About the Artist
Ida Lombard
Contemporary South African Abstract Realism in oils, acrylics and mixed media.
Capturing the quiet tension between stillness and movement, light and shadow, faith and the natural world.
My Journey
Growing up in Pretoria, my earliest memories are filled with open space, silence and a sense of freedom that feels increasingly rare today. As a child, I wandered alone through nature, drawn to its stillness, its vastness and to something deeper that I could not yet name.
Before sunrise each Saturday, we climbed the Magaliesberg mountains to welcome the dawn. In those quiet moments, as darkness slowly gave way to light, we prayed and dedicated the coming week to the Creator. Those mornings left a lasting impression on me. They shaped the way I see light—not only as illumination, but as presence.
Painting entered my life just as naturally. Time spent in the studio of artist Wessel Marais introduced me to the discipline of painting: the smell of oils, the patience of the creative process and the quiet satisfaction of watching something unseen slowly emerge on canvas. Soon afterwards, my father placed my first set of oil paints in my hands, beginning a lifelong journey.
My Practice
Art was a formal subject throughout my school years, where I developed foundational skills and received recognition through multiple Eisteddfod awards. I later attended art school and have continued refining my practice through more than four decades of independent painting.
Over the years, I have exhibited at Hobby-X in South Africa and have quietly built lasting relationships with private collectors who continue to acquire my work.
Today, I paint full-time from Johannesburg, Gauteng, creating original Abstract Realism paintings in oils, acrylics and mixed media for collectors in South Africa and internationally. Alongside my original collections, I also accept selected portrait and fine art commissions.
My Inspiration
Painting became much more than a creative outlet. During a season of life when safety and stillness could no longer be taken for granted, painting became a way of finding balance again.
That experience shaped how I see the world. It heightened my awareness of light, movement and the quiet tension that exists beneath stillness.
I am drawn to moments where calm and unseen force exist together—the gathering weight of storm clouds, light breaking through moving water, or the alert stillness of an animal aware of danger beyond the frame.
These moments speak to me of vulnerability, endurance, hope and guidance.
My Style
Working in oils, acrylics and mixed media—including expressive ink techniques—I paint in a language of Abstract Realism, moving between wildlife, portraits, landscapes, seascapes and botanical subjects.
Using both brush and palette knife, I deliberately leave drips, movement, texture and expressive marks visible. To me, these are not imperfections but evidence of life itself—where contrast, struggle, faith and restoration exist together within the same moment. Layer by layer, transparent glazes, textured surfaces, expressive drips and mixed media elements become part of the painting’s story rather than simply its technique.
My work is deeply influenced by the emotional honesty of Vincent van Gogh and the movement and energy found in Vladimir Volegov. Their fearless use of brushwork, colour and emotion continues to encourage me to paint beyond realism and to trust the expressive power of every mark. My goal is not to imitate nature, but to reveal its spirit through colour, texture and movement.
For many years I have admired South African wildlife artist Lute Vink. His ability to tell a story through wildlife rather than simply paint an animal has encouraged me to look beyond realism and to search for emotion and narrative in my own work. While my style has developed into Abstract Realism with expressive textures and mixed media, I continue to appreciate artists who reveal the character and dignity of the natural world.
Recurring Themes
Whether painting wildlife, portraits, landscapes, seascapes or botanical subjects, the same themes continue to emerge: light, stillness, movement, faith, vulnerability, endurance and hope.
My Philosophy
Light remains central in every painting.
Not simply as illumination, but as a reminder that even within uncertainty, something greater continues to move quietly through creation.
Painting is where everything becomes quiet again. It is where I return to the stillness first discovered in the mountains before dawn—a place of faith, healing and balance—and where I try, in some small way, to make the invisible visible.
Professional Practice
Creating art has been a lifelong commitment rather than a second career. Over more than four decades, I have continued to paint, study and refine my practice while building lasting relationships with private collectors. Today, I work full-time from my Johannesburg studio, creating original paintings and selected commissions for collectors in South Africa and internationally.
Every original artwork is created using professional-quality materials and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. My work is carefully documented, and each painting forms part of an evolving body of work united by a consistent artistic vision and philosophy.
Beyond the Easel
While art is my passion, it has never been my only creative discipline.
For more than four decades, I built a career in Information Technology as a Business Analyst, Project Manager, Agile Coach and Trainer. My work focused on understanding how people think, make decisions and interact with complex systems. It also introduced me to the fascinating world of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), thinking preferences and cognitive diversity, deepening my appreciation for how differently people perceive, process and experience the world.
These insights continue to influence both my painting and my website design. Whether I’m composing an artwork or creating a digital experience, I begin with the same question: How will someone experience this? My goal is always to remove unnecessary complexity and create something that feels intuitive, meaningful and emotionally engaging.
Today, Ida Lombard brings these two worlds together—combining artistic creativity with strategic thinking to create original paintings, commissioned artworks and thoughtfully designed, AI-ready websites for artists and creative businesses.
Whether you’re interested in an original painting, a commissioned artwork, or simply have questions about my work or artistic process, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
If you’re an artist or creative business looking for an AI-ready website, I’d also be happy to discuss how I can help bring your vision online.