Artist Geraldine Paulsen – Geraldine Paulsen’s paintings are diverse, textured, wildly colorful and a celebration of the beauty around us. “I’m mostly inspired by all things that speak to me – lonely trees in an open landscape, clouds, flowers, people, just about anything that catches my eye” says Paulsen. “I think my greatest ‘weakness’ is the fact that I am able to paint just about anything, I am not bound by one subject or theme like most artists. Recently, in my portraits, I’ve begun to explore the soul and the expression in the eyes.
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Geraldine Paulsen studied art at the University of Pretoria but stopped after two years to go and work as a civilian artist for the SA Defence Force where she began painting and drawing military subjects. While there, she covered the Border War as a photographer and artist and was also involved with the newspaper for the soldiers. In her twenties, she exhibited her work at Art in the Park in Pretoria, amongst others with artists Kathrine Ambrose and Peter Hall. After leaving the SADF, she was the media liaison officer for the Voortrekker Monument for twenty years.
She has an uncanny ability to paint nearly anything and her paintings are diverse, textured and wildly colourful. With a preference to paint portraits, Paulsen says, “I think my greatest ‘weakness’ is the fact that I am able to paint just about anything, I am not bound by one subject or theme like most artists. Therefore, I paint things that speak to me – lonely trees in an open landscape, clouds, flowers, people, faces, just about anything that catches my eye”. She paints in layers, sometimes with a palette knife in rich impasto, or delicate washes. “My paintings are nearly always a reflection of my mood or state of mind”, says Geraldine.
Diagnosed with moccular degeneration, she does not let it deter her and also paints commissions. Some of her works are in Israel, England, Canada, Brazil, Australia and America.
Geraldine approaches each of her works with a clear image in her head. Whether they are done with mixed media, acrylics, or oils, either on board or canvas, she knows exactly where to start and how to apply the paint – she paints in layers, sometimes with a palette knife in rich impasto, or delicate washes. “My paintings are a reflection of my mood or state of mind”, says Geraldine.
A resident of Pretoria, South Africa, Paulsen studied art briefly at the University of Pretoria. However, she did not finish her degree because she felt too bound by an institution that insisted all students follow the same route when painting. She began painting and drawing military subjects while working as an artist for the SA Army. Since leaving the Army, her subject matter has diversified, and her commissions reflect this rare ability. She quotes Pablo Picasso who said: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
