A splash of colour
The rich colours and calm scenes in her paintings transcend her joyful nature.
Stepping into Ballito artist, Rita van Wetten’s home is like being transported into a gorgeous gallery – walls covered with framed colour and vases full of fresh flowers.
The lover of all things creative has been addicted to art since she first touched a paintbrush in 1981.
“We moved to Belgium back then for two years and I suddenly felt like a bored housewife in need of a hobby. I was an avid tennis player, but it was too expensive to play in the indoor courts overseas,” said the gentle, blonde lady with smiling eyes.
She was one of the lucky ones to be accepted at the Academy of Arts in Antwerpe, where she fully submerged herself into the world of arts.
“That is where I became arty farty. I danced, did painting, pottery, weaving, spinning (not the sweaty, cycling kind) and sculpting. Painting is the only one that survived until today,” she said with a hearty chuckle.
“Painting makes me feel happy and it relaxes me, although I have moments where I get terribly frustrated, but then I just put the canvas away and let it rest for a while.”
The rich colours and calm scenes in her paintings transcend her joyful nature.
“My best is painting flowers. Any flowers. They just light up my life. I would rather buy flowers than bread. I also love street scenes, especially the ones in Venice. That is my dream place. One day, I will go and live there. Just do not ask me to draw portraits or humans in general. I have a fear of painting people.”
While she started with water colours and has done various courses in other painting techniques, she favours oils.
“I like how you can create texture with oil by adding thick paint here and there. The colours are also more alive than with water colours.”
She is inspired by Van Gogh’s work and has painted a few copies of his classics, such as The Starry Night.
Rita is part of the local Art Buddies group and together they regularly have art exhibitions in Ballito, so look out for her colourful flowers and Venetian street scenes.
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