(Nicola
Firth’s Baobab Tree Series)
Three friends coming together to display
specifically chosen pieces of work to illustrate each other's diversity and the
uniqueness of the creative process. This is the background to Splashes of
Randomness, an exhibition by Sharleen Boaden, Julia Forman, and Nicola Firth
currently running at artSPACE durban.
Pietermaritzburg-born Sharleen Boaden creates
impressionistic paintings from her studio in Durban. Her work is represented by
selected galleries countrywide and her paintings are found in both local and
overseas collections. For several years, she has been included in the top 20
selling artists at Pietermaritzburg's Art in the Park.
Sharleen began her artistic expression with
poetry and a few of her poems were published. In 2000, she turned to the Fine
Arts and now paints the poetry she feels. She tries to evoke an emotional
connection between her paintings and its viewers and hopes for them to see more
into the subject than just what is on the surface.
“In my paintings, I endeavour to capture the
emotive quality in the subjects I portray,” she explains. “I am an
impressionist, rather than a realist, preferring the viewer to be drawn by the
essence of the subject rather than by it being just a replica of real life.”
Julia Forman (Guilia) lives in Durban – “the
sunniest part of South Africa,” she says. “I am privileged to be surrounded by
contrast constantly - in the people, the landscape, the colours! It is these
elements that inspire me to wield the brush and I do so, sometimes with vigour
and speed, other times in quiet serenity. I continually strive to capture images
that we have all seen at some time...that special moment in time. My figures
are more about attitude and character, rather than perfect renditions. When I
complete a figure painting, the character and I have become one, having spent
many hours together, we know each other well.
“Pablo Picasso sums up the way I paint
flowers... "If one knows exactly what one is going to do, what good is it
to do it? Because one knows it, is of no interest. It is better to do something
else." And so it is that I strive to paint the smell of flowers.”
Having exhibited extensively in South
Africa and overseas, Forman exhibits annually at Art in the Park and the Hilton
Arts Festival. Her paintings can be found in private and corporate collections
worldwide.
Nicole Firth was born in Kenya in 1970 and
moved to South Africa in 1979. “I was fortunate to be raised on a farm and
educated in KwaZulu-Natal. At the age of 15, I realised that art was a subject
I really enjoyed and in which I showed some talent. I have never looked back.
After completing a BA Fine Art degree at the University of Pietermaritzburg,
majoring in ceramics, I decided to travel the world. The past few years have
been filled with working both overseas and locally, travelling to exotic
destinations and becoming a wife and mother of two. It was only in 2007 that I
found the time to pursue my life-long dream of painting.
“I currently attend classes with Pascale
Chandler in Durban, where my preferred medium is oil painting. I use my own
photography from various trips around Southern Africa as a reference, typically
scenes from the Transkei and Mozambique and weekends spent in the beautiful
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. I also gain inspiration from daily South African life
and from the wonderful artists I have met since I started painting again. Few
people are lucky enough to be able to do what they love. I am at my most
content when I am feeling inspired in my peaceful white studio, brush in hand
and a large blank canvas on my easel.”
artSPACE durban is situated at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road) close to the Waste Centre.
More information on 031 312 0793 or visit www.artspacedurban.co.za or www.artspacedurban.blogspot.com
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