COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio

Blue is having a major moment – as our latest curated edit in VISI #138 shows, this timeless hue brings instant elegance and edge to everything from furniture to fashion. ‘Blue Blocking’, the strategic overlapping of solid blocks of blue in all the shades of this soothing spectrum, is another way to incorporate the hue into your space. Here are five ways to “block” with blue in all its tantalising shades.

Paint

Paint is a quick and cost-effective way of introducing blue blocking into your scheme and makes a standout statement without the need to hang elaborate pieces of wall art. The key to getting the blue-blocking look right is to “think geometric” – a square of brilliant cobalt here, a triangle of electric indigo there. Blanket a whole feature wall in a single blue hue or highlight just, say, the rectangle of a door, keeping the accompanying scheme neutral and unfussy so as not to overwhelm the eye.

Blue on blue

Layered blocks of beguiling blue add dimensional interest to a space, especially when the chosen hues are kept to the same warm or cool spectrum of the palette. Warm blues, like indigo, denim or slate contain hints of red and, as such, they advance or come toward you, making a room feel cosier. On the other hand, cool blues, like cobalt, turquoise and ice blue, have yellow in them and tend to recede, which can help make a small space appear bigger.

Statement furniture

Resplendent in a deep, rich sapphire or, alternately, in a soothing powder blue, a large-scale furnishing item, such as a sofa, becomes the automatic focal point when inserted into a monochromatic scheme or offset by a backdrop of warm, complementary wood. Add a thin line of defining black or a geometric swatch of inky charcoal to make the colour truly sing, but keep these to a minimum so as not to detract from the impact of your big-ticket item. 

Keep it simple

A single block of a beautiful hue is the commitment-phobe’s answer to decorating with blue. Forgo having to splash out on the whole sofa and, instead, opt for an inexpensive piece of wall art or a blue-fronted sideboard that can be changed as inclination dictates. Against a neutral backdrop of bleached wood floors or expansive white walls, a solitary pop of shimmering blue is as much a scene-stealer as a whole scheme curated around the colour. 

Add a touch of turquoise

Harness the electric energy of intense aquamarine, where blue meets green, by using it in blocks – big or small. Bold and compelling, yet restful at the same time, it is a hue that works well in generous swathes over walls and furnishings, with just a hint of balancing white as a counterfoil. Alternatively, insert into a monochromatic scheme small pops of neon-bright turquoise – think a pair of identical scatters.

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Colour, music and nature are all things that translate into Cape Town-based artist Jozelle McClea‘s vibrant paintings. She gives us some insight into how her style and passion have developed over the years.

Tell us about your journey into art.

I was always creative as a youngster. From winning local art competitions as young as 5 years old, I never knew that I would go full circle nearly at 40! I studied art in school and as a subject, I loved it and exceeded in it. My mom and I joined art classes during my high school years which gave me more exposure to the world of art. I didn’t ever feel like studying art, but still stayed with something creative. I enrolled in a private school in Pretoria, Open Window, where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in 2010 and applied for an agency job in Dubai. I loved it but it was too restricted and demanding for my free-flowing creative soul. I have freelanced since 2012 and started painting as a side hustle just before covid hit. I haven’t looked back since I picked up the paintbrush… full circle!

How would you describe your work?

My work is layered, colourful and has lots of rhythm. Paint is already a layered medium, which creates interesting textures where movement and rhythm are seen and felt. My work is a story of growth, passion for life and happiness. It sparks a smile and conversation. No one can put a price on when someone walks past my work and says ‘Wow, how happy and colourful’ and walks off with a smile for the day.

What mediums do you use?

I mainly use acrylic paint on stretch canvas, occasionally I use spray paint, liners, pencil and oil paint in my work. I usually paint on a stretch canvas and occasionally work on paper.

Do you prefer commissions or your own pieces?

I can do both, but I prefer doing my own work in my own time. It feels more authentic in a way, with no restrictions or guides to follow.

What are your thoughts on collaboration?

I LOVE a good collab! I am always keen to put creative forces together and to create even bigger ideas. It’s pure magic!

What does a typical day look like for you?

