|
More
about Mari van der Walt
Mari is a Christian artist, who enjoys creating lovely paintings. She
has many endearing qualities, have an empathy with others and loves the
beautiful things life has to offer.
She sang in the school choir, participated in singing competitions
and won a prize for art, when she was in standard 5. Later in standard
8, she had the opportunity to take art lessons for only one year.
Although other children in her area ridiculed those who took art as a subject, she
nevertheless decided that she will not take notice of their taunting
and would rather seize the opportunity to enhance the quality of her
artwork. To her amazement, she did well and her art teacher showed her
work to others. One of Mari's friends told her that a geography teacher
showed her artwork to his class and mentioned that she has a natural
talent. Mari was in the High School Middelburg till the end of
standard 8. After standard 8, she attended High School Belfast,
in Belfast, where art was not taught as a subject.
Mari declares that she was not pushed to paint, but that it is a
talent that God has given her and that she has had since she was small. Her
parents were her pillars of strength, because they helped her and
believed in her talent. Even with the negative comments that were made and which many times surrounds
artists, for example, that artists "do not have all their faculties
together", Mari's parents still supported her. Help and positive
encouragement from parents is a very important factor, even if they do
not understand the art talent their child exhibits.
Currently Mari lives in Hennenman in the Orange Free State. It is a
small farm village and she very much enjoys living there. The rat
race of the huge city life is not often seen in this beautiful
rural area.
 Mari
delights in antique
objects. She lives in an old house with a
nice porch and she collects antique furniture when she has the
opportunity. She also
treasures porcelain dolls.
Mari loves animals and once, as a young child, she had five little
orphan lambs to take care of. She also currently has quite a few pets at home.
There are dogs, a tame
rabbit that walks about around the house, a cockatoo that she raised by
hand and two very tame doves that try to get into the house now and
again. Mari picked up the one little dove when it had fallen out of the nest
after a severe storm. The second dove was brought to her by someone that picked
it up. She raised both doves, so they are very tame.
"My pets are very good company and helps me
to sit back and relax. People says I have a zoo, but my pets are
pleasant and
loving company."
Mari
enjoys having a canvas in front of her, a fresh cup of
tea on a side table and music in the background. So while listening,
she paints. Although Mari loves painting, time with her family and time
in prayer before the Lord is most precious. Her belief in the Lord Jesus
Christ is the beginning and ending of everything. "God gives and He takes and
without Him people are nothing."
"I always depend on God to help me. Sometimes I dream of
something beautiful and then I paint it. I
am amazed by nature. I also
enjoy
using color and so far, most of my paintings have been done in bright
colors. I love colors and the smell of sweet smelling roses. For me
smell and color walk hand in hand."
"I do not believe in painting subjects that can influence my subconscious
life negatively. I paint that which God gives me to paint, because being
able to paint is something I was given by Him. I didn't always see
things from such a Christian perspective, like I currently do. Through the years, I got
to know God better. I believed in Him since my childhood, but
am walking
nearer to Him now. My personal relationship with the Lord had grown
stronger as events and experiences in my life happened and as I grew older.
God also showed me the way when things happened. It is
wonderful to
talk to God in prayer and to get to know Him better. I love it when God
answers my prayers. It makes me so excited that I want to tell everyone about
it. But not all are as excited as I am, because sadly, not every one
believes in the Lord Jesus Christ."
Apart from her painting, Mari enjoys being part of her church service.
She is also earnestly concerned to try and help young people and to
encourage them to live nearer to our Heavenly Father.
She is also interested in the value of art therapy for
children with disabilities. Mari commented: "If you can stimulate their hands and minds, it can do
them a world of good. Art therapy is often used to help people
with disabilities. I am surprised to see what such small children can do.
For example, I saw children
who could paint the most
beautiful scenes with their feet, better than I could do with my fingers.
And the joy on their faces are too lovely for words!"
Mari will consider invitations to exhibitions. She will also consider
presenting a few classes at schools, if requested.
Read more about what a friend says about Mari and get to know the
person and artist better.
Read:
|
