Mesmerising seascapes, tropical plants, cheeky monkeys and a colour palette that’s rich in sunrise hues… Paula Breetzke’s art is inspired by her home in Blythedale.
Art, says Paula, is something she simply stumbled into. As a young girl, she had dreams of becoming a concert violinist or mathematician, but instead ended up studying a business degree, and worked as an assistant finacial accountant for some time. Feeling unsatisfied in her work, she went on to study property valuation. She worked in the valuation industry in Cape Town and Durban, but while struggling with her mental and physical health, she took a leap of faith and decided to study kinesiology. “During that process, I got more in tune with myself as a human being, and started to understand how the mental, emotional and physical are all connected,” she says. “The move into kinesiology allowed me to get in touch with my more feminine, soft side.”
With this shift, Paula opened herself up to new experiences, taking on a 30-day creative challenge that encouraged her to draw and share her work online every day. Soon after that, she started painting abstract wildlife pieces and her mom eventually convinced her to display her work at a gallery in Ballito. Now, eight years down the line, she knows she is on the right track. “There’ve been ups and downs, but I’ve found what I’m supposed to do,” she says.
Originally from Pietermaritzburg, Paula has lived on the North Coast for the last two and a half years. The environment here has had a direct impact on her work – big, tropical fronds, monkeys and the ocean are common threads in her paintings.
Over the years, her practice has guided her and Paula says she is constantly experimenting with new ideas and techniques. “It’s important to make time for play in your creative practice,” she says. Life as an artist involves a lot of hard work and vulnerability, but ultimately, she believes she is exactly where she needs to be right now. “I’m so happy,” she says. “You know when you have those moments of gratitude, you just want to cry?”
Details: www.paulabreetzke.com; IG: @paulabreetzke
Photographs: Paula Breetzke and Willem Oets
We asked Paula to share her advice for aspiring artists…
BE CURIOUS
Learn about yourself. Learn about what it means to be an artist. Learn about art, about lines, form, value, space, colour theory, lighting, and composition. Learn about different mediums, techniques and styles of art. Learn about the history of art, and the masters that came before us. Learn about the creative process. Learn about the aspects of running an art business; about sales, marketing, finances, networking, problem solving, planning, time management and so on. Learn, learn, learn!
BE PLAYFUL
Remember what Einstein said about play?
BE MISCHIEVOUS
While you’re learning all the things, remember to push the boundaries, question the rules and challenge authority.
BE A SOCIAL CREATURE
We spend heaps of alone time in our studios, so it’s a good idea to occasionally get out into the world. Find your art troop, your art friends and your creative mentors. Surround yourself with other weird creatures and take care of each other.
LEAP
Leap from tree to tree. Leap even when the fear is overwhelming.
MAKE A NOISE
This might be a teeny whisper at first but eventually you’ll find your “whoop”!
