Self-taught Greymont oil painter finds her voice through abstract realism
What began as a fear of oils has now turned into a passion, marking the beginning of a self-directed journey.
What began as hesitation has evolved into conviction for Greymont resident Renette de Munnik, a self-taught oil painter who is steadily carving out her place in the contemporary art landscape.
De Munnik only seriously took up oil painting in 2017, despite a lifelong interest in art. For years, she avoided the medium, intimidated by its reputation for complexity. Then came a turning point. “I thought, let’s tackle the bull by the horns, and I taught myself.”
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Her first major work, a pop art portrait that took a full year to complete, marked the beginning of a disciplined, self-directed journey. Since then, she has continued refining her craft, leaning heavily on online resources while developing a distinctive voice.
That voice, she says, only truly emerged after she narrowed her focus. “I was watching too many tutorials. It confuses you. Then, I decided to follow one group that really spoke my language.”
Through consistent study and practice, De Munnik has now settled into what she calls abstract realism – a hybrid style that blends expressive abstraction with detailed, lifelike imagery. “It’s not easy to combine the two. You can do abstract, you can do realism, but bringing them together into one cohesive piece is where the challenge lies.”
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Her ambition for the year ahead is clear: Produce between 20 and 30 large-scale works that are stylistically unified and instantly recognisable. “I’ve found my voice now, and now I have a story to tell. I want my voice to go out to the world.”
That opportunity may be closer than ever. On April 11, she will be featured in a Slow Art Movement event in Magaliesburg – her most significant showcase to date.
Selected as the sole artist for the event, four of her paintings will be presented in a format designed to encourage deliberate, reflective viewing.
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