It changes quite often! I recently moved into a new studio space in Woodstock (CT) and had to create a new routine for my days. My typical day starts with doing mom things, getting my 5-year-old to school, fitting in my new exercise and self-care routine and having a small breakfast at home. I go to the studio around 9/10 am – with the hopes of avoiding traffic from the South going to town as I drive from Muizenberg. First thing in the mornings at the studio I sit on my Mac and work on design projects, emails, and planning for the week/month, I am also going through a major life change and love to sit with my thoughts in the mornings, journaling and finding out more about my journey on this planet, what I want and what important to me right now. It’s amazing how I see small synchronicities during my days and weeks falling into place. I try to start getting creative and paint later in the afternoon which can lead into the evenings depending on how I feel. It is so great having a space outside of the home because when I commute back home it’s relax time – that said my brain never switches off!

How do you decide on your use of colour?

One word – unexpected. I try to push the boundaries of colour combinations. I experiment with how one colour can complement the next. My work is also very VERY colourful and the colour brings in a joyful and playful energy. Colour is a huge part of my work.

What inspires your pieces? Do you go by a general theme or whatever tickles your fancy?

I go with the flow, whatever comes to mind. But there seems to be a general theme of ‘flowers’ and line work in my art, that I take now as my style and go with. Inspiration hits when I’m in a happy place, content with life. Inspiration comes from music (my space is hardly ever in silence when painting), being surrounded by creativity and nature also plays a huge influence. I also get subconsciously influenced by what’s currently trending in interiors, fashion, textiles and colours that I love as a collective always seem to creep into my paintings.

Plans for the future?

I would love to move into the interior world (textiles and furniture collabs and covering) and the fashion world – I have recently launched raincoats that I am super excited about! (It’s my first clothing product with my art as a print). I am exploring painting bigger pieces, pushing boundaries, exploring the international market and entering France and Hong Kong in the future. I am also working on my first solo show, coming up this October with Daor Contemporary Gallery. A new season is ahead. I’m looking forward to making new connections, collaborations and exploring new grounds.

See more of her work on her Instagram, here.

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The post Artists We Love: Jozelle McClea appeared first on Visi.

Seeing its hidden potential, creative couple Lauren Shantall and Derek Eyden have transformed a neglected Mid-century box in Fish Hoek into a colourful retreat that suits their new post-COVID lifestyle to a tee.

As many couples did during the pandemic, Lauren Shantall and her husband Derek Eyden re-evaluated their lifestyle. To beat the claustrophobia of their new work-from-home regimen, Lauren, who runs her own PR company, and musician Derek would regularly pile into the car with their 13-year-old son Daniel, and make the trek from Rosebank in the heart of Cape Town’s suburbia to the Deep South – the colloquial name used for the slack-paced string of suburbs that hug the Cape Peninsula’s coastline. “We were waking up three, four times a week to go for sunrise swims,” says Lauren. “Covid meant that I suddenly lost 40% of my business – but it also meant that I could work from anywhere. We realised we could minimise our petrol bill and just move to live next to the ocean!”

The Mid-century Prairie-style house the couple ended up buying in Fish Hoek wasn’t exactly their architectural dream, but its lofty location against the mountain, with a view of both the Atlantic and Indian oceans, was. “It was one of those 1960s box houses, where you open the front door and walk into a rectangle,” says Lauren. “Derek and I knew roughly what we wanted to do. We measured the space, made little scale drawings and cut out pieces of furniture that we’d move around, trying endless configurations.”

Architect Ian Macduff and interior architect Charisse Johnston of StudioSALT helped the couple crystallise their vision. The previously closed-off lounge, kitchen and sunroom became one sprawling living space that spills out onto a large balcony, and another storey – with an impressive custom-designed steel staircase to match – was added to accommodate a small study and an en suite master bedroom with its own balcony.

