Majestic blue mountains guarding vast plains susurrating with the aroma of Karoo bossies. Valleys lush with vegetation from aquafer-fed springs, sheltering small antelope, secretive kudu and tiny flitting birds. Freedom to wander in the veldt undisturbed all day, multicoloured sunsets that slowly leads me to nights star bedazzled. My beloved Karoo. That’s why I paint.

My roots are on a sheep farm, Three Sisters, in the Great Karoo. I live by seasons, pick up rocks, feel responsible for all fauna, love every peak and plant on the farm. I can and will talk for hours about rain and weather. Losing old family farms to fracking, mega farming and human stupidity upsets me. Desertification and drought frightens me. I also paint landscapes of the Karoo, R62 and Breederiver Valley.

I’ve lived some time in the UK midlands, and still paint country scenes. With backpack and watercolour kit I’ve traveled Europe, the far east and the Mediterranean. It was a privilege to see the art museums, living master’s exhibitions, architecture and grand gardens. I studied Celtic mythology, flew, dived, collected graphic novels and books and had many adventures. Upon returning to South Africa I realized we had the most natural beauty in the whole world, and I realized the value of the Karoo’s space and Fynbos plants.

The farm’s extensive oasis of gardens with waterfalls and interlinked ponds, tall trees, flowering shrubs, many roses and more, which generations of my family established on the farm also inspires me. Hence “Karoo Faerie” – a place of woodland and flowers within the Karoo.

Acrylic and Oilcolour are my mediums, I enjoy watercolours very much and I’ve added Fibre& F abric& Dyes to my repertoire. My full time Fine Art studies were thorough and I continually add courses like silversmithing, bookbinding etc. My skills have developed beyond realism to a high technical level and my own distinctive style. Since my qualifying solo exhibition in 1995 I’ve regularly exibited and am a member of SASA and Kunye, a NPO. I am represented by the respected Cape Gallery and other galleries in the Western Cape. Collectors in many countries now own my pieces, and continue to seek my work. I use high quality paint and create no AI derivatives but only original art works. On Facebook I’m under Michelle H-Wright and my Instagram handle is KarooFaerie.

Michelle Hamman-Wright
N.Dip. Fine Art 1994
NH.Dip. Fine Art 1995
Freestate Technicon

karoofaerie@gmail.com