Raw artistic talents makes a splash and leaves a mark
From Malindza, a small village nestled in the Lubombo region of Eswatini, a young artist by the name of Nophiwo Kuyenzeka Bhiya emerges and makes waves with her raw talent and boundless creativity.
At just 20 years old, Nophiwo is a self-taught artist whose passion for bringing life to paper knows no bounds. In an exclusive interview, she opened up about her artistic journey, inspirations, and aspirations for the future.
Growing up in Malindza, Nophiwo discovered her love for art at a young age, finding joy in sketching and playing with colours both in and out of school. What started as a childhood hobby soon evolved into a profound passion, driving her to explore different mediums and styles in her artistic endeavours. From pencil art portraits to vibrant paintings, Nophiwo’s work reflects her eclectic taste and unbridled imagination.
“I am an artist who is passionate about creating life on paper as I see it with my eyes or envision it with my mind. Art has been a pure talent for me, I have never taken lessons, I started showing interest as a kid by sketching about and playing with colours, both in and out of school,” she said.
When asked about her artistic style, Nophiwo humbly described herself as a freestyle artist still finding her niche. Experimenting with hyper-realism and colour mixing, she pushes the boundaries of her creativity, constantly seeking new ways to express herself through her art. Her dedication to honing her craft is evident in the intricate details and vibrant hues that adorn her creations.
For Nophiwo, art is not just a form of expression but a way of life. She believes that art is all-encompassing, from the mundane to the extraordinary, urging others to open their senses to the beauty that surrounds them. “Art is everything. Anything can be viewed as art, from the small cracks on your walls to the arc of your smile, from what you imagine and hear to what you capture and create,” she stated.
Her keen eye for detail and appreciation of nature fuels her artistic vision, infusing her work with a sense of wonder and authenticity. Inspired by fellow artists and fueled by her mother’s unwavering support, Nophiwo is on a journey of self-discovery and growth. “In life, I look up to my mom, she is a true definition of ‘imbokodvo’ in every sense of the word and the best part? She is God fearing,” she revealed.
While she has yet to showcase her work at exhibitions, she dreams of one day sharing her art with a wider audience, hoping to inspire others with his unique perspective and creative flair.
Sustain
To sustain her passion and make a living out of her craft, Nophiwo creates paintings and sketches for sale, breathing life into walls and capturing moments in time for her clients. Her meticulous creative process involves careful planning, sketching, painting, and blending, culminating in a masterpiece that reflects her artistic vision and attention to detail.
“If it’s a portrait, I start with a grid to help me transfer the image according to the size of the paper, especially with large portraits. The grid helps to avoid having a miniature image with plenty of space around it. Grid aside, step 1; make a faint sketch with a pencil, outlining mainly the larger details. Step 2; for paintings, I start painting solid shapes and then follow with shapes that have more than one color. After that, I focus on details then lastly highlighting edges and lines.”
“With pencil drawings, I start shading lightly then blending after the first shade. After this, I outline features like the eyes, mouth, and ears, complete their details and shade around them then shade according to skin colour and lighting in the original image. I blend after every layer of shading, once done with the shading, I use an eraser to highlight lighter areas then blend again, repeating the process until I get the desired look. Once everything is done, I sign and seal everything with a fixative spray,” she detailed.
Mentorship
With a mentorship offer from acclaimed artist Mncobi Mndzebele on the horizon, Nophiwo’s artistic journey is poised for even greater heights as she continues to evolve and refine his craft. “With anything about art if there’s anyone, I look up to, it must be Mncobi Mndzebele. I was introduced to him in early 2021 after a friend of mine had posted a sketch of himself I had made and Mncobi liked it and offered to mentor me, I’m still waiting on that mentorship,” she said.
She added that if we were in a time speed, Mncobi’s art would be the part in slow motion so that you don’t miss a detail. “He is creative and talented and his colour combinations are great. He makes his art his own, uniquely so, if it were a stage I’d say he owns the stage when he steps on it and that’s inspiring,” she proudly declared.
Looking to the future, Nophiwo offered sage advice to aspiring artists, emphasizing the importance of prayer, self-expression, and seizing every opportunity that comes their way. “Pray, be open to constructive criticism, be yourself even with your art, uniquely so. Do not limit yourself out of fear and make every opportunity count. Lastly, research and make use of the internet.”
Nophiwo stands at the threshold of artistic greatness, a beacon of creativity and inspiration for the next generation of artists. With her talent, passion, and unwavering dedication, there is no doubt that Nophiwo’s star will continue to rise, illuminating the world with her unique artistic vision and boundless potential.