About Louis Hiemstra
Louis (MB. ChB, M.Prax.Med., MFGP) FWSSA practised as a general practitioner for 10 years and then as senior lecturer and later associate professor at the School of Medicine, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa for 25 years, while simultaneously practising art actively as a hobby. He has since turned his art into a new profession. Cartooning, which started at school, was initially the main focus for many years to come. Louis was the appointed cartoonist of the University Newspaper while studying in Pretoria, and later the author of a weekly comic strip for the Volksblad daily newspaper in Bloemfontein. He is well known locally for his FunART signage!
Duting the late seventies he started adding more formal painting to his skills and has since exhibited in many national and other exhibitions. His work is well represented in local galleries, corporate buildings and in homes in South Africa, as well as abroad. He is a Fellow of the former Watercolour Society of SA and took part in several national exhibitions of the Society. He occasionally served as selector of national exhibitions of the WSSA. He also paints in oils and acrylics . Book illustrations have been added to his work and several books with his illustrations have been published. Louis is the eldest of six children of the late General R. C. Hiemstra, who was the Head of the South African Armed Forces during the 1970’s, and his wife Gertruida, also known as Gertie. His uncle, Louis Wybren Hiemstra, was I.a. the co-author of the Afrikaans-English Bilingual Dictionary, and previously editor of the Volksblad, while Victor was a well known judge and author of a handbook in law. His wife Ann, and their 4 sons all have a keen interest in art and support dad in his art. His son, Louis, as professional photographer, is an artist in his own right.
We are convinced that you will find the contents of this website pleasurable and constructive.
Ontmoet die Kunstenaar
Louis (M.B. ChB., M.Prax.Med., MFGP) FWSSA, het vir 10 jaar lank as algemene praktisyn gepraktiseer en toe vir 25 jaar eers as senior lektor en later as medeprofessor aan die Mediese Skool, Universiteit van die Oranje Vrystaat, Bloemfontein, Suid-Afrika gedien. Hy het sy kuns deurgaans as stokperdjie beoefen. Sedert sy aftrede bedryf hy sy kuns as sy nuwe professie.
Hy het op skool reeds as spotprenttekenaar ontluik en dit was vir baie jare die fokus van sy kuns. Louis was gedurende sy studiejare die spotprenttekenaar van die Universiteit Pretoria se nuusblad, Die Perdeby, en later die outeur van ’n weeklikse sportprentstrokie van Die Volksblad in Bloemfontein. Hy is alombekend vir sy FunART reklameteken.
Sedert die laat sewentigerjare het hy meer formele skildervaardighede aan sy kuns begin toevoeg en het sedertdien aan vele nasionale en ander uitstallings deelgeneem. Sy werk word goed verteenwoordig in plaaslike galerye, korporatiewe geboue en wonings in Suid-Afrika asook oorsee. Hy is ’n Genoot (‘Fellow’) van die voormalige Waterverfgenootskap van Suid-Afrika en het aan etlike nasionale uitstalling van die Genootskap deelgeneem. Hy het per geleentheid gedien as keurder van die nasionale uitstallings van die Gennootskap. Hy gebruik ook olie en akriel as medium om mee te werk. Die illustreer van boeke is tot sy werk toegevoeg en verskeie boeke wat hy illustreer het, het al verskyn.
Louis is die oudste van ses kinders van wyle Generaal R. C. Hiemstra, wat in die 1970’s die Hoof van die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag was, en sy eggenote, Gertruida, alombekend as Gertie. Sy oom, Louis Wybren Hiemstra, was o.a. die mede-outeur van die Tweetalige Afrikaans-Engelse woordeboek en voorheen redakteur van Die Volksblad. ’n Ander oom, Victor, was ’n bekende regter en outeur van ’n regshandboek. Sy vrou, Ann, en hulle 4 seuns stel almal baie belang in kuns en is groot ondersteuners van hulle pa. Sy seun, Louis, is as professionele fotograaf ’n kunstenaar in eie reg.
Ons is daarvan oortuig dat u die inhoud van hierdie webblad as aangenaam en konstruktief sal ervaar.
To contact Louis Hiemstra for more information regarding art classes or commissions
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