JUDGES GALLERY

WENDY COOKE-TONNESEN

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Biography of Judge for the ArtofHealers: Wendy Cooke-Tonnesen

Wendy Cooke-Tonnesen is a distinguished artist who began her training at the Natal Technical College Art School . After her initial education, she worked as a textile designer.

Once married and with children, she was fortunate to be able to concentrate on painting, and joined various painting and drawing groups under the tutelage of various art luminaries including Joyce Leonard and George Boys.

She taught art to adults and children at her studio in Gauteng for about 40 years, at the same time pursuing her own passion for creating art works.

Wendy expresses her passion for art as follows:

"Painting was my work for many years but it was a job I always enjoyed. Now, I paint because I love it. I love the textures of oil paint, the fluidity of watercolour, the mystery of printmaking, and the pleasure of colour.

Movement has always fascinated me, and I am challenged by capturing movement, whether in the actual representation of the subject or simply in the use of colour and line.

I do not pretend to or choose to have deep intellectual meaning in my work. I really hope to capture the essence of the subject and perhaps an emotion.

The fact that so many members of the medical profession make art is not surprising. They need it to be able to relax away from the physically and emotionally draining work. To make art in whatever form, and to absorb oneself in painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, music, and dance. Creating something of beauty or thought-provoking is truly food for one's soul.

'Physician, heal thyself' is a dictum that echoes in the Art of Healers project."

Wendy currently resides in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and continues to inspire through her dedication to art.