Last year we introduced a new blog series, Creative SA. In this series we will regularly feature South African makers.
by Rose McClement
In the spirit of moving forward with this series, I would like to introduce you to another South African artist, Miche Watkins. Miche and I met online – how that came about I just simply can’t remember. But you know the story, if you knock around a few online portals long and often enough, you find one another.
Since that first time a few years ago we have kept pace with each other via Facebook largely, until Miche visited Cape Town last year, when we had the opportunity of catching up eyeball to eyeball. Although Miche relocated to the UK a few years ago to be close to her family, she lived in Cape Town for a long time. That I think was the glue that formed the bond early in our friendship, the fact that I used to post images of beautiful Mother City and she would respond with great yearning.
I’m not much of an art “knower” or a “knower of art”, but this I do know about myself… I know what art appeals to me. Over the past few years I have exposed myself to more and more artists and in doing so I have come to understand that which appeals to me and that which just goes over my head.
The question then is what is it that appeals to me about the body of work that Miche brings to the world? It is her particular style of Pop Art-ish line drawings – she only introduces a hint of red or colour that I am simply taken with. They are funky, contemporary, youthful and more often than not, faceless images.
As a decorator finding something that is appealing yet not specific in terms of its image, is a very big draw. Her art can be installed into offices, hotels and residences alike – any space that can indulge a bit of contemporary funk. I see Miche’s art hanging on the walls of some trendy millennial’s apartment or in the room of an edgy teen.
She has recently introduced another element into these clean lined paintings – that of Street Art. It’s the combination of the street art and line drawings that work for me. Take a look for yourself and you decide if this art appeals to you or not.
In closing let me add that I have great admiration for artists who put out their work for the public to scrutinise – possibly appreciate, or possibly criticise. They are such a brave crowd of creatives. Plus having to market their work in an already overcrowded arena and run it like a business – that takes extra commitment to the cause.
Futher, I know that Miche puts her heart and soul into her paintings as well as her business. Hats off to her!
Her work can be seen and purchased on the online art portal, State of the Art, as well as the bricks and mortar State of The Art Gallery in Bree Street, Cape Town – the heart of our buzzing city.
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