Heidi Fourie is the kind of artist who sees art in just about everything we do. Cooking, researching, writing. Even raising kids. For her, life itself is art. It’s no surprise that her vibrant, van Gogh-esque paintings are a reflection of how she sees the world.
Heidi Fourie is all about experimentation. Even if it sometimes gets messy. She’s convinced that everyone’s artistic handwriting comes through in their – what she calls – spontaneous dynamic motions. Heidi, for one, finds joy in exploring the flow and movement of the world around her, which she then tries to capture in her work. And boy, does she!
‘I’ve always loved the liquidity of paint. The intermingling of different colours and how you can cover large areas with one sweeping motion, or vary brushstroke shapes by manoeuvring the brush. I tend to construct an image with form and shade variation rather than contours.’
Although she deviates from oil paint often, she usually finds herself going back to it. For her, the richness in colour and malleability is unmatched. But it’s not only painting that brings her joy. Heidi also loves the seductive bleeds of ink. The soft lines of coloured pencils. The surprise element of printmaking. And the directness of photography.
Growing up, she always felt that creative itch we all have as kids … that human urge to imagine new worlds and make something out of nothing. While most of us eventually get caught up in life’s buzz which causes that creativity to fade, art stuck by Heidi’s side like a loyal friend. Whether it was during school breaks or after classes, painting has always been a soothing outlet for her.
It also didn’t hurt that creativity sort of runs in the family. Her mom’s a cartographer (how cool!) and her dad, though in finance, just loves spending time in the garden. All these influences stirred something in Heidi, which is why she dove straight into Fine Arts after matric. Though not without the usual concerns about how she’d make a living. The thing is, she didn’t have a backup plan, so she knew she had to make it work one way or another.
And so, after graduating, she opened her own business, Heidi Fourie Art. Brick by brick, she started with small and affordable pieces and worked her way up to the bold, larger works she’s known for today.
These days, she just loves the independence that comes with being a full-time artist. The best part? She gets to share her knowledge by occasionally working as a guest lecturer at the University of Pretoria. She enjoys getting students excited about new ideas and materials and helping them find their own artistic voice. When she doesn’t have a paintbrush in hand, you’ll most probably find her out exploring landscapes to build up her visual inventory. In fact, she tries to make a point of catching as many sunrises and sunsets as possible.
Heidi believes that no one artist can claim the gold medal. That everyone has their own unique expression, and that’s the magic of it. That ‘we’re all somebody’s favourite artist’. For her, it’s about capturing something universal, something that resonates deeply with the viewer.
But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t pour her own heart and soul into every piece. Because sometimes, she might just give a tad too much. One of those pieces – and most challenging, both emotionally and physically – is called Both Worlds. ‘I used bright, almost jarring colours and it deals with me intimidating or confronting myself. It has been an emotionally turbulent year where I experienced a whole spectrum of big emotions. Grieving a long relationship and some almost-relationships. There was learning to trust myself while travelling alone and making decisions, making and saying goodbye to dear new friends and lot of packing in and out. There were kind gestures from strangers and cataclysmic and sublime dreams. I also confronted snakes and precipices, unimaginable sunsets and got emotionally attached to an asparagus.’
It comes as no surprise that her biggest influences are the iconic Vincent van Gogh, (of course), along with her friend and mentor, Rina Stutzer and Diane Victor. Nature is also a big source of inspiration. Think mountains, landscapes, pretty skies, flowing water and everything in between.
In fact, this year, she’s been traveling all over the country and even taking a nature guide course to deepen her knowledge of the world’s creatures and landscapes.
As for the artist herself … well, she’s known for her sense of humour and her deurmekaar nature. And she’s thoughtfully impulsive (if that’s a thing). She unwinds by hiking, solo road trips, and climbing, which help clear her mind. She’s also a fan of studying and is trying to make a habit of writing.
So, whether Heidi is climbing mountains, chasing sunsets, or splashing colour on canvas, it all comes down to capturing the beautiful chaos of life. And if there’s one thing Heidi would want you to take away, it’s this. Life is art, and every brushstroke counts. So, why not make yours as bold and colourful as possible?
You can find Heidi’s work at David Krut Projects in Johannesburg, 99 Loop Gallery in Cape Town and Trent Gallery in Pretoria. Some galleries post the work they have in stock on artsy.com.
Details: Follow @heidi_fourie on Insta
Ways to release your creative juices
• Become like a child. Try to embody your inner child, where you didn’t worry about whether it will make sense, look good, sell and so on. Just find pure enjoyment in making things.
• Experiment. Test out new material, perhaps things you find in your immediate environment. Or sometimes a different brush or type of paper is the key.
• Be a sponge. Be curious about other artists’ processes. Ask many questions, observe and reach out.
• Observe. Look at everything with a lens of art making. Always carry a camera and notebook. Paint so much that everything you look at starts to look like a painting and ideas will be everywhere
• Nerd out. Be passionate about other fields, disciplines and subjects. You can’t just make art about art.
• Take care of your body. Sleep enough, exercise, eat healthy, drink water. All the best artists I know prioritise exercise.
• Write down your dreams. This is your wildest creative brain at work.
