I was at Mcdonalds Tyger Manor (Belville) and on my way out, I noticed a lady painting at one of the tables. She was highly engrossed in her work. She didn’t notice me until I approached her. We started talking about her art, and initially, I thought it was just another conversation with a creative struggling to make ends meet.
Except that Simone and her brother are destitute. She stands at the robot with her artwork. While she gets lots of compliments, people don’t buy often. She sells the artwork between R 100 to R 300 each.
Simone loves her craft. She has been doing it for a few years. She sees the picture in her mind and paints from there. Simone doesn’t have a cellphone. Her brother Ziggy, has an old cellphone, he hopes to get a smartphone by the end of the month.
To keep her work going, Simone uses the social grant, to purchase the materials from the local PNA store. I was inspired by Simone, her passion, dedication and effort, using the little resources that she has on hand. I immediately purchased one of her artworks and gave it as a gift to a client that shares my passion for entrepreneurship.
Simone is holding her colourful picture (home) and I am holding grey/colour one (building) picture. She told me that water fell on her picture, so the top section are the “clouds”.
How you can support Simone
She works at her table in McDonald’s during the week, usually in the afternoon. Call Mcdonalds Tyger Manor at 021 919 0344, speak to Joe and ask for the lady that does painting there. If you are passing by, drop in and chat to her. Even better, buy one of her artworks.
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