My Art Journey

My journey into painting began while living in Rwanda, 15 years post-genocide. During those years, I experienced a devastation to the human spirit unlike anything I'd ever encountered before. It was through this season of lament that I noticed the absence of visual art in a country consumed by survival. This void left the soul depleted. And yet, alongside such brokenness, there was an abundance of wonder. Rwanda is a feast for the eyes, rich in natural beauty and remarkable people. It was at this point that I first picked up a paintbrush and began painting. I wrestled with my desire to paint in such a context, but later came to appreciate that, "We don't make art because we are artists, but we make art because we are human."

I was in my forties and had no formal art education, but through sheer determination and an intrinsic desire to create, I developed my skills as an oil painter.

Having lived in a few countries around the world, I find my work deeply influenced by the places I call home. In Kigali, Rwanda, I was primarily drawn to portraiture, inspired by the beauty, strength, and character of the women around me. Since moving to Stellenbosch, South Africa, I have been increasingly drawn to landscape painting, captivated by the mountains that dominate and frame this town.

I paint what surrounds me - subjects that I encounter every day. A novelist friend once told me, "Write about what you know," and I have adopted the same philosophy in my art. Whether painting a landscape or a figure, my aim is to capture a recognisable subject while offering a personal interpretation of what I see.

Using a bold and whimsical colour palette combined with loose, impressionistic brushwork, I seek to create paintings that are vibrant and expressive. I aim to evoke recognition, memories, and emotional resonance with the viewer, in an attempt to preserve an atmosphere, a person, a fleeting moment, or a sense of place through paint.