Elizabeth (Betsie) Gauché was born in Upington in the North Western Cape, and grew up in Namaqualand,which is in the north western corner of South Africa. It is a barren land during the summer, but transforms into a patchwork of beauty during the flower season: that is, if enough rain falls during the winter!
The energy of the mountains,the barrenness of the land, the vast plains, the integrity of the people and the beauty of the floral season forms an integrating factor in your life:- ... if you let it. Later in life the simulation of these energies need to be expressed ... and this is the stage in my life where I am at present.
I'm a qualified Primary School Teacher (Biology & Art), Graduate Gemologist(GIA, Los Angeles) and hold various diplomas in Business- and Financial Management. After being in the Corporate and Business environment for about 30 years, I bid it farewell in 2008!
At present I am exploring my various art talents from home. I love to create and restore ... the influence from the energies above? I restore furniture, create leather murals and items by means of pyrography (poker-art) and painting wildlife on leather. When time allows, I take out the paintbrushes and oil paints and turn a canvass into a splendour of colour... Woodcraft is another of my passions; especially creating small items; hence the love for Architectural models - build to scale.
I live in Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa... the best place to find inspiration
for my work: the majestic mountains are a backdrop to the ocean. If I cannot go down to the beach to watch the rolling waves and rocks, I can hear the sound of the breaking waves at home... absolute bliss!
My motto for my work: "If you can dream it; I can do it!"
Please visit my Art blog site at http://nkoloart.blogspot.com to view some of the work I've done.
