Tell me a Story

Art collecting has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I buy art to tell my story. A secret diary as a witness to my life, if you will. Through each work I collect, I am reminded of different moments of pain or ecstasy in my life. Special memories or ....read more here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Putting Art in Everyone’s Hands!

I am so excited to announce that my art is finally going onto items we can use on a daily basis! I would love to put art in everbody’s hands, so I have decided to put my artworks on carefully selected functional art. Of course, it also makes for a very unique gift, which would really make you very popular amongst some otherwise difficult family members… 

Here are some of the items I have just launched:

..... read more here:

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Postcards from Paris

I have always loved the intricate art of folding origami, especially rabbits. The folding process forces me to be still, focus intensely and be completely in the moment. I find it both soothing and.... Read more here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Why don't Pigs Fly?

“Why don’t Pigs fly” is just a quirky little series I’m working on, in between two other big projects. Mostly for my own amusement, and I have to say, I truly enjoy it! This is a very personal...Read more here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

An Accidental Artist

I still need to pinch myself sometimes when someone asks me what I do, and I say that I am an Artist. A real one. I am amazed on a daily basis when I realize how lucky I am to finally be doing my art full time. After an almost 20 years hiatus from art (after being a graphic designer), I could not deny this urge to express myself through my art anymore, so I left the business world by taking a very risky leap of faith, and here I am. Sitting at a café in Paris, doing my art. Amazing. Read more here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Unequivocally Yes

A while ago I was interviewed on a radio station, and one of the questions they asked me, was: "What is the role of Art in a time like this, and is it important? (referring to the Covid19 Lockdown.) 

Without hesitation I answered: "Yes, absolutely!" Art is of cardinal importance in a time like this! We are being bombarded with so many negative things, and art is that one little ray of hope that shines through, but also questions you in a way that you are forced to do introspection.

Reflections of Paris

I continuously draw energy and inspiration from my surroundings, so with all the rain in Paris over the past few months, the water puddle reflections of Parisian landmarks, trees and people intrigued me to such an extent, that I could not stop trying to see what I could discover in these ever changing puddle reflections...... Read more here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Lockdown Love

The isolation has agreed very well with me, and I found some creative energy to try my hand at a few new things. I haven’t done oil painting in over a year – mainly because it is a medium that I really struggle with, but I am so in love with the richness of colour and the techniques you can use, that I suffer through it, usually to be pleasantly surprised and rewarded by the end result. 

I am doing four paintings at once, just because I find it easier to rotate between them while the others dry, and because this probably is the only time this year I will do oil painting, so I only suffer once through the messiness for a month or so, until..... read more here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Beauty and Ugliness

Dear friend, I have left my old life behind for a new adventure! Thank you all for supporting my dream of becoming a full time artist over the past year. 

I would love to share this journey with you, and yes, that means the ups and the downs of discovering new techniques, explore different themes, pushing myself and in the process discovering more of myself and how we connect and translate in the world around us. Read more about it here.

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Meet the Maker

Since it is #meetthemakermarch, I thought I would share some things with you that you will not find in a bio or on Google about me. I have always been a dreamer with my head in the clouds. I believed in fairy tales and dragons, and spend hours alone, drawing things, reading though as many books as I could find, and creating whatever.... Read more here

(I am running a new blog from my own artist website, and would still love for you to read my blogs. So pardon the link on this blog, but I will keep on publishing everything on both blogs. 

If you would like to stay in touch, see my latest artwork sneak peeks or launches, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter here. Hope to hear from you in the comments! )

Every Day Life

I find everyday people very interesting. Even the old lady that you think is very boring, has a story to tell, and people often surprise you in that way. Just pay attention and show some interest, you'll be pleasantly surprised. To read more about our everyday experiences, click here.

Moving on...

Ever wished that you could get rid of an annoying ex in a nice manner, but they just won't let go? I am no Bieber fan, she's just not my cup of tea, but I really had a good laugh when I heard this song, and with a few tweaks (mostly correcting his bad grammar - eye roll), I'm sure anyone will enjoy this too!

