Francois Viljoen artist / sculptor / art teacher
Francois, a South African born artist, lives in the south-western part of Baden Württemberg, Germany.
In many ways the arts influenced and marked his life from a very early age. He attended a strong academic and sport-focused school – with no art classes at the time. Although he found this quite frustrating, the creative process, especially drawing, became a passion and a big interest in his teenage years – also following a long-running, weekly TV series called, Quest for Romanticism. This lead to Francois finding solace in drawing and even as a teenager he communicated his experiences and understanding of life in graphics and sculptures. “It was like finding meaning and my calling in life and … Like bringing order to chaos, soul wise”, he explains.
Today, Francois mostly paints in oil, but also acrylic; sculpts with ceramic and plasticine clay and plaster; casts in bronze or resin and draws in many different media.
Even as a teenager he communicated his experiences and understanding of life in graphics and sculptures. François paints mostly in oil, but also acrylic, sculpts with ceramic and plasticine clay, plaster, etc, casts in bronze or resin, and draws in many different media.
Much of his earlier art influences come from the Romanticism and Symbolism movements. He says, “The Creator’s breath-taking sacred geometry and organic shapes/forms found in nature inspires me very much. I cannot deny that the Art Nouveau/Jugendstil period has also been an influential element in my work.”
He describes his animal-themed work as “Songs” and the human-themed artwork (e.g. his “Performers” series) as “Shouts”.
CV
1967
born in
Vryheid, South Africa
1986 – 1988
Studies: Interior design
Technikon in Pretoria (today the Tshwane University of Technology)
1989 – 1992
Studies: Teacher of arts
Durban Teachers College
Since 1993 till present
Teaching Art
At various schools, Art museums, and privately, in South Africa, UK, Germany and Switzerland.
1997 – 1999
Counselor and Tutor
Shekinah Care Centre
Drug- and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center
New Hannover, South Africa
1999 – 2002
Illustrator
Human & Rousseau
Oxford University Press
Vivlia Publishers
Book Binders and others
2002 – 2005
Teamleader
and Art Designer
Ingwe Editions Fine Art Foundry
Stellenbosch, South Africa
2006 – present
Teaching art and working from his art studio
Lörrach area (Germany),
near the Swiss and French border.
Exhibiting
Francois exhibits his artwork at various well-known galleries in South Africa including the Everard Read Gallery (Cape Town), Grande Provence Gallery (Franschhoek), Ebony Curated Gallery (Franschhoek) and the Cape Gallery (Cape Town) and also in Europe. He also takes on commission work in various art mediums, 2D and 3D, and can be contacted for info and/or commissions.