BRIGHT, bold and vibrant describe the artwork of David Rossouw who exhibits at the Art Palette next to Spur in Jeffreys Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kouga Express<\/i> caught up with Dave at the gallery, which displays the works of local artists at a nominal fee to cover rates and rent. He has been exhibiting here for the past 18 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dave first visited JBay in 1968: \u201cIt was a fishing village,\u201d he chortles. \u201cIt cost 10c to stay at Point.\u201d But he couldn\u2019t stay away. In 1970, Dave rented a room at R30 a month for six months. \u201cI tried to be an artist as I could not afford to be a hippie\u201d, laughs Dave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time he worked in a sports shop in Cape Town where he hails from. \u201cI started out as an assistant, but eventually became manager.\u201d He reconciled the artist in him with the sport shop concept by reminding me that he did sell surfboards and Country Feeling t-shirts. \u201cI would visit JBay and collect them from owner Cheron (Kraak) directly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the next thirty years, Dave spent holidays in Jeffreys. Time constraints dictated that he only did pencil drawings. And a whopping thirty years after his first visit, he moved here in 1998. \u201cI could at long last started painting the waves as I had always wanted to . . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The waves on canvas are infused with light and colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A bright blue t-shirt sets off his flowing white hair and beard. \u201cI\u2019m a blue colour person.\u201d That truly translates into his artwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The genial Dave will be 71 years old this year, and only stopped surfing some two years ago. That does not diminish his tangible love for the ocean \u2013 all evident in his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Inspiration<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A clich\u00e9 all creative people are asked is: what inspires you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Dave it is a no-brainer: \u201cI am inspired by the waves and surfing.\u201d He becomes quite philosophical when asked what makes him tick. \u201cLife is like the ocean. The continuous waves change constantly \u2013 from small one day to big the next. Or the sea can be a big lake on certain days. Tomorrow is not the same for anyone. But like with the waves \u2013 there is always hope for more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the light in Dave\u2019s work has an equally fascinating origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had a near-death experience when I was 22. I crashed my motorbike and the handlebar ended up in my stomach. They had to remove a kidney and I almost died twice on the operating table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
True to Dave, he laughs delivering this line: \u201cI saw light at the end of the tunnel.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Really, he says. \u201cThe light came towards me, into my head and I found myself to be inside the light. There were voices, but One spoke to me and said: \u201cIt is not your time yet. Go back!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the banter again: \u201cI wasn\u2019t a good motorbike rider to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, even though Dave thought it was a dream, it changed his lifestyle \u2013 and his art. \u201cNow that light shines through in the paintings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Van Gogh<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Dutch couple that visits Jeffreys Bay every year, hailed Dave as the Van Gogh in town \u2013 but he just chuckles. \u201cVan Gogh did not sell many paintings in his lifetime.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy technique is to work with a pencil point brush, so it takes hours to get the effect I want.\u201d Dave loves spring and autumn and finds the glare of the sun to be too bright in summer, and too dark in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe in making memories, not collecting material things which are expendable,\u201d Dave says. JBay is a brilliant place \u2013 and friends, surfer buddies, those from Art Palette, Cape Town and elsewhere surround Dave. \u201cI have no parents, am an only child and have no wife or kids,\u201d yet Dave seems much loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christa Gouws, chairperson of the art Palette \u201cfamily\u201d, says, \u201cMy son loves Dave\u2019s work . . . the colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll our paintings are from local artists, but Dave and Nicolene Gericke are of the originals from September 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe showcase local talent and, as a non-profit organisation, survive on membership fees and some commission to cover the rent and rates.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dave says, \u201cThe group started with the shell festival \u2013 and we never left . . .\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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