In the tradition of the old Masters Corné Weideman Almost all of South Africa’s masters of impressionism – including Hartbeespoort’s Adriaan Boshoff and Christiaan Nice – are reaching retirement age. Art lovers fear their inevitable departure from the scene is bound to leave a void that will not be filled. But a new generation of painters in the classic tradition is slowly making their appearance. One artist in particular has established himself as the heir apparent to the greats of impressionism. He is 30-year-old Corné Weideman, whose paintings have caught the eyes of serious art investors. Experts say his works show a maturity far beyond his age. “Weideman is the man to watch,” says local art dealer Ernie Nice. “He is the most talented of the young generation and he is pursuing the classic impressionistic tradition in an astonishingly accomplished way.” Weideman was born in Rustenburg and attended 11 different schools before matriculating in Robertson in the Western Cape. Formerly based in Hartbeespoort, he recently settled in Pretoria after a stint in Ireland. “I’ve loved the works of the great masters ever since I can remember,” says Weideman.”Wherever we lived the one constant in my life was visiting art museums and art exhibitions.” He remembers spending hours studying the works and techniques of the masters of impressionism, including Monet, Degas and Renoir. “The methods of composition and lighting, the use of broken colours to depict visual impressions, everything intrigued me no end,” he says. These were also the techniques that he would explore in his own work. It became an obsession to develop his own, unique style based on the established disciplines of the old masters. Ernie Nice, with more than 20 years of experience in dealing with art, can hardly conceal his excitement about Weideman’s prospects. “He possesses that indefinable quality that can only be described as authentic,” says Nice. “The intriguing thing is that his work has already reached investment status despite his relatively young age.” So great is Ernie’s belief in Weideman’s abilities that he has an agreement with the artist to buy up all his work and to do all his marketing. Not only that – people buying Weideman’s paintings get a written undertaking from Ernie that if they ever want to sell the artworks back to him, they will be repaid the full price plus interest at prevailing bank rates. “This is real investment art,” says Nice. Weideman’s works – some of them reprinted on this page – are displayed in some of the country’s top art galleries. Artist meets a master Hartbeespoort can be compared to a jewellery box which, once you lift the beautifully crafted lid, reveals an abundance of precious jewels, each special in its own unique way. Visitors, and those who call the area ‘home’, may sometimes only see that on which their eyes focus. The dam, the Magaliesberg mountain range and all the magnificent vistas created around these panoramic landmarks. The area is also known to be the creative hub of some of the country’s best-known artists – talented, creative people who are masters when it comes to canvas, and the medium of paint. Amongst these artists is Adriaan Boshoff, a master who does not need much of an introduction. He is regarded as one of the greatest impressionists at work today. Many up-and-coming young artists would give an arm and a leg just to meet an artist of the caliber of Boshoff, not to mention being offered the opportunity to be taught and shaped by him personally. Corné Weideman, a 30 year old artist who moved to Hartbeespoort three years ago, is a fortunate young man. He is not only very talented but recently met the much-vaunted man he has always looked up to.” I believe God opened doors for me when I met Oom Adriaan. We just clicked. The first time I visited the Boshoff family we discussed art and drank approximately twenty cups of tea. We talked until 04:00 in the morning,” Corné told Kormorant (a local newspaper) when we visited him last week. The young artist accepted an invitation from Adriaan to spend three months working with the artist. Corné's work and technique was discussed daily and worked on intensively. “I have grown a lot since I started painting, especially since I have spent time with Oom Adriaan. He believes in sketching and encouraged me to think about my work constantly. He is amazing and very professional,” Corné said. The young artist was born in Rustenburg and said the only thing he ever wanted to do was draw and paint. Corné recalled the days he spent copying pictures from the books his mother had bought him to read. The family lived in Bloemfontein for a few years. Corné said he loved to visit galleries and one day came across work that impressed him tremendously. “I was so impressed by what the artist had done and prayed to be able to paint like he does. One night I dreamed and could see the picture I was busy creating clearly. I clearly saw the brushes, the colours of the paint and how much I had to put on the brush. I woke up and felt inspired. Something happened. I cannot really explain it. I started working, and when my parents moved to the Cape in 1991 I contacted several galleries who accepted my work. Business wasn’t booming, however. I sold something here and there. Then I met Oom Adriaan, Corné said. According to him, Adriaan has given him ‘wings to fly’. He says the master painter has helped him to reach a stage where his work is more professional, more ‘polished’. Ernie Nice, a resident of Melodie who handles the marketing and sales of the work of another well known artist, his father, Christiaan Nice, is also Corné's agent. Ernie said Corné is a very talented artist. He said that if he finds someone who can deliver good quality work, he backs that person all the way. According to Ernie, Corné has everything which an artist should to be rewarded with investment status. ‘Many of the country’s biggest art dealers have showed interest in Corné's work. He is fast working his way to the top,” Ernie said. Corné added humbly that he didn’t think of his own work as being all that good. “I may paint 200 paintings and will only like one. I must say that it is nice if people comment and say they like your work. It’s nice to know that there is someone out there who appreciates what you do. Hearing compliments from people who have been in the business for many years is just an added bonus,” Corné said.