Iolanthea Art

06/10/2026

25/09/2026

This painting has officially found its place at Pax Nails & Beauty in Melkbosstrand.

I love seeing my work move out of the studio and into real spaces where people actually get to live with it. And honestly, I’d love to do more of this.

If you own or run a nail salon, beauty salon, hair salon, spa, tattoo studio, boutique, creative studio or other Cape Town business and you’re looking for original artwork for your space, I’m always open to creating something specifically for you.

📍 Pax Nails & Beauty, Melkbosstrand
🎨 Original oil painting by Iolanthea Art
📍 Cape Town | Western Cape
🎨 Art commissions for businesses & creative spaces

24/09/2026

Here is the full progress video from start to finish.

Black and White Oil Painting Commission for a Nail Salon in ,

Tomorrow, once this layer has dried I'll peel off the tape to reveal the salon name / logo and finish up some imperfections.

Really looking forward to seeing the outcome and having this one join it's partner at the salon (That was delivered today. Videos of that one in its new home coming soon)

Pax Nails and Beauty

10/09/2026

Yes, I used a makeup brush to paint this face! 🎨👇

Here is the step-by-step breakdown of how this monochrome oil piece came together:

1️⃣ Began with a clean line drawing on board.

2️⃣ Blocked out the absolute darkest values and the solid background in acrylic.

3️⃣ Laid down a rough, unblended oil layer for the skin mid-tones.

4️⃣ Grabbed a dry, fluffy makeup brush to lightly stipple and soften the oil paint into an airbrushed, smoky gradient.

5️⃣ Sharpened up the fingernails and lips with crisp, high-gloss highlights.

This piece is headed straight to its new home in a luxury nail salon to welcome their clients.

Looking for a custom statement painting for your home or business?
Tap the link in my profile to view my portfolio and secure a commission slot!

10/08/2026

The bird series is officially complete 🐦 Or is it?

I’ve finally finished the five birds I originally planned for this series, and I’m pretty damn happy seeing them all together.

But I might not be finished just yet.

I’ve already had requests for a Sociable Weaver and an owl, and those two are officially in the works. Which means I only need three more birds to turn this into a collection of ten.

So, I’m handing the next three spots over to you.

What birds do you want to see me paint? Give me your best suggestions. If I see three that I absolutely have to paint, I’ll make it ten.

The original five will be available for sale from 1 September, with pre-orders opening soon.

22/07/2026

Third painting in the series. 🐦

Five ridiculously fluffy young Marico Flycatchers huddling together to stay warm.

I dare you to look at them and not smile.

The moment I saw the reference photo, I knew I had to paint it. Every one of them has its own little personality, but together they tell such a beautiful story.

Which one are you?

21/07/2026

Yesterday I shared the first painting in this new bird series.

Today I finished the second.

This is a crimson-breasted shrike oil painting, inspired by my dad's favourite bird, and the bird he used as his logo. I've wanted to paint it for a long time, but it turned out to be far more challenging than I expected. Those deep reds and dark tones needed a lot more balancing than I thought they would.

Seeing these first two bird paintings together is making the series finally feel real, and I'm excited to keep building it.

Now I'd love your help deciding what comes next. What bird would you like to see me paint next?