Tucked away in Ballito, artist Nicole Pletts is quietly creating calm in a noisy world.
Nicole didn’t set out to become a professional artist. At school, she was firmly steered towards maths and accountancy, despite always wanting to study art. It wasn’t until she was working for her husband and raising three young children that she carved out a little time for herself and started watercolour classes with Thelma Buzzard.
“It was my downtime, my therapy,” she says.
Since then, Nicole’s work has evolved into something distinctly her own: peaceful, layered and rooted in observation. She paints almost exclusively from photographs she’s taken herself, with subjects ranging from contemporary everyday moments to lush, joyful florals.
The contemporary pieces are drawn from real-life glimpses, something seen on a walk, in a queue or during a coffee break. The florals, by contrast, are playful and bright.
“They are fun and flirty. Happy and light,” she says. “I use them as sorbet between courses, per se.”
A calm aesthetic (and a quiet rebellion)
Nicole’s paintings are known for their soft tones and stillness. It’s an intentional aesthetic, one that reflects a more private part of her personality.
“I am personally quite animated and energetic. I dislike conflict and love silence, so I tend to curate my mental and physical space into a tranquil environment.”
That calm spills into her work, with the occasional colourful outburst.
“Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet and paint something with brighter colours… I actually have to turn it to face the wall so it doesn’t mess with the stillness of my studio.”
The process: part instinct, part patience
When it comes to starting a new piece, Nicole draws from instinct, reference and necessity. Sometimes it’s a commission. Other times, a photo she took years ago suddenly calls to her. She tends to have a rough idea of where a painting is going but lets it unfold naturally.
“I try and make as many fresh marks as possible,” she says.
Then she steps away for a week before deciding what stays and what gets painted over. Overworking a piece, she admits, is a constant temptation.
Her favourite part?
“The beginning. Such hope. Such promise. So much potential.”
Art that reflects the artist
Nicole’s work quietly mirrors her inner world.
“The people who know me well will see my personality in my artworks,” she says. “People who don’t know me only see my outgoing personality and it doesn’t sit congruently with my paintings.”
While she enjoys company and conversation, she says she needs more time than most to recharge. Her ideal weekend?
“At home with tea, a book and a little time to bake.”
Advice for the next generation
Nicole’s guidance to younger artists is as practical as it is grounded.
“The best advice I received was from well-known artist John Smith. He said: ‘don’t overprice your work too soon, increases compound over time’.”
She also encourages humility.
“Take what you do seriously, but never take yourself too seriously.”
Details: www.nicoleplettsfineart.com
IG: @nicolepletts
