40/Forty: Celebrating Women

Years ago, Erna bravely uprooted her life as she knew it in South Africa and moved to Orange County in Southern California to support her husband’s goals.

Always the optimist, she successfully built a new life, raising her son in a new country, making new friends, and switching careers from graphic design and marketing to doing what she loves: teaching art and helping others build a strong foundation in painting and multimedia. Many locals know her as an amazing and dedicated art teacher.

Raising a family, teaching art, building a business of her own, life had become super busy! So much so, that when she turned 39 years of age last year, she reached an epiphany: with all the teaching and sharing the love of art, she never really shared her OWN art! The milestone birthday convinced her that it was time to take action.

“I had a moment of stillness where I realized I had never honored my art, never truly given in to just making art for me,” van Dyk said. She’d never fully embraced her voice as an artist. She’d never announced to the world, “Here I am! This is what my art has to say!”

Being the person that she is: mother, wife, artist, business owner, she wanted to focus her art on what inspires her: WHAT IS LIKE TO BE A WOMAN. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a loyal friend, an immigrant, an artist, a teacher, A WOMAN.

She decided to celebrate womanhood on a global scale! She set a goal to create and paint 40 women before her 40th birthday. This is not an easy feat to paint 40 paintings in under 11 months! Especially as a busy woman! This just happens to coincide with recent events in women’s rights and gender equality. The culmination of it all: a solo art exhibition; A Celebration of her 40th Birthday along with the 40 women!

“In a time where we are celebrating women, it feels like I am doing my small part to help celebrate all women,” van Dyk said. “With the #metoo movement, it was important for me to show our vulnerable, soft, sensitive and strong side.”

As she painted each woman, she immersed herself in the heads of each person. “They picked me,” van Dyk said of the women she depicted. “In each of them, I think I can identify a bit. In the end, they feel familiar to me, like we walked a journey.”

“I learned a lot about myself with this challenge,” she said. “I realized that I should not wait for inspiration. Sit down, be committed, and do the work. Inspiration plays a small part. Commitment and pushing through all the stages plays a bigger role.”

Now she looks forward to the big reveal, sharing all 40 women with family, friends, supporters, and the Orange County arts community.

“The greatest feeling is to see them all together, like old friends I know so well,” van Dyk said. “The process gave me more courage to open up and share my heart and show my work. I loved the support of my community I have built. So many people were watching my progress with words of encouragement. It felt pretty special.”

Her collection is a quiet and honest tribute to the many faces of femininity and womanhood: STRENGTH, SEXUALITY, BEAUTY, SELF-CARE, INTUITIVENESS, HOPE, SUPPORT, VULNERABILITY, FORGIVENESS ACCEPTANCE, PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING, ASSERTIVENESS, KINDNESS.

But don’t take it from me, go see it yourself! Bring your family and friends! I look forward to seeing you there!

FORTY40: Celebrating Women is on display now at the Laguna Art Lounge, located at 1951 S Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. The artist will hold a reception on Saturday, April 14, from 5–9 p.m.