As far as possible, Lauren and Derek repurposed the house’s fixtures or went to great lengths to source reclaimed fittings and furnishings that wouldn’t look out of place. The sunroom’s slasto stones and sliding door, for example, were redirected to the guest loo and scullery respectively, while the parquet flooring was one of those Facebook Marketplace finds that DIY home renovators’ dreams are made of. “The sellers were getting rid of it because they were putting down vinyl!” says Lauren. Another score was the retro teak kitchen unit that had been gathering dust in someone’s garage. And then there was the pink-and-black Zulu Mama Café chair by Haldane Martin that now lives in Lauren’s study, because the original owners wanted to redo their home interior entirely in black and white, as one does…

Lauren – whose career spans decades working in the design and art realm, and who is also an artist in her own right – and Derek worked together to create a tailor-made colour story for the home. It plays out from the paint palette she chose for the walls and joinery to the artworks and curios from the couple’s enviable collection – much of which is still in storage after the move. “Many of the colours reflect the fynbos around us, like this protea,” she says, gesturing to a large Leucadendron gandogeri growing in the indigenous garden below the balcony, its gradients of green, yellow and orange-pinks echoed in the open-plan living area. “My husband is a musician, and while I don’t pretend to understand music very well, I’d like to think what I’ve done here is like colour music. The colours are notes that form a melody through the house.”

The new milieu undeniably fosters creativity – not only for Derek, who now composes and records music in a plant-filled studio bathed in serene shades of green, but also for Lauren, who has a dedicated art room bathed in natural light. “I’m working on an exhibition called ‘Plant Babies’, which will open this year,” she says. Three guesses where she gets her inspiration from…

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The latest addition to the acclaimed architecture of the historic BOSJES farm is an 18th-century manor house re-imagined as a luxurious eight-bedroom guest lodge.

Ever since its unveiling in 2017, we knew that the Bosjes Chapel would be a hard act to follow. With its distinctive undulating white roof, it has garnered wide acclaim and appeared in many an Insta post. Last year, the owners of Bosjes did follow up their original chapel design with two new structures of spectacular sculptural trellises, which house the pantry and the farm shop (see VISI 113).

Now, the latest addition to this estate on the slopes of the Waaihoek mountains is a complete revamp of the 200-year-old Herehuis, the farm’s original manor house. Until recently, it was a private residence, but such is the growing popularity and appreciation of this beautiful estate that additional accommodation was needed to supplement the Die Skuur guesthouse on the property. Once again, architect Tiaan Meyer of Meyer & Associates was called on by the owners to re-imagine the Herehuis, with a brief that included adding at least 12 new bedroom suites as well as the necessary public areas – a reception, lounges, a library and a breakfast/dining room, plus a pool and deck area.

READ MORE: Breedekloof Valley Estate

“I was asked to come up with an architectural solution to modernise the original manor house while retaining its history and heritage and approaching the build in a sensitive and respectful way,” says Tiaan. “While the owners were keen for new additions to maximise the magnificent views and setting of the farm, the caveat was to not visually overshadow the manor house.

Any new additions had to be disguised, and had to emphasise the manor house as ‘the star of the show’.” The new accommodation is made up of a collection of separate buildings arranged around three courtyards, which are all connected with open timber walkways. The individual privacy of the bedroom suites was paramount, and each new suite has beautiful views of the surrounding Waaihoek and Slanghoek mountains. One of the oldest fixtures to remain was the original kitchen door. “The owners specifically asked that we preserve it,” says Tiaan. “The manor house was built in 1792, so the door has some serious history, as well as great sentimental value to the owners. Today, it’s set within the back covered walkway, as part of the library.”

Complementing Tiaan’s sensitive solutions to the build of the Herehuis are the colourfully eclectic interiors imagined by Liam Mooney, who has also worked with the Bosjes team for many years. “We wanted to create a space that didn’t emulate a traditional hotel,” says Liam, “but rather something with a home-away-from-home feel. We wanted to bring the vibrancy of the landscape into the rooms, incorporating vintage pieces sourced from local small businesses and dealers, and layering them with modern design pieces and a mix of old and new artists.”

In fact, it’s the Voorkamer – the room Liam is most proud of – that sets the tone for Herehuis. With Tiaan’s architecture directing guests to arrive through the manor house’s main gable, it’s the first room you encounter on arrival at Herehuis. It epitomises Bosjes: audacious, beautiful and creatively stimulating, but ultimately a place in which you want to languorously spend time.

