Heyns, Michael

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Michael Heyns

Born: 1946 Potchefstroom, Transvaal. An Artist of elements taken from life. Creates oil paintings and mixed media drawings.

When did you start painting, Michael? "Oh, forever," he says. "Art was a logical thing for me. We never had money and my father said I should have been a teacher."

This impact full realist graduated with a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria before working at the now defunct National Film Board as an animator and graphic artist. "This will be the 23rd year that I am living off my painting, " he says from his studio in Pretoria.

He notes that his work is unusual in that it is equally at home in ultra modern or traditional homes. "I am a romanticist, he notes. I do make realistic things. The starting point is my surroundings."
'I don't know why you are not allowed to have beautiful paintings. Yes I accept that there is often an air of mystery in my work with those dark backgrounds and bold colors but my deepest feeling stay with me. People who are sympathetic to my work will be able to understand."

Heyns is also an accomplished ceramicist. His plates and double-sided mounted tiles are eminently collectable.