Some stories don’t have a clear beginning. Mine started quietly — with the gentle sound of waves and the comforting presence of my grandmother, Marie Erasmus.
I grew up on a remote farm in the Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape. When it was time to start school, my parents made the incredibly tough decision to send me away. Boarding school was the most obvious choice, but they found another way to soften the blow: I would stay with my grandmother in Jeffreys Bay for the first two years of school.
It was still over 250km from home, and I only saw my parents once or twice a term. But being with my gran made all the difference. We lived next to the sea, went on little adventures, and made art. She had the most beautiful love for creativity, especially watercolour. And at that young age, she introduced me to the medium that would stay with me my whole life.
Even when I later moved to boarding school in Oudtshoorn (side note: this is also where I met my now-husband — but that’s a blog for another day), art remained a constant in my life. I was always drawing, always painting.
After school, like so many, I felt a bit lost. My parents suggested studying Fine Art in Stellenbosch — a place I had never been, with a language (English!) I barely spoke. But I applied, worked hard on my portfolio, and was accepted.
That first day in Stellenbosch, my parents dropped me off and drove back to the farm. I’ll never forget that feeling — the fear, the excitement, the overwhelm. But it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.
University opened up my world. I learned so much — not just about art, but about people, cultures, and thinking. We explored every medium you could imagine: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, bookmaking. Some I loved, others not so much. But no matter what, I kept finding myself coming back to watercolour and illustration. The love my gran had shared with me stayed constant.
After graduating, I felt a little directionless again. I ended up moving in with my gran once more — this time in Durbanville — and started working at a small art studio. I began with stock-taking, then worked my way up to managing the shop and teaching art classes. It was here that I started my Instagram page, slowly sharing my work and finding my voice.
Teaching sparked something in me, and I decided to study graphic design. I got my first job as a designer on a wine farm — and I still work there today, loving every moment. At night, I would paint, draw, post online, and eventually — commissions started to snowball. My small art business began to grow, and the support from strangers still takes my breath away.
Opening my stall at Root44 was another turning point. I met so many wonderful people, each with stories that reminded me of how art brings us together. During this time, my husband and I moved to Stellenbosch, adopted two dogs, got married, and — most life-changing of all — welcomed our baby boy into the world.
Those first three months of motherhood were the hardest of my life. Being far from both our families, over 800km from the farm I once called home, we had to figure out everything ourselves. My art came to a complete stop. I had no energy, no inspiration, no time. The guilt of pausing everything I had worked so hard to build still lingers — but I know it was for the best reason.
Our son is our everything. And slowly, life found its rhythm again. Little by little, I’ve started creating again. I even have moments where I can sit and draw just for the joy of it. I know I still owe many of you replies (yes, those WhatsApps haunt me too!), but please know how grateful I am for your patience and support.
Looking back, I realise that art has always been there — through every move, every change, every heartbreak and joy. It has been my anchor, my comfort, my greatest adventure. I am endlessly thankful for the love of watercolour my gran passed on to me, and I’m so thankful for all of you who’ve followed this journey.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. My story isn’t perfect, and it’s far from over — but I hope to keep creating, growing, and sharing it with you.
With love,
Mareli
