From Paper Planes to Rocket Ships: How Childhood Dreams Fuel My Art

Mike Lawrie

Turn Childhood into Wonder...

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. I’d fold paper planes, launch them off the stoep, and dream of galaxies that hadn’t been named yet.


Fast-forward: I didn’t end up in a space suit, but I did end up making art that feels just as cosmic. My latest piece, inspired by the all-female Blue Origin flight (yes, the one with Katy Perry!), is a celebration of dreams—especially the ones we’re told are too big.


I paint like I used to play: fearless, curious, and totally absorbed in the moment. That’s what Bianca Black Art is about—turning childhood wonder into wall-worthy wildness. Because sometimes, the most powerful journeys begin with a crayon, a dream, and a refusal to grow up.

Contemporary abstract female figure by Bianca Black Art inspired by Sarah Baartman, featuring layers
By Bianca Black May 6, 2026
A Body Remembered, A Story That Refused to Stay Silent
Contemporary abstract artwork by Bianca Black Art inspired by the Graskop Gorge.
By Bianca Black May 6, 2026
Discover Hello Gorgeous by Bianca Black Art — a contemporary African abstract artwork inspired by Graskop Gorge, folklore, waterfalls, nature, and ancestral storytelling.
Contemporary abstract artwork by Bianca Black Art inspired by Nzuzu, the Venda water spirit, featuri
By Bianca Black May 6, 2026
Discover Nzuzu by Bianca Black Art — a contemporary African abstract artwork inspired by Venda mythology, water spirits, folklore, femininity, and ancestral storytelling.
Abstract contemporary artwork by Bianca Black Art featuring ghostlike white horses emerging through
By Bianca Black May 6, 2026
Explore Mlungu by Bianca Black Art — a contemporary African abstract artwork inspired by South African folklore, sea mythology, ancestry, and white horses.
Abstract painting with dark drips, a central figure-like form, and a bright yellow vertical accent
By Bianca Black May 6, 2026
Lore & Legends - Stories That Refuse To Disappear
Colorful, patterned fabric sleeves for bottles and accessories arranged on a shelf with a wooden bowl.
By Mike Lawrie September 16, 2025
The Unpredictability of Art Sales...
Two people paint on paper with brushes, with art supplies like pencils and paints on a table.
By Mike Lawrie September 16, 2025
Reclaiming Play in Art
An abstract drawing on textured paper featuring bold black brushstrokes, delicate dark line work, and small pink accents.
By Mike Lawrie September 16, 2025
Who says painting is just about hands and brushes?
Abstract painting featuring strokes of brown, tan, and soft pink with small, scattered orange and blue highlights.
By Mike Lawrie September 7, 2025
Have you ever gazed at the clouds and spotted a dragon, or looked at the moon and seen a face smiling back? That’s pareidolia—our brain’s delightful tendency to find familiar patterns in random shapes. And in the world of Bianca Black Art, this magical phenomenon turns every painting into a conversation. What one person sees as a cascade of colors, another might see as a dancing figure, a hidden landscape, or a familiar face. This is the beauty of abstract art: it invites you to bring your own stories, your own imagination, and your own unique vision to the experience. In my art, pareidolia is not just welcome; it’s celebrated. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what the artist creates; it’s about what you see, feel, and imagine. So next time you look at a painting, let your mind wander, let your imagination play, and see what hidden wonders you can discover.
Hand holding charcoal, surrounded by art supplies on a paint-splattered table: brushes, crayons, and paint cans.
By Mike Lawrie September 1, 2025
Spoiler: It’s Not the Painting
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