Warming up to the pencil

Chippa Legodimo | Friday April 25, 2014 12:16

 

Today the former Moeding College student sees the pencil as the best art tool.  Judging by his drawings it is clear that the youngster has learnt to love this instrument.  The pair has bonded into an unstoppable combination.

“I remember how difficult it used to be for me to use a pencil that I ended up rushing to paint.  As time went on I became so fond of it that these days I just do not feel like using anything,” he said.

Although his understanding of art is still limited, the youngster is showing good potential, especially in observation drawing where few people of his age and experience would dare try.

He expresses his passion, fears and pride, through his pencil.  He draws images that would give him personal fulfillment yet attract attention from those interested in art.

One drawing that demonstrates Matshware’s talent is of hip hop idol, Lil Wayne.  From a distance it looks like a black and white camera shot of the American star yet it is only an observation drawing by the youngster.

“I am passionate about hip hop and Wayne drives me nuts.  I like his attitude, his style, just about anything about him and because he is one of those people in my mind.   I decided to document my love for him in this drawing,” he said.

Arts & Culture found him still working on anther observation piece of two leopards charging at each other.  Although just near completion, the resemblance between the original calendar cut out and the pencil drawing were so strong.

“I am not good at live observation because the object could move anytime.  But when it comes to converting a picture into a pencil drawing I can tell you to bring me any, no matter how detailed it might be,” he said.

In another drawing which would otherwise signal his interest in rural Botswana and the simple life, Matshware has created a piece of great intrigue.  The drawing has a white Botswana map, covered at the bottom by a large clay pot with a little girl in a leather outfit sitting nearby and two elephants coming from two directions.

“I was trying to capture life in Botswana, especially the rural areas.  The two elephants represent the wildlife that co-exists with people in this country.  This big pot is significant because of its usage, especially in the past,” he explained.

Although early in his life, Matshware nearly gave up on drawing, celebrated painter Wilson Ngoni’s art works lining the walls of some classrooms at Moeding inspired him to focuse.

“He is a painter, but the way he produces some of the finest pieces made me appreciate my own talent.  He would also come to school and give us some motivation and really he has been influential in me taking this seriously,” he said.

Although he believes his natural talent can be refined with more works, Matshware has conceded that formal training would still be very important to enhance his skill.

He is hoping to land a scholarship that would help him become an accomplished drawer and a good marketer of his works, something, which he believes, is lacking in most local artists.