Painting Joyfully: The Art and Heart of Tienette Koen
“You don’t need to be an artist to paint—you just need to be willing.” – Tienette Koen
Introduction
Hello, beautiful souls!
Welcome back to Thrivve, where we believe that life after 50 is the perfect time to bloom, explore, and reconnect with your creative spark. Today’s episode and this accompanying post are especially close to my heart because I had the joy of chatting with someone who embodies creative courage—Tienette Koen, a South African watercolour artist, teacher, and joyful spirit behind tienettekoen.art.
Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush or are simply curious about what’s possible in this season of life, you’re in for something special.
Part 1: Who is Tienette Koen?
Tienette—affectionately called “Tienie” by many—is a Pretoria-based artist whose watercolours are filled with light, life, and a sense of peace. Before becoming an artist full-time, she spent nine years as an interior designer. But in 2019, something shifted. She felt called to create—and not just for herself, but to guide others into a creative life as well.
Today, she runs her business from her home in Pretoria, offering in-person and online watercolour workshops, art kits, and beautiful handmade paints. Her journey is such an inspiration, reminding us that creative reinvention is always possible—no matter our age or experience.
Part 2: Why Painting Matters After 50
If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too old to start,” this is your nudge from the universe: Painting is perfect for this season of life.
As Tienette and I discussed, painting has a way of quieting the mind, reducing anxiety, and opening us to joy. It’s a form of moving meditation, keeping us rooted in the present. It’s not about talent—it’s about tuning in.
Part 3: Water Painting – Accessible Art for Beginners
One of the reasons I love Tienette’s approach is how accessible she makes water painting.
She encourages beginners to start with something simple—a leaf, a flower, a splash of colour—and reminds us that watercolour is portable, affordable, and wonderfully forgiving. There’s no pressure to produce a masterpiece. The goal? Joyful exploration.
Part 4: Tienette’s Approach to Teaching
What sets Tienette apart is her gentle and thoughtful approach. Her motto? “Trust the process, not the outcome.”
She often teaches with a limited palette, showing students how a few good colours can go a long way. Her workshops encourage reflection and play, and she even recommends keeping a painting journal to track your growth and capture how each painting made you feel.
She’s led over 120 workshops across Gauteng and Bloemfontein, and her sessions are always filled with warmth, laughter, and a spirit of discovery.
Part 5: A Painting Exercise for You
Now, let’s try something simple together—the One-Colour Leaf.
- 🖌️ Pick a leaf from your garden or a walk.
- 🎨 Choose a single colour—any one that calls to you.
- 🌿 Loosely paint the shape of the leaf, letting the colour vary in lightness.
- ✍️ Add a few veins with a thinner brush or pencil.
Then take a moment to step back and just look. Let yourself feel the satisfaction of creating something from nothing.
Part 6: Overcoming the Fear of Starting
When Tienette began her art business during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she had every reason to hesitate. But she chose to show up anyway—and so can you.
She reminds us that it’s okay to be a beginner. It’s okay not to know where to start. The key is to begin anyway, to show up with curiosity, and to give yourself permission to enjoy the process.
Part 7: Stories from Tienette’s Students
The stories that come out of Tienette’s workshops are truly heartwarming. Many of her students are over 60 and hadn’t painted since school—some not at all. Yet, through Tienette’s nurturing style, they’ve discovered newfound confidence, purpose, and even new ways to connect with their grandchildren through art.
One student shared how painting cards during the holidays became a treasured family tradition. Another said she finally found a peaceful hobby that felt like “home.”
Part 8: How to Start Your Painting Journey with Tienette
If this blog post is stirring something in you, take the next step. Tienette offers a range of in-person workshops in Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as online kits that are shipped across South Africa.
Her website tienettekoen.art is full of helpful tools:
- ✨ All-in-one beginner kits
- ✨ Hand-mixed metallic and neon paints
- ✨ Seasonal card sets
- ✨ Online tutorials
- ✨ Booking options for her live workshops
She even shares short video tutorials on TikTok and Facebook to help keep the inspiration flowing.
Part 9: Why Creativity is Essential for Thriving
Creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s soul care. It sharpens the mind, softens the heart, and reconnects us to what truly matters. In a world that often demands so much of us, painting offers us a way to give something back to ourselves.
So often we forget that making art isn’t about being good. It’s about being alive.
Final Thoughts / Call to Action
If this has stirred your creative spirit, take it as your invitation to begin. Whether it’s the one-colour leaf or signing up for a workshop with Tienette, the next step is yours to take.
💛 Visit tienettekoen.art
🎨 Try the One-Colour Leaf exercise
📸 Share it with us in the Thrivve Facebook Group so we can cheer you on!
Remember: it’s never too late to create something beautiful. And you never know—you might just find yourself in the process.
Until next time, keep painting joyfully.
With love,
Riette
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