HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR ARTIST

DISTINGUISHED Cape impressionist artist Conrad Theys will receive an honorary doctorate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) on Monday.

Speaking from his home in Bellville South, Theys expressed his pride at being a recipient of a doctorate in arts and design.

“It wasn’t that I doubted it, but I was thinking there are so many people who should have got this, didn’t they know about them? Then I thought, well, I accept it because I thought, why shouldn’t I?” said Theys.

The 78-year-old also expressed his pride at the education facilities in the area.

“We’ve got the University of the Western Cape and now we’ve got CPUT. This is an educational hub and the (Cape Peninsula) University of Technology is the biggest in the Western Cape.”

Theys turned to art full-time in 1974, having been one of George Boonzaier’s last students.

He studied graphic art under Edwine Simon at the Ruth Prowse School of Art between 1981 and 1982.

“I decided to go into art is it gave me fulfilment which I didn’t get from teaching. In teaching, you have to wait so long to see your results. But, when you make a work of art you see the result and it pleases you. I didn’t choose art to be my career; art chose me,” said Theys.

One of the original Cape impressionists, he paints landscape, portrait and still life. His works feature in galleries and collections around the world. |