From Corporate Grey to Colourful Curiosity

August 4, 2025

Once upon a time, I had a respectable job title. You know, one that made my parents proud, made my LinkedIn look lekker, and came with stable paychecks and the constant hustle mentality of business in South Africa. But deep in my heart (and in the margins of my notebooks), I was doodling.

After months of countless job applications, corporate ghosting, rejections, and emotional turmoil, I had to take a hard look at what it is that I actually want out of this short mortal existence. Then one day, somewhere between Eskom's Stage 6 and my fifth existential crisis, I decided, “Screw it. I’m going full Van Gogh.” Well, minus the whole ear thing.

The Great South African Career Plot Twist

I traded in spreadsheets for spatters, processes for paintbrushes, management for mayhem, and endless remote Zoom meetings for hands-on art sessions.

Now I will be running workshops, hosting paint parties, creating art, and collaborating with local vendors in selling homegrown art supplies. I’ve met some absolutely incredible humans who would rather spend time painting abstract stickmen and pondering the meaning of life than sitting in traffic on the N1.

Is there Money in Art in SA?

Well that’s the million-rand question isn’t it. The honest answer is that I can’t confidently say yes…yet. Will it be easy? No. Will it be fulfilling? Yes, without a doubt.

From my discussions with artists, galleries, and schools, we’re definitely not short on talent or people interested in exploring the joy and freedom that creativity brings. Instead, I feel that we’ve been conditioned to treat creativity like a side hustle and something that kids do, instead of something to explore and celebrate. I am hoping to flip the script on that.

Why Am I Sharing This?

Someone out there is sketching between Zoom calls. Someone out there is sitting on a passion they’re too scared to make real. That someone was me.

And now, I have taken the chance. Am I terrified? Yes. Will it be worth it? Hell yes. I have been called different, eccentric, and creative (and some other choice adjectives) my whole life. I finally feel like I am giving myself the chance to be the real me for a while.

So here’s to the messy, magical, mad world of taking a chance on creativity in Mzansi.

Catch you on the flip side!