Nature Inspires Art at Lion Sands

Artist Craig Cameron-Mackintosh is finding inspiration from nature on our Artist Residency at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge.

Craig Cameron-Mackintosh is a versatile artist whose name shines in the world of painting and filmmaking. He earned acclaim by clinching the prestigious Sanlam Portrait Award in 2019 and has more recently begun to explore landscape and abstraction.

Craig grew up in White River, Mpumalanga, so he is no stranger to the bushveld, He showed a talent for drawing from an early age and moved to Cape Town in 2007 to study filmmaking at AFDA which has deeply influenced his artistic career; not only lending a sense of cinema and story to his subject matter but also informing his technique. In 2019, he ventured into the realm of documentary filmmaking, unveiling 'Billy Monk – Shot in the Dark' delving into the life and work of the legendary South African photographer during the tumultuous 1960s.

Craig’s fusion of painting and cinema yields captivating results, channelling the essence of photography with a unique twist. His canvases come alive with silhouettes, overexposure, and a mesmerising play of blurriness.

“I count myself extremely lucky to be the Artist in Residence at Lion Sands. Peace and quiet and the spaciousness of the Ivory Lodge studio makes for a richly creative environment. The scents of the bush, bird songs and warm Lowveld air transport you to a different state of mind. But the beautiful scenery aside, there is such luxury in the opportunity to simply concern myself with what is on my easel, without the everyday tasks and distractions of life that would otherwise get in the way of painting. As a result, I've found that I'm creating more artworks, which aligns with the inspiration that's all around me – starting on day one with the descent into Skukuza airport on the plane. I'm currently exploring the idea of abstracted bush landscapes as seen from an aerial view with the green, white and blue colour scheme of the land, hazy horizon and sky.”

“While I'm most well-known for my portraiture, I'm enjoying branching into landscapes, bushveld flora, textures and new colour palettes – the electric colours of the blue-tailed sandveld lizards that hunt for insects in the studio, for example, have inspired some abstracts and experimental paintings on paper. Another studio visitor that resulted in a painting was a lesser striped swallow that flew into the large studio windows. I helped revive the stunned little bird which allowed me the chance to get a close-up look at his colours – a burnt-orange head, stripey white chest and black wings that fade into midnight blue on his back. I placed him on the raked sand bed and kept an eye on him until he regained his bearings and flew away. The small oil-on-panel painting was a lovely way to document a special moment during my time at Lion Sands and an unusual way to depict a bird not typically grounded like that.

Another aspect I enjoy is the chance to interact with new guests on a daily basis. It's a nice way to get direct feedback from fresh eyes as you progress with your work. I look forward to my first showcase evening where I'll display a selection of finished paintings as well as 'works in progress' to guests and staff at the lodge. The Lion Sands team has been so welcoming and supportive.”

Craig has exhibited his work at many shows and galleries in Cape Town, White River, and further afield in Berlin and Milan. Our USA guests can look out for Craig’s work at the EXPO CHICAGO Art Fair (April 2024) and in an Artsy digital billboard campaign in subways and airports. View Craig’s website or follow him on Instagram to enjoy more of his work. He is in residence until 17 November 2023.

The Artist Residency brings artists into a creative space where they can focus on their craft, while connecting with an appreciative audience. A gallery/studio is situated within Ivory Lodge and becomes home for weeks at a time where artists, new and established, can draw unparalleled inspiration from their location and wildlife sightings to create new pieces, while also showcasing their work.

Artist arranged in partnership with Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA)

Contact morgan@lionsands.com should you be interested in purchasing any artwork from our featured artists at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge