Artist Spotlight: Adele Naidoo

Last year Adele's art popped up in Deb and Andy's formal lounge AND now in 2020 it features in Harry and Tash's studio.

How long have you been producing your art?
I have been creating and experimenting with art for many years, late 2016 an idea came to me, I had a vision of huge, colourful bird portraits. I felt like the crazy bird lady but stuck with my vision and early 2018 I released my first series – 12 large scale, digitally drawn bird portraits. Since then I have created three series'.

Adele who grew up in South Africa with a father as an artist - art and nature surrounded her.

Where do you draw inspiration from?
Nature and my father's paintings. Growing up in South Africa with a father as an artist, art and nature surrounded me. I learnt to see the beauty found in nature, I always admired his still life of birds and flowers and this has been interpreted throughout my works. 

Your art features on The Block this year? 
I have been watching The Block for so many years now, one of my dreams when I was creating my first series, was to have my work on The Block. Watching the Block all these years, all the gorgeous art on the walls and how it helps a space tell a story has definitely motivated me to pursue my art in a more serious way.

Becoming a Block artist was another goal I was fortunate enough to achieve in my emerging career. THEN getting a call from Harrie to say a couple actually purchased my art and it was going to be on TV was one of the highlights of my life!! (besides my husband and children of course)

Also as I am writing this I am so appreciative and humbled so thank you The Block Shop for making dreams come true for this emerging artist. 

Tash with 'Just Breathe' that she selected to feature in her Block studio space.

What does it mean for you to have your art featured on The Block and be a Block Shop artist?
Again a dream come true, firstly to be on The Block Shop amongst amazing art and homeware brands then to know that my art will be featured in a Block room and the judges will walk past and see it (besides everyone watching nationwide) is mind-blowing. 

Andy and Deb's formal Block lounge in 2019 which featured Adele's stunning 'Dreamer' print.

How long does it take you to create a piece?
My first series took me around nine to ten months to complete. I digitally draw all my work, meaning some pieces (depending on the detail) consist of nearly 100 layers, each layer adds more detail, then editing colours to complement the next takes some time. Over the months, however, my style has evolved to mixed media, where I use acrylic and digital art. This adds more of an abstract, simpleness to the painting. Now a piece, from conception to print and paint can take a few days to complete. I’m loving the creative process at the moment – I’m experimenting with still life right now.

How would you describe your art?
Colourful, bold, feminine, chic and fun.


'Wild Thoughts' and 'Pink Haze' limited edition art print by Adele.

How would you describe your personal aesthetic?
I love relaxed, luxe, a calm palette with a pop of colour, rich earthy textures, organic shapes, dusty pinks, monochrome (yet with all this said my art can sometimes be a little bolder than my personal aesthetic).

How do you come up with a name for your artwork?
I name it based on the first thing that I think of when I look at it complete, or the feeling I get. There has also been a few times when I ask my 6 year old what he thinks I should name pieces – this doesn’t exactly go well, but on one occasion I titled a piece after him, he looked at a bright floral painting and said it should be called “Lucky Dip”, I really felt that name so that’s what it was called.

Where do you like to create your art?
I start off with scribbles on paper or on my phone note pad, if an idea comes into my head I can scribble it anywhere. My actual paintings get done in a section of the dining room that has turned into a mini studio (mini being one wall of the dining room).

"Watching The Block all these years, all the gorgeous art on the walls and how it helps a space tell a story has definitely motivated me to pursue my art in a more serious way," Adele tells The Block Shop.

Do you have a soundtrack you like to create to?
Usually RnB and hip hop/urban, I have my old playlists from when I was in high school on repeat  – with a mix of Mumford and Sons, The Eagles, The Kooks, Childish Gambino, Khalid, Earth Wind and Fire.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical weekday is getting up around 6 am, going to work, coming home & cooking dinner, family time, boys to sleep, exercise (that one may be a lie but I do try), my husband and I will usually watch one of our fave shows (obviously The Block, Masterchef or something on Netflix – lately our obsession has been Stranger things and The Ozark) then working on a painting or drawing on the computer before sleeping.

How do you fit your art around life/work?
Someone, please give me tips! I sleep around 12/1 pm most weeknights, later on, weekends. I am a huge believer that if you find something you are passionate about it fuels you and somehow you will make time for it. In saying that it really makes you think about what you hold important in life because there is definitely no time to invest in things you don’t hold in high value.

Favourite Block couple?
I love all the couples from this season but of course, Harry and Tash are my favourites as they selected my art! But in recent seasons - Josh and Elyse, Norm and Jess, Courtney and Hans and Ronnie and Georgia. 

'Just Breathe' as featured in Harry and Tash's Block studio.

Favourite holiday destination?
I have always been in love with Asian countries, but we are planning our dream Europe holiday that I think is going to be my next fave holiday destination for sure. 

What would you buy yourself from The Block Shop?
Ooo so many, but the bigger items for my dream bathroom would be
Bjorn Arch Mirror, a nude line drawing by Laura Wells and the Beacon Orion 2 pendant light.

Fashion style icon?
Kanye and Kim K – love how they turned everyday casual clothes into cool, luxe.

Favourite house decorating trend?
Curves, arches, muted colours, metallics, the emphasis on earthy textures, also Australian living – bringing the outdoors in with nature and indoors out with beautiful outdoor spaces counteracting as living spaces.

Oldest and/or daggiest thing you have in your house that should be thrown out but you just can’t bring yourself to?
My husband. Joking, my two taxidermy ducklings, Tallulah and Maisy (died naturally, but yes, they are not for everyone). There was a stage where I was fascinated by the art of taxidermy. My dad, being an artist in South Africa always collected weird small taxidermy.

Favourite room in the house?
Dining/art studio

Favourite artwork you own?
One of my dad’s paintings – dyes on plywood – it is an abstract painting with a figure standing in the middle but has the most beautiful dusty pinks, burgundy, and tan colours, very mysterious and beautiful.

A perfect Sunday afternoon would be….
Painting to some music, sipping a hot cup of green tea, the boys playing in the back yard with my husband. Then late afternoon counting all the money we would have won from last weeks lotto and thinking about how to spend it/invest!!

Shop Adele's stunning art HERE