Wentworth artist breathes life on canvas

KEEN artist, Mike van der Westhuizen, fondly known as ‘Uncle Mike’ has lived a life as dynamic as his sketches and as colourful as his painted masterpieces.

He grew up in Bellair and later moved to Wentworth in the 1970s where his talent was born. “The move was quite an adjustment. We had gangs who were infamous for using knives in their rivalries back then. It was a bit rough but I kept myself busy with drawings. My love for art kept me out of trouble,” he shared.

Although he dropped out of school in standard 7 (Grade 10), he had a teacher who encouraged him to express himself through colour and drawings which resonates with him to this day. It was from there where he explored different styles, mediums and colours.

As a teenager, he liked sketching cartoons which went on to a fascination with nature and wildlife. “My dad was influential in me doing portraits as he would ask me to draw some of his friends and colleagues. Both my parents were supportive and my mother would even reprimand me about the low cost I was selling my work for. I didn’t know any better at the time, I was just doing it for the love of art on canvas.”

He also shared on a time in his life where he used to do wall paintings for gangs in Newlands as a youngster. “While they were smoking, I would paint for them. I wasn’t scared. They loved my work. It was some form of inspiration for them, while it was encouragement for me. They would jokingly tell me not to forget them when I become famous.”

Even in his adult years as he went on to work, Mike would always find the time to do his drawings during his lunch breaks or free time. “Friends would tell me I was wasting my time not following my passion. After a while, I decided to leave my job and get more into the art. I would sit at Park Station in Johannesburg at the flea market and do my drawings for hours throughout the day. That’s where I perfected my skills in doing live paintings. A friend and I later took the plunge and moved to Cape Town with the dream to survive as artists. It was tough though and after being a struggling artist for a while I moved back home to Durban and did odd jobs here and there. But I never gave up drawing and painting. It’s a form of healing therapy for me.”

He draws his inspiration from the intricacies of nature and the depth of human emotion.

Wiser and well over the age of 50, he now spends his days creating beautiful portraits and paintings in his cosy corner at Cycas Road in Wentworth which also helps put food on the table.

He hopes to one day share his vast knowledge with younger aspiring artists and help them hone their skills through an arts development programme. To get in touch with Uncle Mike call 081 700 0960.  

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