I recently came accross the work of Alexis Bester, a full-time local artist, who lives and works on a farm near Tulbagh at the foot of the Witzenberg Mountains.
According to the website Kunste Huijs, his medium is mainly oil paint on either board or canvas. He draws his composition in charcoal and adds preliminary shades and colour by mixing paint and turpentine. The painting is then allowed to dry before he starts to work through the painting, applying paint only and mixing colours as needed. Alexis primarily uses flat brushes, but also uses round brushes, pallet knives and his fingers.
His work portrays a vivid imagination, the skillful use of bright colour and shadow, and an interesting combination of perspective with geometric forms. There is a gilded thread of vitality and energy and a playful, uplifting and child-like vision that sees mystery and wonder in the everyday experience.
The artist’s style is described as naive surrealism and shows a delightful focus on the positive. The many harlequin and clown images in his work speak to a personal and lifelong fascination with the circus and the performing arts. (Flickr slideshow)
Sources: Alexis Bester; Robertson Art Gallery; kunste huijs; Dante Art Gallery
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