Mating Dance- Oil on Canvas by Cornelie Wolff

Mating Dance- Oil on Canvas

Dimensions: 400  x400 cm x 40 mm

Medium: Oil

Mating dance, an oil on canvas by Cornelie Wolff, captures the quiet power and symbolism of the coastal beacon with elegance and emotional depth. Through layered brushstrokes and a refined palette, Wolff evokes a sense of solitude and calm, inviting the viewer to pause and reflect. The lighthouse stands as both subject and metaphor — a guiding presence amid uncertainty, suggesting themes of hope, resilience, and direction.

The composition balances atmosphere and structure beautifully, with subtle tonal shifts that convey changing light and mood. Each detail feels intentional yet effortless, revealing the artist’s sensitivity to place and moment. Lighthouse 1 is more than a seascape; it is a contemplative work that speaks to anyone drawn to the timeless comfort of the shore and the enduring promise of light in the darkness.

Oil on Canvas

Cornelie Wolff Approaching Art from a Different Angle

This Johannesburg-based artist started as a pharmacist.  After completing her Honours Degree in Psychology, she joined Helios to further her skills in Art Therapy.   During this time, she fell in love with art, the process and the emotional power it yields.

While raising her family, which consisted of three young children, she took part-time classes with Rika de Klerk and Willie Jacobs.  She also attended workshops led by Koos Bronkhorst, Niel Moss, Willie Jacobs, Rentia Coetzee, Ruth Walters, Elize Bezuidenhout, Douw van Heerden, Charla Maarschalk, and Jennifer McChristian.

Today, she practices what she preaches by creating her work under the motto: “With every painting I complete, I grow as a person and an artist.”

My art is created from a place of wonder – it is my dream for every human to never completely lose the child inside them, because it is our ability to see wonder and magic in things.  I use bold brushstrokes, contrast and an impressionistic approach to entice the viewer to create their own interpretation of the subject and become part of my world.