Rita Trafford - "detail of "The Green in my Head""

Rita Trafford

Remove Rita from your favorite artists list

Add Rita to your favorite artists list

View all 16 works by Rita Trafford

About Rita

Rita is an Artist with SouthAfricanArtists.com based in South Africa.

I thoroughly loved art through high school and spent one year at Stellenbosch University specializing in jewelry design. Poor maths skills and a rather impatient lecturer (unable to demonstrate practical techniques to a left-hander) made me change career direction.

I studied a further two years in art teaching at junior school levels, however, disheartened at conservative government teaching environment, I decided to change paths again.

The next three years were spent completing a three-year chef’s diploma. I have always kept my box of paints and kept on painting in makeshift spaces. For eight years now I officially own studio space and this has enabled my art to grow up. My paintings have been used for labels for the De Trafford wines and the originals have been sold to clients in Sweden, Germany, England, Singapore, USA, Belgium. I exhibited in 2001 at Dorp Street Gallery and sold “African Idols” (a different medium for me, of paper maché displayed in Perspex) to a Belgian art collector. The last two years I have been more focused on self-expression and enjoying the freedom of this journey.


MY WORK

My work is in acrylic incorporating pencil,paper,ink and sometimes sand. My challenge is to make spontaneity in the acrylic medium to work. As it is an instant quick-drying medium, this is certainly a challenge. I tend to layer colours and create texture with erasing (only leaving a vague impression of previous colour). The use of old hard dried-out brushes, fingers and twigs helps with this layering effect. I prefer exhibiting unframed canvasses; the work seems freer. Smaller works on material or board are box-framed with glass, mainly for protection yet adds formality to the design. I have liberated myself away from vibrant African colours to more monochromatic tones. I still enjoy the use of adding a single colour to add lightness and balance to my work.

My mood dictates what I start out to paint. I paint to express and outpour my inner emotion. The emotion is dealt with during the physical process of creating, however my aim is for the completed work to portray serenity and calmness.

Price Range

US$85-500

Email

Recommend this Work!

Tweet I love this art! on Twitter

Bookmark this page on:

Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon