How to Discover Yourself in Art | Mické Buitendag

Micke Buitendag is a self-taught artist from South Africa who turned to painting as a means of healing and self-reflection. What started as a personal escape soon became her full-time passion, leading her to create powerful, layered artworks that explore identity, femininity, and self-discovery.

In this interview with the Arts to Hearts Project, Micke opens up about her journey—how she left behind a business career to follow her creative calling, the challenges she faced, and the deeper meaning behind her art. She explains how each layer in her mixed-media pieces represents the different experiences and influences that shape who we are. She also shares her creative process, the turning point that made her commit to art, and how moving to Dubai has pushed her to grow in new ways.

Micke Buitendag is a featured artist in our book “101 Art Book: Portrait Edition .” You can explore her journey and the stories of other artists by purchasing the book here: https://shop.artstoheartsproject.com/products/the-creative-process-book

Micke Buitendag b,1995 is an artist from Cape Town, South Africa, who taught herself the beauty of creating art. Shortly after graduating with a business degree, she turned to art as a form of therapy & reflection. Micke’s creation style is a form of contemporary & abstract art; her artistic voice is a flow of expressive energy through mixed media. Themes of femininity and identity are the main focal points in her works, and each artwork is produced as a one-of-a-kind original piece with layers of depth on high gloss acrylic. Her art career started in 2018 when she moved to another city to pursue her passion, and she has been part of many successful group exhibitions since.

Today, Mické has artworks all over the world & serving the international market. “A painting is an artist’s personal feelings, thoughts, therapeutic imagination and a physical presentation of the mind.” Her artworks comprise three layers of mediums: abstract paint on canvas, monochromatic portraiture, and digital pens developed on high-gloss acrylic. Each component is a metaphor for the different layers that form our being and identity. Each brush stroke and element overlaps one another to create a hidden portrait and 3-dimensional visual experience. This representation aims to remind one that you are not conformed to one layer of being but to burst with colours and expression.

1.  Your art is deeply rooted in self-discovery. How has your journey shaped the way you approach your work today? 

Since childhood, I have wanted to be different and make my path. I was fascinated with thoughts and how your mind works and creates reality. As a friend, sister, and daughter, I was always a listener and advisor. I felt I was gifted with wisdom, and I guess, in turn, the theme of my artworks developed into the knowledge I had and wanted to share regarding self-discovery and introspection. We all go through tough times mentally and have conversations with ourselves about how we can overcome those that influence our perceptions.

The mixed media aspect of my artworks is a metaphor for that which attaches to our identity; each medium and brush stroke is a symbol for external factors that shape our identity and how we perceive the world and ourselves.

Micke Buitendag

2.   You explore identity, femininity, and introspection—how do these themes come to life in your paintings? 

Although many of my artworks are centered around feminity, I have become more inclusive and mainly focus on identity and reflection. The mixed media aspect of my artworks is a metaphor for that which attaches to our identity; each medium and brush stroke symbolizes external factors that shape our identity and how we perceive the world and ourselves. In my artworks, faces are formed or hidden yet not defined. This aspect encourages the viewer to engage in introspection and not conform or be fully defined by what we think we identify as. It also enables one to think about what emotional, physical, or social factors have influenced us to make us and shape us.

3. Your creative process blends spontaneity with intuition. Can you describe how a piece evolves in your studio?  

I spend a lot of time brainstorming and playing with different layers and colours until it comes to life, and I like the way every layer plays with the other. I get inspired by different colour palettes and develop an abstract piece first. I trust my hands to go with whatever shapes come. I then decide which contrasting face I will hide in the artwork that compliments the lights between the darks, and then one will stick and come alive.

4.   Art started as therapy for you but has grown bigger. What was the turning point that made you fully accept it?  

I went through a hard time in the city where I grew up that pushed me to pack my bags and move to a different, more artistic city to pursue my art career instead of returning to a 9-5 job. It wasn’t easy, and I still had to work, but I started to get more and more enquiries for commissions, and I continued to build my social media presence to a point where I could leave my job. I knew if I just worked hard even to get one painting sold, that would be my monthly salary. The turning point was a demand for my gift, enough to carry me through.

Art started as a way for me to process emotions, but it became something much bigger.

Micke Buitendag

5.   Pushing creative boundaries is a big part of your journey. What’s a recent piece or experiment that challenged you?  

I don’t have a recent piece or experiment, but the challenge and experiment have been ahead since my move to Dubai. I want to try to figure out how to stand out and create something unique. Right now, adjusting to a very different way of life compared to South Africa, especially as an artist, is my biggest challenge.

6. You aim to forge meaningful connections through your work. How do you hope viewers engage with your art?  

I want the viewers to connect with the message and question: What has made you who you are? What do your layers consist of? Which elements define you, and which mediums do you want to break through? As my art has a lot of expression yet introspection, I hope the viewers find beauty in that and look inward to what brush strokes they are comprised of and what types of mediums influenced their being to see themselves as artworks truly.

Micke’s story is about courage, creativity, and following your passion, even when the path isn’t clear. From using art to heal to building an international career, she has learned to accept change and keep growing. Her work encourages people to look deeper—at themselves, their emotions, and the experiences that shape them. As she continues to evolve as an artist, Micke hopes her paintings help others see the beauty in their unique journeys. To learn more about Micke, click the following links to visit her profile.

Arts to Hearts Project is a global media, publishing, and education company for
Artists & Creatives: An international audience will see your work of art patrons, collectors, gallerists, and fellow artists. Access exclusive publishing opportunities and over 1,000 resources to grow your career and connect with like-minded creatives worldwide. Click here to learn about our open calls.