Bromhof painter shares her art journey

Inspired by the natural beauty in everything, a talented local painter hopes that people can see it in her paintings.

Bromhof-based Amber van Heever has been creative since she was a youngster. She has created wedding and birthday cakes, jewellery and dolls but she always goes back to painting as it is what she loves the most.

“I am one of those people who stop and take pictures of the sunset. I just appreciate and see beauty in everything. I love to paint people and I call some of my paintings snapshots because it captures a moment in time,” she said.

Van Heever calls her art illustrative realism because you can see what it is but it also has illustrative qualities.

Being born in a family of creatives, all these influences stayed with her throughout her life. Her father was a talented woodworker and metal worker hobbyist.

“My mother has an appreciation for the arts and is a particularly creative cook. My maternal grandmother made the most beautiful handmade garments in crochet and knitting and my paternal grandmother practised the art of cold porcelain clay sculpture. ”

With no major qualification in art, the talented painter has always made a living out of her work.

“I did art in school as a subject and I did not go to varsity. I used to do greetings cards, bears and dolls that people ordered and I would make money.
“I love the process of creating. Art is my sanity, in this crazy world it is the one place you have control and things can be the way you want them.”

Lately, Van Heever said she had been influenced by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

“I love her vibrant use of colour and her magic realist style dealing with issues such as life and death.”

She has a business, Amber Media, that offers a wide selection of canvas and poster art, and framing options.

She shared ways an artist can sell their art:

• Confidence to show your work
• Social media is always useful for sharing your work, your progress and your story
• Approach galleries, they often look for new artists
• When asked by friends or family for your art, sell it, don’t give it away. It has value to both you and the person buying it
• Stick with it – it is not easy. Exposure, Exposure, Exposure
• Network with other artists, sometimes artists are approached for pieces that are not in their genre and will refer the customer to you
• Learn new techniques, and participate in workshops, like any profession, continued professional development is a must.

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