Phemelo picks brushes that never run dry
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday September 7, 2026 06:00
Growing up in the small village of Palla Road, near the Tropic of Capricorn, Phemelo’s earliest canvases were far removed from the studios and art spaces one might associate with a professional artist. They were the ground beneath his feet, the walls of houses, doors, gates and even the kraals around him.
Armed with little more than curiosity and an irresistible urge to create, he drew during playtime with friends, often transforming ordinary surroundings into spaces for artistic expression.
“I became an artist the day I was born,” he told Arts&Culture in a written response, reflecting on a passion that began before he had even began primary school.
His early talent did not go unnoticed. During his primary school years, Phemelo won the Moso Arts Competition, an achievement that saw him drawing featured alongside other winning works in a Moso calendar distributed across the country.
That was an early indication that the child who drew on the ground in a village could one day have a much bigger artistic story to tell.
Yet, like many young people who possess creative talent, Phemelo did not initially see art as a possible career. He continued taking art during his secondary school years but did not consider it seriously as a profession. Instead, his creativity eventually found another outlet.
He enrolled at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, where he studied Interior Design and Interior Architecture, earning an Associate Degree in Interior Design and later a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture. Today, he works as an Interior Architect for a private company in Gaborone.
But, while his professional career was taking shape, yet another voice continued to beacon. That voice was his art. Through the voice, Phemelo eventually discovered digital painting, a medium that offered him the freedom and flexibility he had been yearning for. Unlike traditional painting, which often requires a dedicated studio and physical materials, digital painting allowed him to create art almost anywhere and at any time.
“Digital painting involves using painting software which has a variety of endless brushes that never run dry,” he explains.
The more he explored the medium, the more he discovered that it was not simply another technical tool. It was a space where he could experiment, make mistakes, learn and, most importantly, begin discovering his artistic voice.
He says his work now moves across portraits, wildlife, still life and expressive visual concepts. He is drawn to texture, brushwork, light, colour and form, using them to create emotion and atmosphere. Rather than rushing to define himself through a single style, Phemelo is allowing his artistic identity to evolve naturally.
His paintings often occupy the space between realism and creative interpretation, carrying an expressive and painterly quality. For him, experimentation is not a sign of uncertainty, but an important part of artistic growth.
“I am still discovering and developing my artistic style,” he says.
That process of discovery is also reflected in the subjects that inspire him. People, nature, everyday life, emotions, history, spirituality and human stories all find their way into his creative thinking. He is particularly attracted to subjects with character, presence and a story waiting to be told.
“Sometimes inspiration begins with a photograph, a face, an animal or an ordinary object. At other times, it begins with nothing more tangible than a feeling,” he explained.
Through art, he believes, familiar things can be made unfamiliar again. A simple subject can acquire new meaning, emotional depth or visual energy when viewed through an artist’s eyes. Being self-taught, however, has not meant taking an easy road.
Phemelo describes his journey as one of continuous learning, observation, experimentation and practice. He has spent countless hours exploring digital tools, brushes, textures and techniques, while studying the work of other artists and learning through trial and error.
One of his greatest challenges has been finding balance between his demanding career in Interior Architecture and his artistic ambitions. For Phemelo, art has consequently become more than an occupation or creative hobby. It is a form of exploration and self-discovery, a place where emotions and ideas that may be difficult to articulate through words can find expression.
He says his work has so far been showcased through digital platforms such as Artist Connect and social media, allowing him to share his paintings, receive feedback and connect with a wider audience. Phemelo says he is now exploring opportunities to professionally present and sell his work through prints, framed artwork, exhibitions and online platforms. “I do not see myself as an artist who has reached a final destination,” he says. “I am still learning, experimenting and discovering what kind of artist I am becoming.”