I, Andrea Bokelman, live and work in Cape Town, South Africa. 

 

I'd like to think that I learnt how to 'see like an artist' in high school.  I could paint realistically from the age of 15. I realise now that I was not best suited to the task or assignment-oriented approach to learning.  I left high school with plenty of unfinished paintings.

Ultimately, I chose not to pursue a formal art education beyond high school. I studied marketing at university and have been working in the advertising and media industry since. 

 

I took up painting again as part of my recovery from substance abuse.  It is now an integral part of my rehabilitation.  Creating art is my therapy. 

 

Artists on social media and YouTube inspired me to learn and experiment with non-traditional techniques with modern acrylics. 

 

I'm fascinated with the chemistry of paint which leads to expected and unexpected paint reactions and results. I also love texture - being able to see various textures as well as being able to touch them.

 

I'm in the process phase of my artistic journey. I'm learning and trying out everything water-based paint and texture related.

 

I'm very cognizant to not be wasteful in my artistic practice.  I've found that I often get better results when I work without the fear of possibly wasting expensive art supplies or don't fear 'messing up' a piece.  I've developed ways to reimagine a 'failed' piece into something new.

 

My current works are experiments with fluidity, texture, and application technique.

I'm finding my artistic style and voice. Finding my balance between expressive and precise abstract painting. Simplicity versus depth and detail.  Intuition and flow versus planning and control.

 

I want to create imperfect paintings that are ‘oddly satisfying’.