My name is Martin Whitebooi, I’m a Cape Town based Visual Artist living in Mitchell’s Plain. I specialize in Graffiti , Illustration, Portraits, Print- and Graphic Design and Sign Writing. I started sketching since the age of four, and since Primary School I discovered that I had a natural talent with regards to art.
Doing cartoons and portraits since Secondary School and later Graffiti (considering that Westridge, where I live, was seen as the Graffiti Mecca of South Africa.)Since doing Graffiti I started gaining interest in the political and socio-economic views of the people I’ve met through painting, which led to expanding my views and seeking further Education to advance the quality of my art (beyond just being graffiti ).
I did a few courses, Studying 2D Animation, Graphic Design for print at Concept Interactive, assisted with a leadership program with the Cape Town Jazz Festival, Independent Community
Upliftment programs with local artists, worked as a Designer doing Signage at Ukwenza Designs, Painted the Art Galleries; Young blood (Bree Street) and The Pop Up Gallery (Woodstock), 2 Exhibitions with Prefix66, Dfeat, MissAnke, BobD called Paradox, and Printer and Designer as well as Production Management at an Independent Clothing Label.
I’m currently busy learning to further animation, film editing and Web Design, to explore different areas of design that I have not yet mastered. My greatest focus is on the art itself and encouraging the younger genera on to take interest in what they do - whether it’s art or not, to stay focused and work hard to achieve their goals.
My motto: Don’t waste precious me, if you’re not willing to give it your all!
