Every artwork has a motivation and for Moitshepi Aobakwe Kgomotso’s is mainly inspired by his thoughts.
Kgomotso said whenever he wants to start an artwork he thinks hard about it. Then he has an imagination of how he really wants it to look like upon completion. The 22-year-old artist revealed that he plans to be more advanced with sophisticated art techniques that will enable him to showcase his work locally and abroad.
Kgomotso, who hails from Mahalapye, is currently a student at the University of Botswana will complete his studies in May.
He revealed to Arts & Culture in an interview that he specialises in fine arts categories like drawing and painting as well as graphics design.
“I always tell people that art runs through my veins that is why I applied for Bachelor of Arts in media studies at my university.
I am pursuing a different course of study because I believe I do not need a lecturer to come and teach me how to draw and paint,” he said.
Kgomotso added that his artworks could be classified as interpretative studies whereby he uses a reference and develop it according to his own interpretation. He said he produces drawings and paintings of wildlife, flowers and sometimes-human portraits.
The young artist has familiarised himself with variety of art equipment and mediums, but mainly uses charcoal pencils, coloured pencils and ink although his preference is working with a pen. Kgomotso said his love for art started when he was still at primary school when he used to trace a lot on animal graphics or pictures from textbooks.
He said since then he was extremely passionate about art, and did not give up and that is exactly why he carried on studying the craft when he got to senior school where he developed his skills.
Kgomotso said art has significant meaning to him. He said it gives him the opportunity to express his feelings and thoughts as well as relax his mind.
He revealed that he looks up to international artists to produce good quality art works. Locally, he admires the work of Wilson Ngoni who has been doing well and contributing a lot to the art industry.
“I usually benchmark from such artworks to learn new techniques,” he said.
As a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, he said he has the opportunity to exhibit his work at their art gallery that also exposes him to potential buyers. Besides that, he has exhibited his artworks at the Presidential competitions in 2017 of which he did not perform well.
However, he is preparing for the upcoming competitions.
He said his main challenge which affects his productivity is that he is a full time student, therefore he has limited time to create more as art is time consuming.
