Ballito artist Kerry Michau translates her love for beach living into striking seascapes and modern botanicals.
“For as long as I can remember, painting and drawing were my most favourite things to do,” says Kerry. She studied fine art at Stellenbosch where she specialised in watercolours. Now, she works in a range of mediums, including oils and acrylics to create work inspired by the natural environment of the North Coast.
Originally from Pietermaritzburg, Kerry spent some time in London before returning to South African shores where she met her husband, a game ranger. Together, they lived in Sabi Sands for 11 years. During this time, she took inspiration from the bush – its natural beauty, storms and fauna – to create wildlife portraits and landscapes. In 2020, the couple moved to Ballito and Kerry felt her style shift with the new environment. Now, she mostly creates large seascapes and bold, tropical botanicals. “The sea is my favourite place on earth,” she says. “A common theme in all of my work is the use of colour.”
When it comes to creating her seascapes and aerial paintings of surfers, Kerry says she plays with colour to get the shade of the ocean just right. Her background in watercolours has influenced her oil painting and she uses oils to thin her paints before applying multiple thin layers of paint. This achieves a certain translucency, and the hue of the painting changes throughout the day, just as the sea does with changing light.
Being able to work as an artist feels like a gift for Kerry. “I walk into my studio and feel so lucky,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like work. I’m excited to paint every single day; I never battle for inspiration.” The creative community on the North Coast has been very supportive, and Kerry has exhibited her work at a few local spaces. “I’ve felt nothing but love,” she says. “I’ve had such a positive response which has encouraged me to keep going.”
When Kerry isn’t painting, she loves spending time with her husband and two young children, all of whom love nature as much as she does. They enjoy time at the beach, exploring rock pools or simply being outdoors, “We’re so lucky here,” she says. “The lifestyle on the North Coast is so healthy and family-oriented.”
Details: IG: @kerrymichau_artist
Images: Derryn Schmidt
