A life-long love affair with art: Meet Amanzimtoti artist Allan Kuhnel

LOCAL artist Allan Kuhnel (43) will showcase his masterpieces at Art on Kingsway this Saturday, 6 July from 11am until noon.

A painting for each year that the artist has lived in Amanzimtoti will see 14 abstract city and landscapes on show, each linked with a poem.

Allan’s art will be on display and for sale from Friday, 28 June through to Saturday, 6 July when he will be present at the showcase, sharing more on art and its meaning in his life.

The up-and-coming artist grew up in Port Elizabeth.

“At five-years-old I won my first colour-in competition,” Allan began. “The prize was a R2 paper note. I have been fascinated with colour since. At school, my projects were bright and bold. People would tell me that my colour combinations wouldn’t work, especially when I used pink and red alongside each other. I didn’t seem to pay much attention to the concerning comments. I simply loved experimenting with colours.”

Allan’s primary school art class was what he enjoyed most.

“I learned so much from experimenting with colours and different styles of applying colour onto different surfaces. Our teachers let us be free to express our individual and differing styles. We had so much fun with art. Little did I know, this was only the beginning of my life-long love affair with the art world, that would one day transform my life and the lives of others forever,” he said.

As time went on art became Allan’s whole world and creative ideas permanently flooded his mind, faster than he could express them.

“I didn’t always know how to show people what I felt from the things I saw and this frustrated me. I met artist Andre Grobler, who owned his owned gallery and his work greatly inspired me to paint. I then met an art teacher who taught me basic laws of art that helped me develop basic skills, but it wasn’t until I met another very special woman who pushed me to birth my very own art styles to the world with bold confidence. I married her one year later and today she still remains the greatest fan of my creations, thank-you Barbara Kuhnel. Thirteen years ago I met another very influential abstract artist, Natasha Barnes, who inspired me further to find my own style of painting.”

Allan believes that painting can have a huge impact on mood and emotion, in a positive way, even so far as to make us feel happier, calm or provide motivation.

“Everywhere we go, art is evident, so naturally, art enriches life,” he said. “I now paint what I feel and not just what I see. My inspiration to paint comes from the true wonder of life all around us, seen and unseen. My hope is that my paintings would inspire the viewer to imagine more, and to seek, believe and do more with your life than merely exist. I believe all life should be celebrated and expressed truthfully and freely, to the benefit of all who witness it.”

Allan invites art enthusiasts of the area to join him at the Art on Kingsway gallery at the Caltex garage along Kingsway, Amanzimtoti. Entrance is free and the event is family friendly.

“I desire that a lasting life-changing impression will remain in the hearts and minds of those allowing themselves to look deeper into my paintings, for in each painting there are hidden secrets to the very essence of life,” he said.

For more information follow Allan Kuhnel’s Art on Facebook and if attending the event, RSVP to the Facebook event.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. 
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)