High School - AGAC 2024 3rd Place Winner - Danielle van der Walt - Sunday Evening Loadshedding

I have been drawing and creating art since the first day I learned how to pick up a pencil. I always loved the processes of creating and kept on honing my skills through the years. Five years ago, was when I started joining art classes and really started taking art seriously as a future career option. During that time, I was drawing traditionally and dibble-dabbling with digital drawing on my phone. On my 12th birthday is when my parents gifted me my very own drawing tablet and I have never gone a day without it on my table with me. 

Digital art gave me so much freedom that I simply fell in love with it. Concepts of characters and their worlds are always swirling at the back of my head and my art is where I am able to pour it all out. My biggest inspiration is most likely animated films. I always admired their ability to capture human experiences and interactions, through which they are able to tell stories and shape our world. As an artist strive to be able to do the same one day and manage to work in the animation industry. 

I would have never made it this far without the incredible support I received from my family and teacher, I am endlessly thankful for them.

When I first heard the prompt for this year's competition, I knew I wanted to include an experience that most if not all South Africans have had, loadshedding. The black background in the original painting encouraged me to pick Madonna della Seggiola.

Mary in the original painting had a sense of serenity and security which I believe embodies black South African mothers. Despite the chaos that life may unleash, they are able to retain their composure and guide the family through any dark times that may load onto them. Black South African mothers have a mental and emotional strength that is unmatched by any other. Not to mention, while single handedly keeping the house intact, they still find time to look their best and live life with laughter.

To reinforce the connection to the theme, there are some objects that are specifically South African that I am sure you can recognize.