Mastering art is an endeavour that requires a vast amount of patience spanning decades rather than days; an ability to remain fluid and open-minded, yet still in the moment. South African native and Kiwi artist Martha Mitchell has grown to understand these fundamental lessons over time in her bid to perfect her paintings of human expression and sentiment through portraits. An insightful individual and a motivated family woman, Martha shares how she has found balance in life through artistic teachings.
Martha Mitchell grew up on a small farm just outside of Pietermaritzburg; the second largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, known for its mountainous terrain and beautiful landscapes. Growing up surrounded by such natural magnificence, Martha has always displayed a flair for creativity which resulted in her choosing art as a staple class in high school, before going on to gain a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Natal, majoring in Fine Arts. “I have always been interested in art. To me, creativity is something that I can’t suppress or ignore. I need to express the ideas and thoughts that occupy my mind, and this has always driven me to pursue art as a career. After university, I taught in schools for a number of years in South Africa, all the while continuing to create in my free time. Since moving to New Zealand in 2008, working for wages has been put on the back burner more often that not, and I’ve become more focused on honing my own creative abilities in the last nine years.” Just prior to the Mitchell family’s move to New Zealand, Martha had been offered a teaching position at Tikipunga High School in Whangarei. Excited at the prospect of overseas travel and new opportunities for her husband and young children, Martha gladly accepted the offer and the Mitchell whanau made the journey into the unknown – a decision that would prove rewarding for all.
If you would like to get in touch with Martha, or view more of her work, visit her website . Martha Mitchell
