THE KOUGA ART SOCIETY COMMITTEE.

We are a small group of artists, driven by a deep desire that the creativity of local artists should be exposed and flamed into fire for the  expansion of art within the community. We are all founding members with particular skills and backgrounds which allow us to work together in a unique way for the enhancement of artists and their products. What brought us together was a shared vision for our society, galleries, artists, culture and community.

HOW WE STARTED

A Kouga Art Society has been a point of discussion amongst artists and gallery owners for a long time. Finally, in 2020 the artist community, congregated to discuss such a society, which was duly formed by the artists. The Kouga area (Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis, Oyster Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Loerie and Thornhill), have a large contingent of amazing artists and very creative people who strive to uplift art, which should become more visible and economically viable.

OUR MISSION

The Society exists to provide the artists of the Kouga area with a platform and a unified voice for the nurturing, promotion and growth of the arts and to provide a vantage point for artists, supporters and audiences to acquire quality artwork.
The Kouga Art Society positioned itself as a club or association, a non-profit structure to further the growth of its membership, expand artist activities, build capabilities and strengthen a community spirit.

OUR SHORT TERM GOALS

1. Promote the collective voice of artists and the arts within our community
2. Contribute to arts education and build capabilities
3. Expand artists activities into the community
4. Collaborate with all members of society to enhance the artist community

Mike Jansen – Chairperson

Mike built a career in the corporate world as a Business Development Executive in the Information Technology and Finance Industries, with more than 3 decades of consulting and management experience. He focused on helping organizations, develop strategic plans towards new business models and helped with the implementation and realisation thereof.
He  worked extensively nationally and internationally with the migration of organisation structures and re-engineering processes to meet the changing demands of the new economic environments. Mike has been involved with the art world for most of his life, completing various art courses and building a strong portfolio of paintings. He is an active leader within his church community in Jeffreys Bay, maintaining his ethical values as a priority. He holds an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand and an undergraduate degree in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Port Elizabeth.

Petra Stiglingh – Treasurer

Petra Stiglingh is a professional artist with more than 40 years experience in water colour, acrylics, oils and pastel. She did a lot of teaching over the years doing workshops all over South Africa and Namibia including private art classes.
She did a few one man exhibitions in South Africa, England and Canada. She participated in numerous combined exhibitions in South Africa and Namibia. Her creations have found places of prominence in homes in England, Germany, Belgium, America and Canada. Her work is mainly impressionistic and she loves bright colours expressing the beauty of nature and the human body and soul. To be an artist is the greatest gift one could get out of the hand of our great Creator. Petra likes to share her knowledge with everybody.
Petra has been in the Art business since 1984 arranging art exhibitions and selling art of a variety of different artists. She is the owner of Petra Stiglingh Art Gallery in Jeffreys Bay, presenting the artist and art materials to the community.

Carol Janse van Vuuren  Committee Member

My art journey started when I was a young child, always drawing and attracted to bursts of colour. Only after retirement and moving to Jeffreys Bay, did I start exploring the different art mediums and discovered oil paint. I studied Food and Clothing technology at Vaal university of Technology. I also did a diploma in Horticulture. Painting keeps me focused and I try to paint daily, always striving to improve. My daughter is a full time artist and teacher and my best critic. I love to paint the landscapes of the places, which I have visited and of course the flowers that bring me so much pleasure. God has blessed me in my art journey and I Honour Him for this amazing gift. 

Liezel de Lange  Committee Member

I am a visual artist, primarily a painter. …  But I really have a passion for drawn media.  I work in oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastel and pencil as well. My earliest memories include some form of Art. I completed a National diploma in Fine Arts at the Vaal Technicon after grade 12, which led me to a career in Paint Techniques and murals. I worked as a mural artist with interior designers for 25 years. 
In 2017 I moved to Jeffreys Bay and started working on my paintings full time. I carefully observe the subject matter before starting with a piece; this often includes gathering my own wild flowers or spending a day or more admiring a particular element.
By painting in layers, the colours change as well as reflecting each other. I like to use vanishing points and multiple light sources as well as an interesting and unexpected use of colour. The detail amplifies that everything we see or experience may hold an equal value. The themes I explored as a young artist are reflected throughout my work today and emerging themselves into my latest creations, which emphasise the interconnectedness between God, man and nature. Currently, my art is on a journey to seek out the joy and magnify the beauty in our day to day world. I believe that our lives and thus my art should show who we are and how we impact the world with a lasting value.

My motto: To create art that touches lives and not just something to go with the new carpet. 

I have taken part in numerous exhibitions and give art classes at Palette Art Gallery and Studio in Jeffreys Bay.