All About Bronwen Schalkwyk visual art: internatioanlly acclaimed watercolourist; her hallmark is her ability to encapsulate nature's beauty in detail.

ABOUT BRONWEN SCHALKWYK

Learning about Bronwen Schalkwyk is to appreciate her rich imagination which she so joyfully and meticulously expresses for others to see in her visual art.

Bronwen Schalkwyk (nee Evans) was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1961.

Not only one of South Africa's top watercolourists, with dozens of awards and exhibitions to her name, she is also an internationally acclaimed watercolourist.

Bronwen offers watercolour classes and courses from time to time. Please follow her on Facebook to stay informed.


The humble and proficient internationally acclaimed South African artist - Bronwen Schalkwyk

Bronwen Schalkwyk on herself

"The closer one looks at nature and the world around us, the more one sees hidden treasures and tales to be told. Time and weather, light and movement are constantly creating and changing the images from one intriguing form into the next. Through my art I wish to capture these images and magnify them in stature and importance so that they take on a new reality.

The art process begins with exploring the subject matter with my camera. I then take a portion of, or a combination of the photos to form the starting point of my work.

I paint in a number of thin layers of paint or glazes on top of each other allowing the colours to shine through and to be influenced by one another.

I love exploring the surface textures of the images, the contrast and translucency of light and dark, sensitivity of line and detail and form."

  - the Artist’s statement for the exhibition "Magnified" by Artbox



Work and Qualifications

1978: Matriculated at the Pretoria School of Art, Ballet and Music

1982: Diploma in Art and Design – Pretoria Technikon

1983 – 1991: Graphic designer – Design Institute, SABS

1991-2005: Free-lance illustrator

2004: Elected as an Associate of the Watercolour Society of South Africa

2005-Present: Fine artist

2012: Elected as a Higher Associate of Watercolour Society of South Africa

2015: Joined a painting group under the tutorship of Johan Conradie

2019-Present: Watercolour Workshops & Tutorship in Watercolour Painting

Publications Featuring Bronwen

Bronwen has featured in various magazines.

In Issue 61 of The South African Artist magazine, Bronwen Schalkwyk offers a step-by-step watercolour tutorial with creation of "Locked" (see Bronwen's Watercolours), across a 6-page spread not to be missed!

In IWS Suriname Watercolourist Magazine June 2023, Bronwen's "Shell Supreme" Watercolour featured as one of 10 notable paintings.

Exhibitions

Bronwen's art has been exhibited nationally and internationally in dozens of group and solo exhibitions.



Awards

1984: Merit Award, SA Association of Arts New Signatures [acrylic]

2002: Best on Show, WSSA Branch Signatures

2004: Highly Commended, WSSA New Signatures

2004: Highly Commended, WSSA 72nd National Open Exhibition

2005: Highly Commended, WSSA 74th National Open Exhibition

2010: Highly Commended, WSSA 84th National Open Exhibition

2011: Highly Commended (x2), WSA 86th National Open Exhibition

2012: Highly Commended, WSSA Grand Prix Exhibition

2012: Highly Commended (x2), WSA 87th National Open Exhibition

2012: Highly Commended, ASA 1st National Exhibition [acrylic]

2012: Highly Commended, WSA 88th National Open Exhibition

2013: Highly Commended, WSA 89th National Open Exhibition

2020: 2ND PLACE, International Kalaratnam Award of India Online Exhibition

2020: 1ST PLACE, IWSSA Lockdown Online Exhibition

2021: Honourable Mention, WASA Out of Africa Online Exhibition

2021: Honourable Mention, WASA Expressions of Hope Online Exhibition

2022: Honourable Mention, Cheryl's International Sunflower Exhibition

2022: 1ST PLACE & Honourable Mention, WASA Reflections Online Exhibition

2023: GOLDEN QoR PRIZE, WASA Our Colourful World Online Exhibition



"The big artist... keeps an eye on nature and steals her tools" - Thomas Eakins