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Cape Town-based graphic designer and illustrator Kim Bischofberger (Kimbolino) joined forces with Neighbourgood to create a bright Cape Town mural inspired by the sweeping arches of architecture. VISI chats with her about the process for her latest creation.

Tell us about how the plan for the mural came about.

I had been itching to do a mural for a while when my good friend and colleague, Anlo Neethling, founder and director of One Design + Development an interior design and project management company based in Cape Town (@one_design_and_development), contacted me to do a mural for the latest Neighbourgood project in Hill road, Greenpoint.

The beautiful bones of the building boasted a lot of archways, so Anlo thought of me, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but archways are kind of my passion!

Who is involved?

Anlo Neethling (founder and director of One Design + Development, an interior design and project management company based in Cape Town) was the interior designer and project manager, Murray and Kim Clark from Neighbourgood SA (@neighbourgood_sa) – the client, and I teamed up with the super talented Bazil Baxter (@bazil_draws_on_walls) to assist me in painting the mural (I say assist, but I want to make it very clear that I couldn’t have done any of this without him!).

What was the planning process like?

This was my first mural of this magnitude so the planning process was intense. Firstly, I decided to work in a 2D space when creating the artwork, as it was going to wrap around all the facets of the building, so I wanted it to almost seem like the doorways were leading into the building – inviting you inside. Anlo shared his interior mood boards and this gave me a sense of what the space needed to feel like – which was an eclectic, tropical, Palm Springs-inspired vibe. This helped me figure out what kind of illustrated and stylised elements to include in my artwork, for example, a palm tree and even a homage to the Green Point stadium.

I was given a lot of freedom (which works well, in my opinion) to create what I felt was right for the space, but also remained true to my style. After we got the design approved, I plotted the design out on a doodle grid (meter by meter squared) and Bazil and then translated the entire design onto the walls with painstaking geometry skills and some circle and stair stencils, and then painted.

How did you decide on a colour scheme?

I love working in bright, vibrant colour palettes, and that was perfect for this job. I also kept in mind the Neighbourgoods brand language, and also the space where the mural would exist – I needed to strike a balance between it being beautiful and eye-catching, without becoming overpowering.

I designed the mural using 6 colours (which ended up growing to 10), picked paint swatches from the Plascon range by matching my Pantones, got some swatches on the wall and then we went for it. We tweaked some colours by adding white to keep them more muted.

How long has it taken?

We were working on a live building site to meet tight deadlines, so there were some delays and workarounds to accommodate other aspects of the renovation, but all in all, it took two weeks to paint the front, side and also an additional back wall mural (to really carry through the concept). Bazil and I did the bulk of it but we had lots of help from the OneDD team and 3 exceptional painting assistants: Church, Manners and Willard. I also had 2 very supportive friends, Lisa and Shani, pop in to spend some time painting and documenting the process with us.

I also worked with Anlo on bringing aspects of the murals into the interiors, painting accent walls in the rooms, small touches like yellow circles around hanging pendant lights, and large archways on walls in the communal areas.

What were some complications?

As I mentioned, I created a doodle grid (the meter-by-meter plan of the design), but this wasn’t the initial plan – when I arrived on day 1 with my projector, I realised that this simply wasn’t going to work for a mural of this size, so quickly had to re-think the process. Bazil gave me a call to ask how it was going and talked me through how best to tackle everything. 

What did you enjoy most about creating the piece?

It was such a welcomed change of environment. I have always painted and worked with my hands, but it was a thrill climbing up and down the scaffolding (after my fear subsided and upper body strength kicked in), and I loved being outside, away from my desk and studio. I can see why so many artists plan to do mural seasons in summer, while the weather plays along and spend a few months travelling to paint – definitely something I’d like to plan to do in the future!

Anything you’d do differently next time?

I wouldn’t change a thing – it was such a great learning experience, I got to work with incredibly talented people and a great client, and even the challenges were fun to navigate.

What feeling or mood is the mural made to inspire?

