My name is Liezl Viljoen and I’m a Fine Art Prophetic artist who was born and raised in a small town called Barberton in South Africa. It’s situated on the edge of the Kruger National Park. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been drawn to nature and inspired by its beauty.
One of my high school memories was of my mother and I enjoying our daily walk, where I told her that my heart’s desire was to be able to paint like her one day, as her perfect elephant paintings always inspired me as a young girl. Suddenly she stopped at a nearby tree and asked me: “What colors do you see…?’’ At that moment, I believed, that Jesus opened my eyes to experience His world of colors and my passion for art was born.
Several years later I took up art classes to learn the basic principles of art. I started painting with acrylics but was always drawn to oils and was curious to how different artists get their images to look real life. As my artistic skills developed and my relationship with the Lord deepened, I started to develop an urge in my spirit and cried out to the Lord:
“Who am I Lord?” and “Show me your face/presence Lord?”
Then, one day, I decided to buy the biggest stretched canvas I could find, to create a painting with all God’s Names in the clouds. Excitedly I asked God which Name He wanted me to paint first…
I heard the Holy Spirit say “I Am that I Am”…
Why do you want to put me in a box?
I Am more than those Names;
I Am… everything you need every day in every situation. (Exo33:18, Ps27:8)
Since that day, I always had the urge to capture on canvas, the words and visions I received from God. I always understood that art should tell a story, but how do I put the Word of God and my visions together?
One day, my dear artist friend, Sonia Van Niekerk invited me to a gallery which had an exhibition on prophetic art. I was in awe and just knew there and then, this is what God had called me for all along.
That day, I met Joy Heyneke (prophetic artist and teacher) who changed my life into becoming the thriving prophetic artist I am today.
My first prophetic painting was about expressing “God’s Kingdom” on canvas. My aim was to explain the Scripture in a visionary way so that people could understand it. I realized that a “body of artwork” starts with one word which turns out to become a Holy Spirit driven vision and in due season will lead to a whole new adventure through God’s Word.
My heart’s desire is to help people and give them hope for the future through art, to find God’s presence, to apply His plan and purpose for their life through the Word of God; and to motivate them to use it to God’s Glory.
