Elizabeth Riding

Elizabeth Riding styles her painting on the style and technique of the classical old masters. When teaching her students, she trains them on these classical techniques by recreating those works.
While I love the masters works, the style, the technical skill and remembering the works in context of the time they were produced, these were groundbreaking.
Every period in art history produces works that mirror and evoke the time and this is an important fact when viewing art, weather it's modern or masters, one always needs to consider the context.

If you as artist have a natural leaning to the technique of the old masters, I have no issue with that at all, if that's your natural taste, all good. If one then uses these techniques to produce your own ideas and thoughts that's fantastic, I just don't want to see copies, that's just my personal opinion.
I only really take issue when you get taught to copy and then never develop your own style or ideas.
So when I saw Elizabeth's series of still life work with a more modern take, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I absolutely fell in love with these works.

These images were Sourced From: http://www.art.co.za

Elizabeth is also a fantastic portrait artist. In all her work the influence of the OLD Masters is evident, but clearly her own ideas are used. Here are some of my favourite portraits she's done.

This first one is of a friend of mine and director of the Association of Arts Pretoria, Pieter van Heerden.

This is one she did of fellow artist Bettie Cilliers-Barnard.

This is one she did of Mimi Coertse (South African Opera Singer)

Then there are the works that most people know her for. I just wonder that if am artist is so skilled and has the ability to create such incredible works, why not bring more original thought into the process. Perhaps I'm completely wrong. Perhaps I'm too harsh.

Through history there have been apprentices that were taught to copy their mentors style and I do believe there is a place for this style of teaching because we can learn so much from other accomplished artists, but at some point you need to move on. You need to develop a style and process of your own. Your own imagination, thoughts, beliefs and ideas need to come to the fore. I get annoyed when I see a young artist as a carbon copy of their mentor or teacher.
I have no issue when I see influences of other artists, but where are you and who are you, that's what I want to see, YOU.

I have the utmost respect for teachers that can teach technique, style, composition and history and not allow the student to get stuck in just that, but allow experimentation to grow as a unique person and artist. It can't be easy as art is subjective, we all have our tastes and thoughts as to what constitutes a good art work. I try and keep an open mind, I can appreciate many different styles, but I certainly have a favourite style.

There is no doubt in my mind that Elizabeth is an amazing artist, I just wish she did more work showing her original thoughts. So if you read this and it sounds as if I'm being to harsh on her, understand that I do respect her and even love her work.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject of teaching and mentoring young artists as well as your thoughts on copying artists style. If you have a different opinion from me or an approach I've neglected to consider please let me know.

All Images are Sourced From:
http://www.art.co.za/

The content is just my personal opinion and written by me. Artkapture
Contact details for Elizabeth Riding:
Cell: 0785696474 (Cell number subject to South African code +27)
E-mail: [email protected]

A bit about Elizabeth Riding:

• Raised by two professional artist parents.
• Fine Art training at Pernby's Molarskola in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Scenic art training under various designers, amongst others, Johan Engels, Peter Cazalet, Anthony Farmer and Bruno Santini.
• Appointed as Head of the Scenic Art Department of both CAPAC and Pact respectively.
• Nominated for several awards such as the "Ivan and Lillian Solomon" Award. Received the "Friends of the Opera" Award for painting.
• First solo exhibition in 1985; numerous other solo and group exhibitions, e.g. the 1991 Cape Town Triennial.
• Noteworthy corporate commissions include: Anglo Vaal and SA Breweries.
• Public collections: SA National Gallery Cape Town, Pretoria Art Museum, SASOL Art Collection and Telkom Collection.
• Various portait commissions; notably the late, dr Johannes Stegmann, Chancellor of the University of the Free State and the Head of SASOL.
• Works included in numerous local private collections; also in the USA, Canada and Europe.
• Based in Pretoria. Most recent solo exhibition, "The Spirit of the Ancestors - towards African Renaissance" (1999).