Published 01 January 2018 in Publications
Art Times
Derric, you are a devoted husband, father, artist and in many ways teacher. How do you balance work and family with such apparent ease?
Thank you, I feel humbled that you think so, or at least that I'm able to project such a perception. In a way you are correct. I have a strong grounding in the Lord and try to live within His grace. I think this helps, because the Bible has some clear guidelines on how to balance your life and if you follow those guidelines, the rest seem to fall into place.
When you started painting landscapes, your career really took off. How did this come about?
I can't tell this story without smiling. Many years ago, more than I care to count, a farmer commissioned me to paint his farm. The farm was, or rather is located in De Vlught area, one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. All the proportions of crops, fields and hills were perfect. The problem was, to the side of this piece of amazing landscape, stood a really unimaginative and disjointed farmhouse. I very much wanted to paint this farm, so I decided to add only enough house for the viewer's mind to make up the rest, gently suggesting human inhabitants on this wonderful farmland. To my delight, the farmer loved the work. I still only paint only enough house for the mind to recognize it.
Your work is obviously expressionistic however, it also has an abstract quality to it.
To a large extent, that is a true description. I sometimes highlight some features that stand out, especially in my wildlife work. In my portraits I tend to focus on colour and proportion rather than detail. When painting landscapes, I am very conscious not to overpaint. I find that if I can suggest my main theme, the observer's mind will fill in the rest. It almost gives the work a unique point of observation for every individual viewer.
Their mind's eye completes the detail. I want the observer to feel a connection with the work - a place they have been before, an experience they have had before.
There is a variety of colour in your palette. How do you control such a vibrant palette so as not to overpower your tranquil scenes?
I really like blues, reds, yellows and oranges. Most artists have a set of colors they work with. In all my work, I am very focused on balance. It's a fine line, but the blue skies must be in balance with the yellow landscape, with a touch of white clouds or green grass to help soften the oval picture.
You and Charmaine love reading. What do you read?
I am an amateur History buff and Charmaine reads novels. Many evenings it's just the two of us, a glass of red wine and our books.
I like to read about the past because it gives us a perspective on the present and glimpse into the future. People tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. It's when exceptional people stand up and speak out, that the landscape around them changes. I think the greatest lesson History teaches us, is to not repeat society's expectations. Rather strive to be an individual, grounded in a strong belief.