Kebopetswe: A mother's nurtured artisan

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Sunday September 17, 2023 06:00

 

Kebopetswe told Arts & Culture that her artistic inspiration comes from her beautiful mother, Charity Mokibelo, who was also a fine artist. She stated that her mother shared her love for nature, drawing and painting which she has inherited.

She said growing up, she witnessed her mother making an income by creating and selling beautiful portraits of animals and people. As time passed by, she stated that her mother started teaching her and her younger brother how to draw as she believed that art would be useful in their future in terms of generating income.

Kebopetswe, a graduate of Selebi-Phikwe Technical College with a Trade B qualification in painting and decoration, said she specialises mostly in realistic art. She said that she makes a living out of drawing portraits of people and animals using pencil, charcoal and coloured pencils. She added that she also draws on prospects using vinyl.

The talented artist said during her junior and senior school days, she was more focused on drawing patterns but started venturing into realistic drawing three years ago. “I started drawing portraits of people and animals when I was locked up all alone during the national lockdown back in 2020,” she added. Kebopetswe stated that her favourite art portraits include that of her lecturer, husband and son on which she used pencil, vinyl and prospect respectively.

She further said she has drawn over nine professional portraits using different media.

Giving a description of her work, the fine artist said she normally starts out by sketching her pictures and uses pencil or charcoal for shading then proceeds to bland using paintbrush. She indicated that one of the challenges she encounters includes late or no payments by customers. She stated that with a lack of capital due to non-payment, it would be difficult for her to get material for other projects.

Kebopetswe, who was amongst the ‘incredible artists’, who worked with the famous Wilson Ngoni during the face-lifting mural paintings in Selebi-Phikwe, was grateful for the lifetime opportunity. She said she learnt different techniques in paintings and a lot about art from her mentor, the great Ngoni.