Groomed by maturity
Dumisani Ncube | Friday January 29, 2016 17:01
Twenty-one-years-old then in 2011, he decided a leave art and do something that will give him fast cash. “I started working at a carwash in Ramotswa. I was in a rush to make money and look after myself since I was now becoming an adult”.
He completely forgot about art as he continued working and even getting better jobs from being a car wash assistant to being a fuel attendant at a filling station.
After working for a number of years, he realised that he had been wasting his artistic talent. “ I felt like I was betraying myself and the talent that I have. I called my artist friend Ditshupo Mogapi whom I started the art thing with back at high school and he invited me to Thapong.
While thinking of making a come back, Ramolapong evaluated the artist that he used to be. “I found out that I lacked a sense of marketing and researching on drawings and art in general”.
Upon returning to the art world he was under the wings of his friend Mogapi who mentored him on colour skills since he was a pencil drawing artist.
He also became a resident artist at Thapong Visual Arts Centre that he gives thumbs up for also guiding him as artist.
Through research, Ramolapong managed to find a ground in cultural and commissioned art; he has enhanced his art with the aid of photography.
“I take photos of different subjects then I get my drawing inspiration from them regardless of what it is. As for cultural drawings, I believe they hold value because they remain an education tool for children and tourists.” His clients commission him on artwork they want and he delivers.
Through the Thapong Visual Arts Centre, he has also developed art fabrication skills. Ramolapong and four other artists are the ones that have been working on the Botswana 50th anniversary signages that are placed on different places around Gaborone.
He is currently working on a collection of an upcoming young artist exhibition that will be held at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre.
He said upcoming artists should learn to be patient because art is a process that does not award you overnight. “You have to learn, work hard and be patient along the way,” he advised.
Ramolapong discovered his drawing abilities at a tender age when he was still at primary school then took it more serious when he was at Kagiso Senior Secondary where he met up with other artists such as Mogapi.