I have always found the artistic progress of Lianne Elliot fascinating. She was always good, but now her skill is astonishing. You can see that she loves animals, particularly in the way she can recreate their very essence. The souls in their eyes always get me.
A friend of mine, Carl Roberts, is one of South Africa’s top sculptors. He says he had no innate talent at all but through training he learned to be good. I have never quite believed him. I think you either have talent or you don’t. But both Lianne and Elliot have really honed their skill through working very hard at it.
Carl works with found objects such as rock, bone (from everything from giraffe to whales), and driftwood. He finds them on walks, on holidays, on trips. The final piece takes its form based on the found object. I think he is supremely talented.
One of Carl’s favourite subjects is the octopus. Partly because they are fascinating creatures, but mainly because along with hair, (in particular women’s hair) eels and snakes they can be made to fit almost any shape.
I met Carl when I was about 18 years old and we were at university together. I liberated one of his rejects out of the garbage to decorate my student room and I still have it! He finds it amusing that I have one of his ‘beginner’ projects but I think it is beautiful!
How incredible both of them are! I also always thought that you needed innate talent to be good and I didn’t think much of practice but this has proven me completely wrong. I draw and paint and I’m not very good but like Lianne, I started drawing again at the age of 32. My daughter who was a toddler, wanted me to draw for her. It was very basic but so enjoyable. I am very far from Lianne’s talent and I’m still searching my style but it’s so nice to be able to draw and create something. Carl’s sculptures are incredible… Even the one he rejected, I find it so incredible and very attractive. I would probably spend quite a while looking at it. Good thing you rescued it!