Marriana Booyens Art from God's heart

Marriana Booyens

Artist Statement

I believe I am painting because I was made to paint, woven together in my mother’s womb by the hand of my Father in heaven for a purpose, and painting for Him is part of that purpose. That may seem daunting, and at times, it is, but it is also joyful, filled with gladness about the images I can create, guided by His Spirit and His Grace. Some come out closely resembling Him, others are more of a struggle with my flesh, and come out with only little bits of light from Him. My prayer is that my work will reflect Him more and more, as I grow closer to Him, reflecting glimpses of His face back to earth. I would like to think my work reveals Him to you, that you can bask in His light and Love as you look at my work. That is my hearts desire…to lift Him up, so that all men can be drawn to Him. I still have a lot to learn, and a lot to paint, but please join me on my journey.

Curriculum Vitae

1. Academic Qualifications

• 1988-92: Obtains the degree BA (Fine Arts) with a distinction in Painting at the Potchefstroom University.
• 2002: Obtains a Masters Degree in Visual Arts from the University of Pretoria.

2. Professional experience

(Lecturing experience includes teaching first to fourth year students, compiling study guides and curricula.)

• 1993 - 1995: Lecturer in Graphic Design at the Potchefstroom University.
• 1995 - 1996: Lecturer in Drawing, Painting and Graphic Design at the Vaal Triangle Technikon.
• 1997 –1998: Professional artist.
• 1998: Part-time lecturer in Graphic Design and Illustration, Potchefstroom University.
• 1999: Part-time lecturer in Illustration, Drawing and Graphic Design at the Potchefstroom University. Co-ordinator of the Creativity Centre for the School of Arts, Potchefstroom University, as well as lecturer for three of the five courses offered by the Creativity Centre. Courses taught: Watercolour, Oil Painting and Drawing.
• 1999: Paper delivered entitled Re-writing contemporary art within the post-structuralist idiom at the South African Art Historian’s conference in Pietermaritzburg.
• 2000-2002: Part-time lecturer in Illustration at the Open Window Art Academy.
• 2001-2002: Involved in the organisation and day-to-day running of a small creative company called Red Earth, which specialised in Mosaics and Murals.
• 2002: Completed mosaics for the Metro Mall Project in Newtown, Johannesburg, as one of 20 artists doing large-scale mosaics.
• 2002: Freelance writer for De Kat Magazine. Subject: Contemporary Art. Article published in the March/April 2002 Issue.
• 2002: Article for the National Newspaper Beeld. Subject: A visit to the Citè Internationale de Paris.
• 2003: Part-time lecturer at the Stellenbosch Academy for Design and Photography in Illustration.
• 2003: Commissioned by Stef Bos (Dutch Singer and Poet) to do 13 illustrations for his first anthology of poems called Gebroke Sinne.
• 2004: Lecturer at the Stellenbosch Academy for Design and Photography in Illustration.
• 2005: Initiated a business called ‘Meerkuns” teaching different levels of creativity to students.
• 2006: Lecturer in Illustration and Drawing at the Academy for Design and Photography, Stellenbosch.
• 2006: Illustrator for the magazine Lééf (Media 24).
• 2006: Teaches part-time courses in creativity called ‘Meerkuns’.
• 2006: Talks presented on the subject of creativity at the KKNK Art Festival in March 2005(on behalf of Lééf magazine).
  Talks presented on Creativity at the Aardklop Art Festival in Sept. 2006. (on behalf of Lééf magazine).
• 2007: Illustrator for Lééf magazine.
  Teaches Illustration at the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography.
  Teaches part-time courses in creativity called ‘Meerkuns’
• 2008: Teaches Illustration at the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography.
• 2008: Opens the Studio Gallery in Jamestown, Stellenbosh.
• 2009 – 2010: Teaches from the Studio Gallery in Jamestown, Stellenbosch for adults and children.
• 2010: Workshop in Encaustic Painting at Gallery Fabriano.
• 2010: Teaches a workshop in Watercolour Painting at the Studio Gallery.
• 2010/ 2011: Involved in the organization of the Lanzerac Gallery, co-owner and part-time curator at the Gallery.

3. Bursaries and scholarships (Tertiary)

• Ashley & Radmore award in 1988 for most promising first year student.
• Gregoire Boonzaaier award for Painting in final year of study.

4. National exhibitions and competitions

• Selected for the following national competitions:

• New Signatures - 1991, 1993, 2001

• Volkskas Atelier - 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999

• Momentum Exhibition - 1993

• Kempton Park Arts Competition - 1994, 1997

5. Exhibitions

• 1993 - Potchefstroom Gallery, April.
• 1994 - Exhibition with Sheila Nowers at the Karen McKerron Gallery, Bryanston, April.
• 1995 - Heidelberg, Germany, Quid Novi Art Gallery.
• 1995 - Exhibition with Clifford Mpai at the Karen Mckerron Gallery, April.
• 1995 - Exhibition with Marietjie Venter at the Potchefstroom Gallery, October.
• 1996 - Exhibition with Florian Wozniak, Open Window, Pretoria, November.
• 1997 - Exhibition with Chris Diedericks, Art Circle Gallery, Potch, October.
• 1998 – Exhibition at Aardklop Art Festival with Peet Pienaar & Martie Bothma, Art Circle Gallery, Potch, September.
• 1998 – Exhibition with Martie Bothma, November at the African Window, Pretoria.
• 1999: Exhibition in June at the Potchefstroom Gallery with Ian Marley, Chris Diedericks and Louisemarie Combrinck.
• 1999: Participation in a group exhibition at the Aardklop Art Festival, Potch.
• 2000: Participation in a group exhibition at the Aardklop Art Festival, Potch.