Defining the passion of art
‘It’s not an escape as such, it’s something that has always been with me.’
AT the tender age of five, Lorna Read picked up a colour crayon and made her first picture come to life.
Now, at the age of 27, she spends the majority of her days being mother to two boys, Orion and Joshua, and holding down a day job at Transnet.
But beneath the surface her desire for bringing her art to life on canvas is always present.
‘I love to paint, it’s the one part of my week where I get some ‘me time’,’ she says.
‘It’s not an escape as such, it’s something that has always been with me.’
The walls of her Richards Bay home she shares with her mother are adorned with several of Lorna’s works of art – portraits of family, an abundance of flowers painted in the most intricate detail, with vibrant colours to match.
‘Recently I have really been experimenting with new techniques and trying to steer away from true colour, leaning towards the abstract.’
Her attention to detail is what sets her work apart.
‘I really enjoy portraits as they are really challenging. But I usually end up painting whatever happens to catch my eye.
‘I am a bit of a perfectionist though, the house is full of pieces that are half finished that I’m not happy with,’ she laughs.
Although she attends art classes once a week for painting techniques, she loves doing pencil drawings.
She laughs when I ask if she has ever considered doing commission pieces full time.
‘Even when my mom suggested I go study art, I didn’t want to. I’m fearful that if I make this my career and it becomes work, it might kill my passion.’
Lorna is teetering on the edge of breaking through her past influences and learning new techniques, and is one to watch as her art moves into a new dimension.
