The Woodland’s House Mural

The Trip that launched a Ship in Woodstock

Question:

What does sailing to the island of Saint Helena and painting a ship on a building in Woodstock have in common?

Answer:

…They both take six days!

• 

The Woodland’s House building is the largest canvas I’ve ever had the opportunity of painting. Having just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the tiny South Atlantic Island of Saint Helena, I was bursting with inspiration of all things nautical. Armed with large brushes, scaffolding and two wonderful assistants in tow, I began the task of turning an underwhelming building in Woodstock into something playful, eye-catching and whimsical for everyone to enjoy in their daily lives. The building certainly had its challenges in the form of large windows and doors which had to be taken into account when thinking about the end result. “Lean into what you can’t change” is a saying I live by, and so with a little bit of imagination, the lower floor windows and door become containers at a port – ready to be loaded up. Meanwhile the large windows on the first floor almost disappear between the chimney stacks that grow out of the deck of our glorious vessel, the WLH Workmanship!

The building itself houses several beautiful spaces which creatives and small business owners can hire out, to make, create and flourish. You too can become a member of this industrious ship and let it take you on all sorts of exciting adventures; drop Dale Glen a line, who let out the building. There are many different spaces, of different sizes that are perfect for nurturing a fledgling maker’s business.

*I’d like to extend a big thank you to the owners of this building for thinking out the box and recruiting an artist to add some magic to an otherwise ordinary street. I’d love to see more of this in the more industrial parts of our wonderful Cape Town.