Eileen is a South African artist who spent many years overseas before returning home. She was born in Cape Town in 1966 and qualified from Stellenbosch University with an Honours degree in African Studies. Her work crosses multiple mediums within art, including drawing, painting, and mixed media. After 25 years abroad accompanying her husband through various countries in Africa and the Middle East she has returned to South Africa. She now lives in the small village of St Lucia on the north coast of Kwa Zulu-Natal.

Eileen has experimented with a wide range of mediums. Her work is based primarily in acrylics, but she also uses pencil crayon, water colour pencil crayons, pencil and charcoal. Eileen’s rather unusual life experiences and varied travels to different parts of the world, often far off the tourist maps, have influenced her style, and choice of subject matter. The rich monochromatic desert colours, the vibrancy of tropical flowers, landscapes, portraiture, playing with the idea of painting modern versions of the icons she discovered in Georgia, as well as some rather unusual commissions outside her usual genre all communicate her passion for art and experimenting with the artistic process. Each place she has lived in comes with its own struggles and adjustments, sights, sounds, smells, textures, peoples, and culture. Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Painting is her way of getting to know her new environment and helps her cope with the challenges and adjustments that arise from her nomadic lifestyle.

Her love of flowers is a recurring theme in her art which she explores in a variety of mediums. As her work has developed, and she has gained more confidence as an artist, she has begun exploring more realistic landscapes and portraiture. Portraiture is fast becoming something she really enjoys. The challenge of capturing the essence of a persons character in their expression, or a fleeting smile is immensely satisfying.

Except for taking art as a subject in high school, Eileen is self taught and continues to play as well as challenge herself and develop her artistic skills.

“I originally started this blog towards the end of 2011 with the idea of keeping a journal of my work. Looking back over the years I find it extremely satisfying and rewarding to see how my work has developed and changed.”

I would be lost without my art. It brings me joy. It is the simple process of creating something from an idea that stimulates me and encourages me to try different mediums and subject matter, and fulfils me as both an artist and a person.” – Eileen van der Merwe