Think Santa Barbara archways meets Palm Springs, a tropical vacation oasis in the city.

How did you plan your design to work with the architecture of the building?

Firstly, I did a site visit and took loads of photos. Anlo and I chatted through his plans for the exterior and anything I’d need to keep in mind, and then I just started playing around with my artwork on the building facade like a canvas, using the building’s windows and doorways and balcony columns as part of my design.

Any exciting mural plans coming up?

I have 2 new mural projects lined up for this year that are still in the planning phases, and also a really cool project for a courtyard mural in a client’s home. I’m very excited to have my artwork up on the walls of private/residential spaces, I get to create a little oasis for them which means a lot to me.

Follow Kim @kimkimbolino and Bazil @bazil_draws_on_walls to see what they get up to!

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The post Kimbolino X Neighbourgood Cape Town Mural appeared first on Visi.

Banish the greys and beiges, because this season is all about turning your home into a kaleidoscope of crazy colour.

Dopamine dressing is all the rage right now. For those of you who missed the memo, this trend involves bedecking yourself in bright, colourful threads to boost your mood. It’s no surprise that it’s also spawned a happy offshoot in the interiors world with dopamine decor – otherwise known as festooning your home in a rainbow of vivid hues. Monochromatic naysayers take note: there is some science behind the idea. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is aptly nicknamed the “feel-good hormone”, increases when the brain is surrounded by certain colours, which is turn gives you an injection of much-needed joy. So surround yourself with your favourite marigolds, magentas and periwinkles, and let bright colours act as a bulletproof vest against the dreariness that life throws your way.

Bedroom Eyes (2022; two sizes) by Olivié Keck

from R2 450 | latitudes.online

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Gilded wallpaper

R595/m2 | carasaven.com

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Pebble cushion cover in Brazil

from R590 | skinnylaminx.com

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Pillar candles by HAY

from R1 001 each | cremadesign.co.za

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Large planter in Drippin’ Yellow & Blue

R550 | humblejungle.co.za

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Pantone vase in Yellow 012

R989 | kear.co.za

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Pantone Pride espresso cup gift set

R2 185 | kear.co.za

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Sam Son chair by Magis

from R19 597 | cremadesign.co.za

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Cigarette high-gloss side table in Cachous and Candyapple

R5 199 | tonicdesign.co.za

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Rumpus holdall tote

R2 500 | missibaba.com

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Frida wallpaper

R595/m2 | carasaven.com

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Flaming Gos wallpaper

R595/m2 | carasaven.com

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Small egg sculpture by Danelle Heenop/dh.playprojects

R500 | brunch-shop.co.za

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Tube planter in Salmon, Cobalt Blue and Baby Blue

R6 900 | cameroncollective.co.za

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Polder sofa by Vitra

from R159 403 | cremadesign.co.za

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The post Dopamine Decor: 15 Colourful Buys appeared first on Visi.

An apartment in a 15th-century palazzo has undergone a restoration that is both sympathetic to its past and acknowledges modernity. The result is a wonderfully eclectic and highly original home.

The small and picturesque medieval town of Monteleone D’Orvieto is perched on a hill in Italy’s Umbria region – the green heart of Italy. Immersed in the area’s natural geography of luxuriant woods and olive groves, lively streams and soft countryside, it’s a peaceful paradise tucked away from the tourist hordes. In one of the town’s small alleys, Italian-born and Chicago-based architect Patrizio Fradiani of Studio F Design, and his husband Mark, have restored an apartment in a 15th-century palazzo.

READ MORE: Sardinian Hotel

Abandoned for 40 years, the apartment clearly showed signs of decay, and the entrance had been closed with a heavy metal door. It was as if someone had dined and left right afterwards, leaving everything as it was: the entire apartment, its furniture, tableware, plates and cutlery were covered in a thick layer of dust. “It looked like a 19th-century film set, and it felt truly fascinating, but also really bizarre,” recalls Patrizio, who immediately fell in love with it. “I could not open the shutters because they were falling apart, so I saw the apartment by the light of a torch,” he adds, amused.

