Elsa Cornelissen

Life is colourful, life is stories, live it, express it…
This is the life of renowned Hartbeespoort artist Elsa Cornelissen whose paintings adorn walls all over the world. Her artworks convey the emotions of life and draw the viewer into a world of colour and expression.
“I would probably describe my work as symbolic realism. My work has become more expressionist than before, expressing emotions and feelings, and I crave colour,” she says.
Elsa is currently one of only a few South African artists who was chosen to exhibit her work at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria and her work is sought after by international tourists. She was also selected to present the first art workshop of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK). The workshops aim to introduce Afrikaner artists to the rest of the world, share their art and restore art appreciation.
For Elsa, it was an honour to be chosen. “I enjoyed the workshop and it is rewarding to assist in nurturing renewed art appreciation. My life is about art and that is what I am trying to achieve through art classes,” she says. Elsa is now also presenting monthly art workshops at Feather Studio at Little Paris and she aims to teach aspirant painters that creativity is not exclusively for some people. “Every single person is creative. You just have to realise it. And the secret is not to compare yourself with anyone else. You have your own.”
Elsa’s art journey took flight in the late 80s when she left a career as an art teacher at schools to focus full-time on her own art. She initially focused on wildlife and her work became popular among wildlife art collectors. “Then my life took a turn and during a traumatic time in my life, I discovered the healing journey of art. Suddenly, my creativity exploded and I used my emotions to tell stories. I have been painting wildlife most of my career up to then and all of a sudden I realised I was holding myself back. I suddenly found myself on a new road. I could paint people and I had this craving for colour. Art healed me and now it fulfils me.”
Art classes are a new inspiration for her. “I find that aspiring artists are so focused on the success of the end product that they don’t take into account the process. The process and steps leading to the end result are the most important. You must enjoy the process. Relax and stop stressing about the result. This will make the process more enjoyable resulting in a more successful final result.”
She is currently contemplating a new series of paintings. “I have been thinking of animals again, and incorporating the human-animal relationship. I love animals. Animals are unconditional and there is a bond between animals and humans. I am letting ideas run. There is so much possibility.”
Besides painting, Elsa runs a guesthouse, aptly named The Art Guesthouse, in her home in Schoemansville. She is at her happiest in her home, brimming with colour and art. “Live the life that makes you happy. That is all that matters!”
If you want to join Elsa’s art workshop at Feather Studio in Hartbeespoort, contact Karen at 083 409 3743.

Elsa is now giving monthly art workshops in Hartbeespoort.