Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
SAMANTHA Nash is a talented South African artist based in Bulawayo, whose love for painting and art began 12 years ago when she got married to her Zimbabwean husband.
According to Samantha, her husband used to take her on trips to bush camps in order to help her adjust to the country. During these trips, she developed a love for the African bush and animals, which became the inspiration for her art.
Growing up, Samantha’s mother was also a painter, but she never showed any interest in the hobby as she preferred studying equine therapy and horse riding. However, when she started painting as a way of feeling closer to her mother, she discovered her passion for art.
“Over the years, I started realising that I had the skill with paint and started doing it on a commercial scale,” she says.
Today, Samantha is one of the best artists in her area, showcasing her art on social media platforms and at local lodges. Her love for the African bush and animals is evident in her art, which mostly features animals from the wilderness.
“I love big cats. They are by far my favourite animal to spot in the wilderness, which is why some of my favourite paintings involve them,” she says.
Samantha’s art is not just a commercial endeavour, but also a bonding technique between her and her mother. Whenever she visits her mother in South Africa, they spend time together painting different art pieces.
“Since I moved away from home, I would paint whenever I missed my mother, and that made me feel closer to her,” she explains.
Although Samantha hasn’t showcased her art at any exhibitions in the country yet, she has sold one of her art works for US$2 000 and she’s looking forward to exhibiting this year as she wants to fully expand her artwork.
“Art is a good industry that unfortunately still does not have a large market in the city. That’s why I have now branched out and I am focusing on other parts of the country and the world,” she says.
For Samantha, painting is not just a hobby, but also a way of expressing herself and her love for the African bush and animals.
“When I get inspiration from the bush, I go home and look for a comfortable place where I start painting and using my mind to put down everything I remember about the animal I saw,” she says.
Samantha’s passion for art and her love for the African bush and animals is evident in her paintings. As she continues to expand her artwork and showcase it to a wider audience, she hopes to inspire others to discover their own passions and pursue them.
As she puts it: “I want people to know that they can do anything they set their minds to, and that passion and dedication can take you a long way.”
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