less worried about negative opinions, which was something she struggled with before.
Cryer enjoys sharing her talent and holds weekly classes in her home studio. “It is important that you go with what works for you, find your flair and develop it,” said the petite, blonde artist, while showing me artworks in her studio.
“People are seduced by colour. I teach my students and myself to get rid of colour and focus on tone first, colour comes later.”
This method creates beautiful, rich artworks, with glimmers of colours shining through one another.
Besides painting and working with porcelain, which she has recently been experimenting with, Cryer loves making crazy tassels and is passionate about nature and wildlife.
“I would love to work with orangutans one day,” she said, eyes sparkling.
“They are such fantastic creatures and one of the very few animals with a self reflective consciousness.”
Contact Roz on 082 594 3532.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
