Karla grew up in the warm and tranquil town of Bela-Bela in South Africa. In 1991 she graduated as an Occupational Therapist and practiced this special career for 15 years in places like Mpumalanga, Namibia, London and Ireland. During this time, she utilized music and art as a therapy medium – especially with teenagers.

In 1993 she married Sakkie – a pastor – and the couple is blessed with two daughters – Marna and Daleen. Karla is passionately involved with music in the church.

While working as an Occupational Therapist, Karla, moved by her deep love of art, started to take art lessons. Catherine van Schalkwyk of Nelspruit was her first mentor. Her guidance and experience is the foundation on which Karla later builds her art career. She expanded het techniques in London, the South of France and at UNISA.

In 2006 her professional art career took off. Karla is exhibiting in art galleries all over South Africa and Namibia. A lot of her work can be seen at “The Gallery” in the sought after art destination, Clerens. In 2008 she was chosen by the Clarens Art Society to take part in an South African art exhibition in Augustusburg, Germany.

Karla’s work has been sent to Brazil, Sweden, USA and Hong Kong. In 2009 she appeared in a lifestyle television program Pasella.

She is a gifted musician and music is a strong theme in many of her paintings. Karla uses mainly pen and ink, acrylics and a mixed media approach in her paintings. She gets her inspiration from travelling all over the world and her deep trust for creativity from the Creator of all things.