Coming to Monteleone was a journey back to Patrizio’s roots – as a boy, he had spent summer holidays in the family-owned Palazzo Bilancini, where his parents owned an apartment. These days, Patrizio and Mark spend time here in the low season and mid-season, relaxing, reading or taking long hikes with their dogs through olive orchards and woods, loving the peace and the quiet lifestyle.

The apartment origins may go back all the way to the 15th century, but it has undergone a number of changes and significant remodelling over the years. Its brick facade – typical of Umbria houses – and its unpretentious entrance door do not, however, reveal its noble past – it was once home of the Marocchi family, producers of olive oil, and owners of most of the land and olive groves in the area. The entire building was subdivided into apartments for different members of the family; this apartment was the most noble.

“During the restoration work, it was difficult to figure out what to keep and restore, and what to let go of and change,” Patrizio says. Some rooms he left as they were, while others underwent particularly attentive restoration. The entire building had only one bathroom, so three more were added to satisfy the owners’ and their guests’ needs. The original bathroom, built in the late 19th century, featured well-preserved yellow-and-blue tinted glass walls and accents that inspired Patrizio to introduce coloured glass walls throughout the apartment. “We did not add any brick walls, but the division walls we needed were created with tinted glass and screens,” he explains. He chose yellow, white and grey as the colours, because they were missing in the frescoes.

READ MORE: Italian Holiday Home

To further enrich the spaces, he added a green bookshelf and a baroque armchair in pea-green velvet in the living room, a pink armchair in one of the bedrooms, yellow and pea-green dining chairs and myriad colourful artworks. “I like to keep the shell of a house in neutral colours,” he says. “In most of my projects, colour is added only at the end, with objects such as furniture, carpets or cushions, which results in a colourful overall ambience.”

The outcome is a stylish, elegant holiday home that skilfully and eclectically marries the past with the present. (It is also available to rent via Luci Stays.) Patrizio has succeeded in reinventing a building full of history and stories, lovingly bringing life back to its rooms, and adapting them to today’s needs and tastes without compromising their history or charm. It is as though the hushed memories of his childhood guided him to find the thread for yet another story to be lived and told.

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Local multi-disciplinary artist Bushy Wopp (Chad Hanning) is a Cape Town-born creative lending his skills to illustration, graffiti, graphic design, painting and various other mediums. We chat to him about his graffiti journey.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in graffiti.

I’m an artist from Cape Town, focused on illustration, graphic design, animation and murals. I started seeing graffiti when I was young, on the drives to and from primary school. Fast forward to a few years later, I had become friends with some local graffiti artists in my young teens through skateboarding and then painted my first mural when I was 14. Which now feels like a whole lifetime ago.

How would you describe your style?

It’s like if illustration and street art had a baby, the one element influences the other and vice versa. It’s influenced by cartoons, anime, music and pop culture. Its playfulness and satire turned into murals in ebullient colours, fluid lines and humourous shapes.

How has it developed over the years?

My style when I was younger was more intricate and detailed. I pushed and evolved my style to be more simplistic as I find it more challenging to do, as opposed to detailed work. I enjoy the challenge and keep pushing it all the time.

Do you have a preferred/ favourite colour scheme?

I would use a lot of reddish pinks and turquoise before, I love those colours together. But now I’m trying different colour schemes and switching it up as often as I can.

What are the processes behind making a piece?

I guess it depends on the project I’m working on. Usually, I like brainstorming ideas first before sketching anything on paper or iPad. Most of my ideas come from conversation, taking a shower or lying in bed right before sleep. Sometimes I would just find a wall and come up with something on the spot, which becomes the most fun pieces to paint.

Any fun projects you’ve been working on lately?

Yes! I recently got invited to do a custom garment at Levi’s Haus of Strauss in Joburg, which I’ll be sharing on my Instagram soon. Later on, in September I’ll be one of the guest artists at Comic Con Africa and I’ll be painting a mural there. Other than that, I’m working on a body of artworks for a solo gallery show, which I’m really excited about (Watch this space),

Graffiti has a reputation for having a few politics, how do you keep things positive?

Most industries have politics, It’s best to stay clear of it and not let it get to you.

