About the Artist
Hello all. I’m Frances Wedepohl, a South African artist.
I grew up in Johannesburg, loving art and creativity from a young age. I drew on everything and loved bright colours, shapes and textures.
I married my soulmate Andre in 1985. We have 3 beautiful adult children and currently live and work in Johannesburg, South Africa.
It was a very special day when I first saw the work of JH Pierneef and I have admired him ever since. I like to think his work has strongly influenced mine. I feel an affinity to his light, lines, balance and serenity.
I am inspired by the places I have seen and enjoyed, as well as those that I would love to experience – all of these I paint to keep them in my heart. The South African landscape is home to me…the African sun, soil, heat and sky. I feed off nature….the life! The smells, feels, sounds and sublime connection I feel. I’m a tree hugger!
After working in the architectural field, I worked in Philadelphia, USA and in South Africa making celebration cakes. I enjoy drawing, mosaic, collage, decorating cakes and pottery (and reading and gardening!), but I’m really at home with a creamy palette of oil paints.
I have a background in architectural draughting, which has influenced my style (Pierneef was also a draughter). I love precise brushwork and intricate details, with a strong focus on line, colour and shape.
I usually work with a limited palette in oils (underpainting with acrylics), loving the colours, shades, shadow colours and moods, that can be created – so many from so few. The late Louis Audie, a magical artist, introduced me to this palette. I would describe myself as a structural-expressionist landscape painter although I also enjoy figures, portraits and street scenes. I go a bit wild with my street scenes. This is when I change my approach and use loads of different colours of acrylics – A different approach to that of my landscapes.
You can find me on Facebook as Frances Wedepohl Originals and on Instagram as @franceswedepohl_art.
I am represented at several South African galleries:
• Alice Art Gallery
Ruimsig, Gauteng
• Purple Heart Gallery
Randburg, Gauteng
• Lonehill Art Gallery
Sandton, Gauteng
• Winelands Art Gallery
Paarl, Western Cape
• Lembu Gallery
Hermanus, Western Cape
• Dockside Gallery (V&A Waterfront)
Cape Town, Western Cape
• Vineyard Gallery
Franschhoek, Western Cape
• Eikestad Gallery
Stellenbosch, Western Cape
My work has found homes in South Africa, Australia, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Japan, Canada, the USA and the UK.
It has been such a wonderful, happy, challenging journey for me and I feel so blessed to be an artist. I have special family and friends who have walked the road with me and are always so encouraging. Thank you to them and also to my beautiful clients and collectors. Thank you!
My favourite quote is “To thine own self be true” – William Shakespeare.
Thank you Revann Bos for showing me the way—you’re a treasure!
Frances Wedepohl 