Playful and bold wall plates by Victoria Verbaan

Victoria Verbaan's collection of wall plates consists of five different images. Each wall plate shows a loosely painted woman, and each artwork plays on a different feeling. For South African artist Victoria, there is a world of experience behind this, which she wants to use to support other women. “Painting and illustration have always played an important role in my life,” Victoria Verbaan says from her studio in South Africa. The friendly town of Kloof, with its winding roads and tall trees, makes a fine base for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Durban. “It forces me to observe and take in everything interesting. It helps me move forward with a sense of freedom, in a world where visual stimuli often overwhelm us.”

Finding that peace amid a continuous stream of stimuli is something Victoria taught herself. “I set myself the challenge of making an illustration every day and I dedicated myself to this for four years. It was actually a kind of therapy. I focused on expressing my personal experiences, emotions and thoughts which in turn became a way for me to let go of something, explore something, plow through it and move forward.” Thus, this personal devotional quest is a recurring theme in Victoria's work. “With my work, I want to give women a positive image to remind them that phases in life come and go. I want to give them a reminder to take a moment to reflect on yourself and realize that everything will be okay. Difficulties are not there to destroy you, but rather to help you reach your highest potential. With my work, I celebrate women and capture the beauty of all women. Kindness, strength, passion and compassion. I want to remind every woman: you are all of this too!” 

To get her feelings on paper, the South African artist likes to work with ink. “I always work with a certain kind of ink because this ink is 'fast' and therefore the result is always a surprise for me as well. I never want my work to feel overworked. Thanks to my daily practice for four years, I have mastered the forms well and can also work quickly. I also use a technique where I turn the image upside down and paint upside down. This causes your brain to stop seeing what it thinks it should see, a kind of blind spot so to speak, and so I can better focus on the actual form.”

“I have always loved and admired Heinen Delfts Blauw's work,” Victoria looks back on her life. “My father is Dutch. My grandparents emigrated from Haarlem to South Africa when they were in their early twenties, so Dutch traditions have always played an important role in our lives. Thanks to my aunt, I started making ceramics at an early age, because she was a ceramics teacher. I have always greatly appreciated that craft. Over the years, I have collected pieces from Heinen Delfts Blauw and after visiting their factory, I was so enthusiastic that we started a collaboration. Our collection is aimed at strong, confident women. I kept them elegant, but also tough. Each piece in this collection means something. My work is a reflection of you, whether in the title or in a particular piece. I want you to smile and recognize something of yourself. Your alter ego, your superpower, your playful side, your sexy side... Life is art, you are art!”