DRAWINGS

Artist’s biography | Taryn Drazek

My days of drawing and painting began when I was a little girl of about 3. I say this as I clearly remember the day my Aunt Helen put a paintbrush in my hand. We proceeded to spend every Sunday afternoon painting watercolours and doing exercises of drawing what is in front of me until the year she died when I turned ten. From then on, I was taken to an art teacher every Friday, where I learnt about anatomy, perspective, form and how to use all the traditional materials of the artistic trade. I then went to Veritas high school where I proceeded to exceed academically and in cultural activities, like public speaking and in drama. Yet throughout my school career, my main goal was to always get distinctions in art. As the years went by and time came for me to leave high school, my school offered me a job as a tutor for grade 8 English. I took on this position , and registered at the University of South Africa for a tertiary qualification in art. My father was a bit insecure about this at first, as he wasn’t quite sure of what a qualified artist would be able to do for a stable income. Mr. John Generalis and Mr. William Kentridge (Dr. Anne Stanwix, his wife, was involved with my mother in her work sphere) explained all the avenues that one might be able to follow, and with that, my parents had given me their blessing to continue studying art. The high school I was working at then offered me an internship and after a year, they realized that I was capable of far more than lesson observation, assisting teachers’ in their classrooms and portfolio assistance. I then became the grade 8 arts and culture teacher, followed with teaching grade 8 and 9 English. With each year that went by, I became more qualified to teach the learners.

I’ve completed the fourth level of my Bachelor of Visual Arts at UNISA (in 2010). I have had works in competitions exhibited, and collaborative exhibitions since 2006 until present. I have completed modules in Zulu, English, Anthropology and Psychology and am majoring in Visual Arts and Art History (which I have completed). I have 4 and half years of teaching experience at an I.E.B. independent school teaching English, Religious Instruction and Art from grade 8- grade 12 levels. I have also won the Conrad Theuys Bursary from UNISA for Visual Arts, and have won the award of Excellence for being the top student at honours level.

Also, since early high school, I had been getting published for poetry by the Poetry Institute of Africa, to a total of 3 times until the present day. I have worked with so many materials since those first years of watercolours and a paintbrush, that Dr. Wendy Ross, Ania Krajewska, Gwen Miller and Dr. Celia de Villiers have educated me well in Contemporary art. Photoshop, video editing programmes, polystyrene, and found objects are just some of the materials I use in conjunction with a sound and refined concept to create artworks. Being a half- Greek, half-Polish South African, I’ve realized my 3 national identities are highly cultured and constantly keep art flowing through my veins. My rational father, with his MBA in engineering, and my strong mother her qualifications in psychotherapy, English and a past radio-personality, have both been my pillars of strength. Without them, I would not have been the person I am today. A life without art is no kind of life that I would want.

PHOTOGRAPHY

WALL OF FAME

Newspaper articles featuring the art work done by Taryn Drazek (owner/teacher of art school) and Montmarte Art School students.