About Pieter

Pieter Janse van Rensburg

Pieter has dedicated himself to his painting craft for the past several decades. His focus on landscape painting has largely been unwavering - generally in his chosen medium of oil on canvas, but occasionally in other media too.

The influence of the Everard group on his landscape work is clear, particularly that of Ruth Everard Haden, whose characteristic landscapes exhibited nationally and internationally between the 1930s and 1950s, demonstrate a varied and subtle appreciation of perspective, scene and colour palette.

In a similar vein Janse van Rensburg sees his landscapes with a different eye: the natural burnt and umber hues of the typical inland South African landscape take on a fantastical tinge in his considered yet vibrant brush strokes. His oranges and reds burst forth from the Browns and yellows of the mountainous landscapes he is so fond of. Other landscapes often feature rivers and pools their fecundity realised in an even wider palette of blues, deep mauves and yellows.

Van Rensburg's style follows the impressionistic leaning favoured by the Everard Group, eschewing realism in the depiction of landscape in favour of multitude of symbolic colours and brushwork, each new scene taking on a living identity. In some dream-like landscapes, figures appear, floating as if from another, more spiritual realm. In others, a calm and empty mountainside holds it's secrets to itself.

The artist has honed his craft over many years and has been in the fortunate position of travelling and exhibiting widely. His teaching has also benefited many others learning to express themselves and their relation to the world through art.

I have no hesitation in recommending Pieter Janse van Rensburg as an artist, and see a dedicated professional in all respects.

Mary-Jane Darrol

Mary-Jane Darroll is an MAFA graduate from Wits University and founder Curator of the Standard Bank Gallery and Corporate Collection. During her tenure at the bank she was also Fine Art Coordinator of the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Subsequently she was head of the Painting Department at Stephan Welz & Co/Sotheby's and later a Director at Everart Read Galley, Johannesburg. She is also a founder member and Executive Director of Strauss & Co and most recently a Curator and Art Project Director at the Nirox Sculpture Park.

Mary-Jane Darroll Senior Art Specialist | Director

Pieter Janse van Rensburg


STUDIES:
  • THED 4th Year Teaching Diploma in Fine Arts (Cum Laude), Pretoria Teacher's Training College
  • BA, University of Pretoria
  • BA Hons, University of Potchefstroom
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts, Open Window Art Academy
  • Diploma in Oil Painting, Technikon Pretoria
  • Diploma in Iconography, Anna-Marie Bands
  • One Year study at the Ilhami Art Academy of Istanbul
  • Specialising in the art of Hikmet Onat, as well as the art of Russian Iconography in Turkey
  • Louis Jansen van Vuuren - La Creuzette, France
  • Cite des Arts - Paris, France
  • Renaisance art

PROFILE:

Matriculated at Carolina High School, where he was also greatly influenced by the Everard Group - in particular, Ruth Everard Haden, whom he befriended at a young age. After he had completed his academic training, he taught for 25 years in Pretoria, after which he started his own Art School - The Panorama Art Academy in Pretoria.

Pieter now lives and teaches art in Standerton, Mpumalanga.

Janse van Rensburg specialises in oil on canvas, and also works in pencil, pen & ink, charcoal, pastels, mixed, media and etchings.

`Janse van Rensburg shows an intense love for nature and one feels his real inspiration, when he tackles his canvas with broad, direct and agressive energy. His brushwork and use of colour suggest a reflection of the 'Big Bang', which has always great impact on the viewer. The influence of the individualistic Everards is quite visible in the work of Janse van Rensburg, although he developed his own, individual style and became known for his bold, fearless application of colour in his various artistic forms.`

Katinka Kempff (MA Fine Arts)

Art Critic and former curator, Pretoria Art Museum

'Janse van Rensburg is particularly apt in depicting the Landscape, the ever changing sea, as well as the ageless mountains. He imbues these landscapes with metaphysical meaning and surging emotion, while simultaniously investigating further aethestic problems of style and expression. His art is not static, but constantly in a state of flux. Consequently his style develops and matures and he is now clearly proclaiming a personal, aesthetic credo.'

Frieda Harmsen

MA Art Historian (UNISA) and Art Critic

2008 - Pieter Janse van Rensburg was also selected to study at the Cite Des Arts in Paris, by the South African Art Association.

2013 December - Pieter Janse van Rensburg was also selected to study at the Cite Des Arts in Paris, by the South African Art Association.

PRESENTE DES HUILES HAUTES EN COULEURS RAPPELANT LE PAYSAGES D`AFRIQUE OU IL VIT ACTUELLEMENT.

DEPUIS QU`IL A DECOUVERT LA FRANCE, IL MELE LES PAYSAGES DU SUD AVEC LES COULEURS DE L`AFRIQUE, CE QUI DONNE DE LA FORCE ET DU MOUVEMENT A SON TRAVAIL.

IL MELANGE SAVAMMENT, CIEL ET MONTAGNE D`AFRIQUE AVEC LA TERRE DU SUD DE LA FRANCE QU`IL FIXE SUR LA TOILE.

C`EST UNE ERUPTION DE COULEURS FLAMBOYANTES TE UN VOLCAN, IL EST A LA FOIS PEINTRE 'NAIF' ET 'IMPRESSIONNISTE'

L`ART DU TEMPS, 34 Rue Saint Louis en L`ile, 75004, Paris

Pieter Janse van Rensburg's work is honest and pleasing to the viewer. He loves to portray the beauty and complexity of nature in his own style. His work conveys a spiritual connection with nature. His subject matter is varried , but landscapes , still lifes and interriors make up the centre of his artistic interest.

He developed his own unique way of expressing the vast landscapes and is an expert in use of colour. He uses a lavish and provocative palette, visualising arresting images that vibrate with strong and lively colour. He loves texture and design which is boldly expressed in his art.

Janse van Rensburg also works in different mediums pastels, charcoal, pen and ink, mixed media. His pastels are highly sucessful, attractive and more abstract.....

LYNETTE TEN KROODEN. M.A. FINE ARTS. LECTURER AND INTERNATIONAL ARTIST.

EXHIBITIONS:

Janse van Rensburg exhibited widely in South Africa, in solo as well as in various group exhibitions in Pretoria, Carolina, Graaff-Reinet, Hermanus and Onrus, as well as Internationally in Istanbul, Ankara, Cairo, Swaziland and Nedbank Pretoria

REPRESENTED:
  • Ilhami Gallery in Istanbul
  • Canada
  • Germany
  • The SA Art Association in Pretoria
  • The Sammy Marks Building in Pretoria
  • Various private collections in Paris (France), Pretoria, Carolina, Ermelo, Graaff-Reinet, Hermanus, Onrus and Mbabane, Middelburg, Ladismith, Hermanus

REFERENCES:
  • A dictionary of South African Art
  • South African Art News
  • The Art Ventilator, A Southern African Magazine for the Arts
  • Turk Resminde Insana Bakis