Blog | www.pieterapienaar.com - Pieter A Pienaar: artist, author and educator

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 10, 20202 min read

“Mysterious art” (Post 96)

Robert Black said, “The popularity of abstract art is easily explained, when you consider all art represents reality, and mystery is part...

33 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 9, 20202 min read

“Gold does not leave us cold” (Post 95)

As artists we are often rather scared to use the colour gold in our works. We are all familiar with the beautiful church icons and the...

36 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 8, 20202 min read

“It is ugly” (Post 94)

A few years ago, I made a series of experiments to see if I would not discover a few new techniques. I had some fun but I never intended...

35 views1 comment

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 6, 20202 min read

“When it just works” (Post 93)

When I am working with watercolour or “watery” media I always feel a little apprehensive, because deep down I know that I am not...

53 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 5, 20202 min read

“Trying to fly a kite” (Post 92)

I had just started my teaching career. It was 1991 more or less and I decided to participate in the annual exhibition arranged by the...

66 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 4, 20202 min read

“We reveal our worlds” (Post 91)

Last night I spent some time with friends and they showed me their photos of their 2015 trip to France. They spent time in Saint-Rémy and...

81 views2 comments

“Creative unity – we can not buy it online” (Post 90)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 3, 20204 min read

“Creative unity – we can not buy it online” (Post 90)

Over the course of the last few weeks I visited a few shopping malls. I targeted art galleries and décor shops in particular, because...

58 views0 comments

" 'Credibility' - I believe in you" (Post 89)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 3, 20203 min read

" 'Credibility' - I believe in you" (Post 89)

I was wondering what I would blog about today. I turned on my computer and I looked at my e-mails first. I was surprised by the...

91 views2 comments

“Hand yourself over to Divine gentleness and time” (Post 88)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 1, 20203 min read

“Hand yourself over to Divine gentleness and time” (Post 88)

Today I want to speak about my Biblical journey with pen an ink illustration. I suppose, if someone had told me more than 25 years ago...

70 views0 comments

“Jeddah landmarks in watercolour” (Post 87)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Aug 1, 20203 min read

“Jeddah landmarks in watercolour” (Post 87)

Yesterday a new friend came to view my Journey with Jeddah picture book and he stopped paging when he came upon the watercolour section...

86 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 31, 20202 min read

“Dare to decorate” (Post 86)

There are days or weeks when I just don’t feel like making "serious" traditional works. During those periods I turn to abstraction and I...

47 views0 comments

“That is what I want – I take it” (Post 85)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 30, 20203 min read

“That is what I want – I take it” (Post 85)

Yesterday, I paid an artist friend a quick visit and she showed me her collection of works which she still intends to sell, as we were...

63 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 28, 20201 min read

“Art and opinion” (Post 84)

When I was a student, I wanted to participate in a (friendly) group show and I submitted a few works. The work which I included here,...

66 views1 comment

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 27, 20201 min read

“Canvas hearts” (Post 83)

I decided to create a series of abstracts in September 2019 and I deliberately decided to use differently shaped canvases, simply because...

39 views0 comments

“A portrait belongs to a family” (Post 82)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 27, 20202 min read

“A portrait belongs to a family” (Post 82)

I am using text from my Journey with Jeddah book, which I trust the reader may enjoy. The extract is taken form the Portraits with ink...

32 views1 comment

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 26, 20201 min read

“Small things matter” (Post 81)

As creatives we may often become a bit hesitant to start another big work; we know what awaits us. Why shall we not take a break from...

22 views0 comments

“The weather plays a part – whether we like it or not” (Post 80)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 25, 20202 min read

“The weather plays a part – whether we like it or not” (Post 80)

We may think, as artists or creatives, that the sole onus rests on us, when we plan to execute a creative idea. However, we need to take...

43 views1 comment

“The mundane becomes significant - seen as art” (Post 79)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 24, 20201 min read

“The mundane becomes significant - seen as art” (Post 79)

This morning, as I was looking through my digital portfolio, I saw this acrylic on board painting I made in 1996. I looked at it for a...

33 views0 comments

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 23, 20202 min read

"Activating a vision" (Post 78)

My Vision If I could press a key, To make fantasies appear, I would, I would. May it fall into place One amazing day. I am tied to a...

35 views0 comments

“A stitch in time saves nine – you may not feel fine” (Post 77)

Pieter A. Pienaar

Jul 22, 20203 min read

“A stitch in time saves nine – you may not feel fine” (Post 77)

This post brings together a few difficult issues that deserve "deeper scrutiny", but not here and not now. Please hear my heart and bear...

41 views2 comments