For all the times that you rained on my parade

And all the places you got in using my name

You think you broke my heart, oh boy for goodness sake

You think I'm crying on my own, well I ain't

Farm Girl Blues

So here I sit, in tears over the death of a nameless little lamb of two days old, and all my childhood memories came flooding back. There were three orphaned lambs that were just too weak to survive on their own during this exceptionally cold winter and had to be hand reared. Despite our best efforts, one of them died this morning. It's really just part of nature, but still it evokes strong emotions as you witness it.

The Joy of Mail Order

I love the thrill of online shopping! Or to be more specific, not the shopping part, but the anticipation of the package delivery. 

I started doing online shopping while I was building my house, scouring the internet for all new, unique and beautiful things. Every time I discovered a gem, and sometimes even a practical item - I ordered it.

Obviously things got a little out of control, which resulted in me starting to receive various boxes of deliveries on an almost daily basis, for weeks on end! 

I'm in Heaven!

After years of wishing and dreaming, I finally decided to take the big step: Treat myself with a proper walk in wardrobe. I always had nice wardrobes, but this time I wanted to convert an entire room for the purpose of my shrine ;-)

The thing is, I absolutely love clothes, and shoes, ... and handbags and scarves! That doesn't mean I have to wear it all (heavens no! I have far too much to wear). See, I just find so much pleasure in seeing, buying and then admiring beautiful things. I do not have to wear it all, I see it as collector's items....

Health Schmelth

Part of the comic strip I drew after
hallucinating in hospital.

I have a terrible fear of doctors, needles and hospitals. I would much rather catch a snake with my bare hands, or jump off a cliff, no problem, but the moment I walk into a hospital, fear and panic sets in, and tears just come out of nowhere, no matter how hard I try to keep my composure. I have been squeamish since I was a little girl, and nothing has changed since. Is this fear just in my head and irrational? 

After my last stay at the hospital, I am not as convinced that I am the problem anymore, nor that my fear is irrational. Let me tell you about my very unfortunate stay there, and you be the judge...

Dressed in Black

"Sleep of Reason"
 - Charcoal, A Odendaal

Today my heart is broken. My best friend of over 40 years has passed away, and, as always with a death, you are forced to think about your own mortality and the meaning of your life and life in general.

We were grade one when I met her. I was the shy airy fairy type, she was the outgoing athletic one and subsequently my protector, being one year older than I. We grew up together, shared the same schools, mischiefs, friends and joys. 

In our 20's she was in a car accident. I specifically remember the last time I saw her before the accident. It was completely random that she crossed a road, as I came driving down that road. She didn't see me, but that was a week before the accident which left her paralysed from the arms down. A few years later both her legs were also amputated after complications.

Leave Out all the Rest

"Memory" Oil & pastel
Annemie Odendaal

I was young, he was handsome, we were in love. Life and love seemed just so easy back then. I just started working and he was a lawyer who knocked my feet out from under me. 

We dated for a while, but I was a free spirit, and just didn't want to be caged as yet. We parted friendly, and I started a very promising career in another city. 

My Year of Saying Yes!

"Window of Possibilities"

Often times we get so stuck in a rut with our daily routines, beliefs, hobbies and friends, that we don't even notice how watered down, monotonous and safe our lives have become. 

"Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you" - Shahir Zag

A year ago I realised that I have become so stuck in my ways, that I would rather say "no" to most things, because I think I know exactly what works for me, and what I like. Right? It is always much easier to stay in your comfort zone, that  trying out something new. Heaven forbid I might actually enjoy it. The problem is, if you do not have new experiences, try new things and meet new people, how will you ever stay inspired, or grow?

Relationship Thermometer

I know this sounds a bit hypocritical since I lost myself a bit in a previous relationship. But trust me, it was a very high price to pay to regain my freedom and happiness, so hopefully you will find this information valuable beforehand, and not in hindsight like me ;-) 

This is just something I got off the internet (Cosmopolitan) before , so I can't take credit for it, but I thought it was the best advice I ever got! 

So with these tips always in mind, happy dating! And if you are in a relationship, read this to check whether you are still on the right track, or losing yourself in an unhealthy relationship.