BIO

Personal Profile

Santorini

MOTTO

Santorini is a South African Artist with one simple motto “Omnia est Gratia “a Latin phrase meaning “you attain all you have through the grace of God”

THE BEGINING

Born in Cradock and grew up in Welkom (Orange Free State), Santorini has had a lifelong interest in drawing and painting, he had sold his first painting in Grade 5 For R1.50 to Peter Rossouw, JKA Karate Instructor. He was on his way to acquire his black belt when his mother put an end to his karate lessons due to her fear of the constant fighting, (boys will be boys…..)

He participated in 5 sports category’s on a provincial, Junior and Senior level and was named the Victor Laudorum at the High School he attended in Welkom. All the while honing his skills in his first true love, art.

EDUCATION

Santorini obtained his B Proc legal degree at the Orange Free State University in 1977, he then went on to be a Public Prosecutor at the Welkom Magistrates Court for several years before ending up as a criminal defense lawyer. After running a successful practice called Oosthuizen, Foster & Louw from 1982 - 1994, Santorini decided that the negativity of the criminal defense world was too emotionally draining, he then began Ermines Property, the real-estate company he currently runs with his wife.

Santorini holds an degree in fine art obtained in Sorbonne Université - Faculté des lettres Paris, France. He was a student under various art tutors specializing in various media, namely, Maghtilda Schleur a South African fine art specialist who has been Santorin’s lifelong art mentor, as well as Dale Elliot an oil paint specialist and Wallis Hulley specializing in watercolor, Santorini also attended The Wilds in Knysna where he acquired his skills in Seascapes.

Santorini believes one can never “know enough” on the subject of art, and even up until today he will always take an opportunity that presents itself to learn something new, no matter whom the lesson might be from, there could always be something you can take away and perhaps incorporate into your own work. You learn, grow and progress or you close your mind off to new ideas and stagnate, or worse, fall behind completely.

INSPIRATION

Santorini main philosophy is “to paint is to fall in love”, he believes one is in a state of love when one is painting, love for the subject matter, love for the way the paint moves across the canvas, love for what you are creating, he says he falls in love every day. “When I am in love, I am very emotional, and when I am emotional, I become even more creative and I see art in everything”.

BRING ME A CANVAS

BRING ME A BRUSH

I’LL PAINT YOU A MASTERPIECE

I’LL GIVE YOU A RUSH

THE SANTORINI FAMILY

Santorini has 2 daughters from 2 previous marriages, and is currently married to (in his own words) “my third-time lucky wife, Shelagh, who makes Romeo and Juliet look like an animation movie.” His wife is the official photographer of Santorini Art Studios (Pty) Ltd and her work is showcased in the Big Blue Art Gallery. Santorini says her photographs of the sea and sea birds inspire him and he has put many of her photos on canvas.

EXHIBITIONS

Santorini has painted and sold over 1500 original art pieces globally, and his artwork has been evaluated by dual fine art specialists. Selected Santorini art pieces are accompanied by a valid valuation certificate. Santorini has had solo and group exhibitions all around the globe, including on the island of Santorini on which he totally fell in love, and adopted the name as his own, this journey ended in him opening an intimate, vibrant little art gallery on the shores of the island and spending the next 5 years of his life there.