Any cool local artists who should be on our radar?

Some of these guys might already be on your radar, but I’ll mention them anyway. Conform, Motel 7, Skumbuzo Vabasa, Karabo Poppy, African Ginger, Yay Abe, Ellena Lourens and Keya Tama

What does a regular day look like for you?

If I’m not painting, I’m home with my two cats, doing morning stretches and having tea before arching over my laptop or iPad to sketch or design. I fractured two bones in both arms falling from my bicycle in May so I’ve been taking it easy on the physical activities since then. If I’m not making art, I’m with friends at home or at the local bar having a brew.

Best piece to date?

This is a hard one, but if I had to choose I would say the piece I painted, called ‘drip’. It’s a play on Sneaker culture and the term ‘drip’ where I had a guy sitting in a shoe box filled with water.

What are your plans for 2023?

To make good art, memories and be a better version of myself.

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The post Artists We Love: Bushy Wopp appeared first on Visi.

We chat to Cape Town-based abstract artist Lisa Nelson about magic in art, the journey and evolution of her style and the influence of the female form in her striking works.

Tell us about your artistic journey?

Both of my parents were professional artists and I went to a Waldorf school, art college and studied design at Cape Tech. The constant exposure to art in these environments fostered a playfulness with art and a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around me. The Pagan influence of Waldorf and my family taught me to be playful and to celebrate the marvels of nature. While playing dress-up with my fairy wings and flower wreaths on my head, singing songs about the changing colours of the seasons, building fairy gardens with crystals, and tracking the cycles of the moon, I learned that everything held magic and wisdom. 

In terms of the development of my style and process, this upbringing also allowed me to explore many mediums, such as sculpting beeswax, clay, sewing, knitting, watercolours, printmaking, pastels, oils, gouache, and digital, to name a few. However, drawing has always been my go-to, and my interest in my current subject matter emerged at an early age when I would draw models from magazines and characters from TV shows. Though, as I learned about feminism, and struggled with the trauma of being sexually assaulted, my art and my personal journey began to merge. 

READ MORE: Q&A with South African Illustrator Theodore Key

My mother is an art therapist and I used her methods to process my emotions and guide my healing. I began journaling and drawing my dreams. I used mandalas and expressive drawing as self-inquiry tools to gain insights from my subconscious, where feelings precede thoughts. This free expressive journaling style and my early interest in drawing women led to my current style and subject interest. Through my work, I process the pain of trauma and challenge oppression, sexism, and unhealthy body standards. My work celebrates women whose body shapes are bold and unconventionally perfect. These women take up space and show their power and beauty by bravely exposing their pain, being vulnerable and curious, and daring to do the work to heal and grow. They emerge from the pages of my journals and sharing them with the world is my catharsis and an ode to the incredible women around me who are on the same journey. My art is an acknowledgement of the depth and complexity of the feminine experience, and my incorporation of flowers, plants, and the ocean is an urgent reminder to repair the powerful connection we have with nature. 

What styles inspire you?

My dream journaling and art therapy mean that symbolism inspires a lot of my process. I love the symbolism in tarot decks, from ancient healers, and in the natural world. Then, in terms of artistic influences, I’m inspired by Fauvism (Henri Matisse), Surrealism (Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali), Japanese Ukiyo-e (the art of ordinary women), Modern Art, and simplified forms and vibrant colours. When I was young I strove for realism, and it has been a challenging and liberating journey to shift my perception of “good art” being accurate and technically impressive, to seeing it rather, as an emotive piece of communication.

What do you prefer, commissions or your own ideas?

They both have a special purpose. My own work is self-healing but I love commissions because I see them as a way to honour and celebrate others. Commissions can be challenging in a good way because I have to get more creative and there needs to be a balance between my personal expression and the essence of the people I am celebrating. I also find it very rewarding when I see the excitement and joy it spark in people when they feel they have truly been seen. When people request a commission it is an act of self-care and love and it is beautiful to be a part of that.

What does a regular day look like for you?

