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It was the Italian painter, Guiseppe Cataruzzo, who sent for Wessels and in his Pretoria Gallery began to hone his skills. Buoyed by this success, Wessel took the then risky step to paint full time. Supported by his wife Christine, successful exhibitions followed in all the major centres within South Africa.
His studies, landscapes, city scenes, flower studies, still lives, Cape Coons pulsating with boisterousness and the joy of living, and children playing in gay abandon, have become sought-after collectors’ items throughout South Africa.
Wessel believes that a skilled artist must be able to interpret any subject matter successfully on canvas. His personal preferences are to portray everyday scenes with an innate playful, unfettedness and poetic intuition. His ability to portray the captivating play of light and shadow in vibrant colours is a gift, which is highly appreciated by his many admirers.
“When I’m at work,” says Wessel, “I am totally absorbed with the intangible elements of the subject matter I try to portray. It is not so much the subject that matters, but the mystic energy floating from it that I try to capture in my oils. Sometimes I think I come close to succeeding in the capture of the indefinable element some people describe as art. I am however still learning, drawing most of my inspiration while flying my plane, a glider which has made it possible to realise my ambition of becoming a pilot”.
Wessel continues to improve in style and execution – the great use of translucent colour and light have given many of his works a “Turneresque” quality, which is most captivating. As with sound investment theory, the sooner one starts collecting Wessel’s work, the more gratifying will be your investment in taste and value. Wessel’s work has been appreciating close to 20% per annum during the mid to late 1990’s.
Wessel Marais’ work has been extensively collected by private individuals and corporations alike, both within and without South Africa. Although much of Wessel’s subject matter is South African, his style and manner of painting has a worldwide appeal.
After a long and fruitful life, Wessel Marais sadly passed away in April 2009.
