Artist's Impressions

BY SOPHIE SADLER

Samantha Van der Westhuizen fled to the Algarve from South Africa in fear of her life and has uncovered a creative force from within, in the security and beauty of her new surroundings.

Born in South Africa, where she lived for 46 years, she is a qualified educator with a degree in Early Childhood Development: Foundation Phase. “My favourite part of the day was doing art with my learners. My only rule being, there are no mistakes in art, only new avenues.”

Samantha's husband turned whistleblower on a multi-national company in their homeland and while awaiting a court appearance Samantha was the victim of a failed kidnapping and arson attack.

After testifying in court they took what they could and fled, leaving the keys in their car at the airport. “Portugal is a lot of firsts for us. The generosity of the community, being able to put rubbish on your bin at night without feeling fear and not living in a compound with security cameras in every room.”

The most important thing that Samantha has discovered is the time and freedom to explore her creative side. When she was studying art in her teens, a teacher told her she couldn't paint. She didn't try again until she was 43. “I became passionate about educating children by building them up and not knocking them down. I didn't paint in the way my teacher wanted me to so she put me on silk-screening instead. Teachers need to realise the impact they have on people's lives. Art is about how you look at a subject, creating what you see and staying true to your heart.”

With her husband's encouragement, she started to explore her creativity again, and she began to paint with acrylics on canvas. Having run out of space for more paintings on the wall, she started painting on different surfaces, even bin lids! She also became interested in upcycling, creating mini-village houses from recyclable materials and giving furniture a revamp.

“Now, I now have the opportunity, and time, to take up my passion for creating. I find daily inspiration in our new surroundings. It’s not in my character to sit still, and I hardly sleep, I hate relaxing and find I’m most at ease when I’m creating.”

Samantha has also been giving workshops in the technique of using a palette knife to rekindle her passion for teaching, but how would she describe her own style? “I’m self-taught and inherently a detail person, and this usually comes through in my work. I enjoy the freedom that comes with the palette knife technique, as well as the texture, and it allows me to build layers. My medium is acrylics. I don’t have a particular subject matter that my work can be identified through. I tend to paint what I find inspiration in.”

Samantha also gets a buzz out of how people respond to her work so she has enjoyed exhibiting her pieces. creations at markets in the Algarve. “I am trying to discover what people here are attracted to. I am copying the Algarvian architecture in my model houses, and I often find old furniture by the bins which I give a new lease of life.” She found that being confined to her home in the last months has inspired her more. As she has run out of canvases, it has made her look around for alternatives. “Being creative is a gift.”

Samantha is available for commissions and will also give a new lease of life to your old furniture.

My family always say they don't stand around too long and I will upcycle them!