Unravelling Jan’s artistic journey

KNYSNA - The Knysna Art Society (Kas) recently hosted an engaging visit featuring renowned oil painter Jan Cilliers de Wet. The event, held on Friday 22 September, proved to be a delightful experience for art enthusiasts and aspiring artists alike. Jan's captivating anecdotes, demonstrations and innovative techniques left a lasting impression on the attendees.

Cilliers de Wet's passion for art blossomed at an early age, setting the foundation for a lifelong creative pursuit. During the Kas visit, held in the atrium of the Gallery in the Old Goal, Jan regaled the audience with tales of his artistic odyssey. From his humble beginnings as a budding artist at the tender age of five, Jan has honed his skills and developed a unique approach to his craft.

At the core of Jan's creative philosophy lies his motto, "Don't move unless moved."

This mantra encapsulates his belief in surrendering to a mysterious internal energy that guides the creative process. Jan embraces the unpredictability of his art, never quite knowing what will emerge on the canvas. The ever-changing nature of his work often surprises him, resulting in truly remarkable and unexpected pieces.

During the Kas visit, Jan captivated the audience with his innovative techniques.

One such technique involved the use of a small plastic bottle with a nozzle, filled with oil paint thinned down to the consistency of ink. With this unconventional tool, Jan skillfully drew fine lines onto the canvas, allowing him to capture his subject, a minotaur, with loose and fluid strokes. This approach imbued his artwork with a sense of

immediacy and enchantment, transporting the viewers into the realm of his creative vision.

Cilliers de Wet's artwork, including the "Kas-inspired" minotaur painting, will be showcased and available for purchase at the Sedgefield Mosaic Market. Visitors can find Jan at the market every Saturday, where he presents a collection of his paintings and works on new creations.

This provides art enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to witness the artist's creative process first-hand and acquire one of his captivating works.

"Sharing my artistic journey and philosophy with an open-minded audience was truly fulfilling," says Cilliers de Wet. "The practical demonstration was a delightful experience, especially since we collectively decided to portray the captivating minotaur."

Assisted by André Kruger, Jan demonstrates how to imprint the freshly painted minotaur onto fabric, which would later be turned into a pillow cover.

Creating upside down and demonstrating his technique using thinned-down oil paint to draw the outline of a minotaur.

Jan Cilliers de Wet talking to fellow artists about his inspirations and creative approaches.