Eric Oswald Eatwell - 1974 Gauteng

Docked Boat

Hout Bay Harbour

Cyclist

Still Life - Teapot.

ERIC OSWALD EATWELL
Born 1974 – Johannesburg, South Africa

Eric is one of those true “finds” of raw natural talent sent to torment and frustrate teachers and professors at formal art teaching institutions. The elliptical peg will never fit the round or square hole try as they might to corrupt the style.

Having said that, it is amazing that Eric spent so long at school – National College of Arts – (Johannesburg Art College) where he studied for his National Senior Certificate and Natal Technikon where he studied for three years.

It is unusual that whilst learning from the teachers Eric allowed no imprinting of their constrictive styles and he remained his romantic passionate self. After Art school he traveled widely – always observing people and the way they do things. Not the urban people so much as the more open rural folk as they go about their daily life.

Eric paints very quickly in a “paintilly post impressionist” style using big bold impasto strokes of the brush and knife. He is one of the few artists who can draw with his brush. He is never frightened to accept what speed and passion have left on his canvas or an overall impression rather than dwell on the possible distortion of size and context. The whole painting is the message, not the sum fragmented analysis.

Eric concentrates mainly on everyday scenes involving people doing everyday chores and taking pleasure where they will. When you are tired then tip up your wheelbarrow and use it as an African armchair and yes, laugh at the world. He regards himself as an outsider documenting the way things happen in rural South Africa. He also finds time to teach and help local communities and has not been surprised to be taught by them.

Eric has been painting professionally since 1995 and his works have found a ready market with many visitors to South Africa. Though he has had a few exhibitions he can rejoice that his works now hang in such diverse countries as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, U.S.A., U.K., Sweden and Holland. Now South Africans are discovering the energy and beauty of Eric’s work.

Eric has devoted much of his time to serving others in the Karoo as a part of his duty to his religious sect.