Preserving Karin Smit

I was born in Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape but grew up on a farm in the Free State. Hence my

love for nature and especially landscape painting. I am currently residing in Pretoria, South Africa.

As long as I can remember, I always had a voice calling me into being creative. Eventually I adhered

and ever since I have been exploring, studying and generally immersing myself in all things art

related. During this time, I have had tuition in various disciplines.  Not only have I attended

workshops given by South African artists, but I have also attended workshops given by the renowned

Australian Artist Colley Whisson and Master Californian Artist Jennifer A McChristian, both of whom

ignited my interest, later to become a passion, for plein air painting.

I mainly work in oils, due to its richness and as it allows me so much freedom, but also enjoy experiment with charcoal, pen and ink and recently printmaking.

Most of my works are inspired by nature, landscapes, animals, florals etc. but I am also attracted to man made structures. I am motived by artists such as John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Joaquin Sorolla to only name but a few. 

Due to my love for photographs most of my works are pictures that I take myself while on route, whether it is daily life itself or being on holiday. Due to the fact that I always have my mobile studio with me, I can paint on location when a scene captures my interest! My main focus is to paint the story, that is playing out in front of me, and capture the passion and essence of the moment. 

While plein air painting is my passion I also do studio work, striving to offer a narrative of colour, light and movement, as nature has taught me while painting outdoors! 

The art included on my website represents my recent and favourite works and is not a full collection of my art available.