Published 11 July 2023 in Publications
Roodepoort Record
The Ruimsig venue's idyllic setting amplifies the wide and varied displays of well known and emerging artists.
Alice Art Gallery is hosting weekly artist meet and greets that give connoisseurs a sophisticated setting to engage with a variety of creators.
Petro Neal took her place at the easel on July 2 to indulge art lovers in her processes and pleasures over a glass of wine and fine cheeses. Wanting to unlock the love and passion for art that had always been inside of her, Petro began putting paint to canvas a little over 20 years ago. She began using oil before moving over to acrylic and admits the pursuit was initially one of luxury. "It was just a hobby, but it was an expensive hobby", she laughed.
Materials are just the tools but the images are what moves the observer. Drawn to their calming natural splendour, her specialty is flowers and floral arrangements. She has chosen to dedicate her craft to one subject instead of being too experimental, perfecting her interpretations of stem and petal. An admirer of her work once remarked that they could feel her gift for roses and is now forever drawn to the romance and complexity of the flower of love.
As with all creative endeavours, sometimes the juices flow and other times it becomes more laborious. At either end of the scale, she finds painting therapeutic and will often call on her brushes when struggling to Sleep or even wake up at odd times to translate internal inspirations into a flurry of colour on the canvas. An overriding joy for her, however, is creating something that someone else loves.
Venturing into the world of fine art can be intimidating but just as Alice Art Gallery offers a welcoming environment to dabble, so does Neal in offering advice to beginners. "Don't give up and if you can get help don't be afraid to take it. Just keep on trying and find you own style," she said.
Gallery owner Alice Pitzer stated the meet and greets are an important way to build a greater connection with the artist and the art, saying, "It is about having art that talks."
