THE art of being free and letting go is something that we all should aspire to have in our everyday life, according people consultant and founder of Nicky’s Fluid Art, Nicola van Turha.

The Glenwood-based artist has found the best way of letting go while mixing business with pleasure, through the practice of fluid art. Van Turha is among the few skilled creatives in Durban that hosts fluid art classes and workshops, making art accessible to ordinary people.

@caxtonlocalmediaPOV: You let go… and the paint does the rest 🎨✨ Fluid art = therapy, freedom & a little bit of magic. Durban’s getting creative with Nicola van Turha of Nicky’s Fluid Art. #BereaMail #DurbanArtists #FluidArt #CreativeHealing #ArtTherapy♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

“I am a strong advocate for making art accessible and turning ordinary people into artists because art acts as a therapeutic mechanism to healing one’s self,” she said. “There is something freeing about pouring liquid over a canvas and watching it take shape. You never know what you are going to get, it’s abstract.”

Van Turha said she was drawn into the art world during the Covid-19 pandemic. Like many others she found herself with free time and looking for ways to occupy her hands and mind.

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While scrolling through videos on the internet, she fell in love with creative art and began the process of learning to create masterpieces using the fluid art technique. After a long and successful career as a people consultant in the international non-profit space, Van Turha decided to let it all go and follow her passion.

“In April 2025, I made it official by launching Nicky’s Fluid Art,” said Van Turha who has a Master’s in Business Leadership. “After working in the non-profit sector and managing people for so long, I needed the change and for a way to heal. Art gave me that.”

Her passion and colourful business will allow Van Turha to travel all over the country, due to her much-sought after skills as a fluid artist, with Johannesburg being her first stop in March. Her clients vary from doctors, lawyers to friends looking to socialise while making abstract art.

“That is what art does, it draws people in from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter who you are, you always find a way of expressing yourself with paint and a canvas,” said Van Turha. “Instead of being afraid and going inside yourself or feeling overwhelmed, being creative helps you. It opens you up and allows you to be yourself and let go of the stress and pressures of life.”

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Through her workshops and fluid art classes Van Turha is healing South Africans who need respite from the fast-paced world that we are living in. So if you find yourself in need of art and healing, you can follow Van Turha on her social media.

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