My days are always different! However, they always begin with my morning rituals, which are important because they ground me, allow me to check in with my body and my emotions, and get me ready for however, my day may unfold. Before I get up I sit in bed and journal. I draw my dreams and write them down. Then I interpret them and it helps me understand what space I am in and what things I need to pay attention to in my life. When I get up I do some yoga and get to work. I balance my time between freelance (design, animation, and illustration), and my art. I enjoy the balance, when I freelance, I work to deadlines, with people, to meet specific requirements, and it is very structured. Then, when I do my art there are no time constraints, it is solitary and personal, and I get to play, experiment and make mistakes.

How do you incorporate inspiration into your work?

My life experiences and emotional state are often things that inspire me. I incorporate them by drawing simple organic shapes and body forms that express the feeling. When it develops I can look at it and see what symbols would best communicate the message further. Looking at art history and finding colour palettes that go with the feeling. Include nature scenes that I visit. Collect shells and other objects to inspire shapes and colour combinations.

What is your preferred medium?

Digital and traditional drawing and painting. I enjoy painting with Gouache, acrylic and oils. And when I’m creating digital art I like to work in Adobe Fresco for both painting and animation.

Anything you struggle with drawing/painting?

When I’m being self-critical I find it hard to feel comfortable with an artwork being more abstract and simplistic rather than realistic and well proportioned. Trusting that what a piece expresses is valid, even when it doesn’t “look perfect” is something I need to remind myself of. When you’re learning you are praised when you’re able to perfectly replicate something and so when I consciously practised letting go I slowly developed my own style that was free-flowing, simplified and colourful.

What advice do you have for people who want to get into art?

Look within rather than looking outwards and comparing your journey to others. Especially on social media. Develop what message you want to communicate from the things that matter to you, and trust that your perspective and expression are unique and that your voice is an important part of our collective tapestry that we weave with each of our threads. 

Do you have a favourite piece?

There is one called Healing Water and it stands out to me because I drew it while my sister was telling me about a life-changing decision she was making that was going to be healing but was scary and required her to believe in herself and to trust her inner voice. I love it because it inspired her and after she built up enough courage she took her big leap and everything worked out beautifully, and now she has a large framed print in her home that reminds us both to always listen to your inner guidance because deep inside of us, we all know exactly what we need to do to bring ourselves back into alignment with our purpose – we just need to listen and trust in our wisdom. 

What are your future plans?

I would love to work more with animations to express the full story of a transformation, as my work is always about growth and change. I’d love to also tell these stories in a graphic novel. As a feminist, I am always looking to collaborate on projects that empower women and one of my biggest dreams is to create my own healing tools or a tarot deck. And while I love to work digitally I hope to develop more fine art to work on greeting exhibitions.

Any local artists we should look out for?

Maca Rosee – she is a multi-talented artist practising both digital and traditional art. I love the way that she combines humans with insects, plants and animals to create mythical characters that feel like they come from ancient folklore, passed down through generations as mysterious stories told in the night.

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The post Artists We Love: Lisa Nelson appeared first on Visi.

In celebration of the spirit of playfulness and creativity, the new collab between vans and Crayola is inspired by imagination, self-expression and colour.

Over a decade after their initial 2010 collab, the iconic sport and fashion brand and well-known art supply staple have joined forces in a new fresh range of apparel, accessories and sneakers. “Crayola encourages everyone to “step up” and colour outside the lines,” said Warren Schorr, Vice President of Business Development & Global Licensing, Crayola. “We are excited to reunite with Vans to offer a collection with a fresh take on creativity.”

The collection includes the Authentic Van Doren Inspired and Authentic DIY/Sketch Your Way styles, updated with playful colouring-book style repeat prints that give the shoes an artistic edge The white upper of the ComfyCush SK8-Hi®, for kids, is a blank canvas ready to be personalised to make them uniquely “yours”.

READ MORE: Vans X Van Gogh Museum

Apparel and accessories include durable cotton tees and hoodies adorned with hand-drawn illustrations, a brushed poly backpack with printed details and Vans x Crayola crew socks.

The Vans x Crayola Collection is now available at select retailers and at Vans.co.za.

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The post Vans X Crayola Capsule Collection appeared first on Visi.