Chronicle Editor
Sipepisiwe Moyo,[email protected]
Sincominkosi Nhloswenhle Khumalo is a multi-talented 26-year-old artist who has been honing her skills since a young age. Her passion for visual art, poetry, and content creation has led her to create stunning works that have captured the attention of many.
Khumalo’s impressive portfolio includes portraits of famous personalities like Bob Marley, Janet Manyowa, Lucky Dube, and Tapiwa-the fitness doctor. As a testament to her talent, she has been nominated for the Afrluencer Best Content Creator of the Year 2024.
She has showcased her works at various events, including Tin Cup Munch and Sip in 2019, The Royal Group Phoenix Wines-Sip, Write and Talk Women’s event, and The Canvas of My Identity “Omapenda the Female Voice” art exhibition.
In an interview, she revealed that art has been more of an addiction for her since primary school.
“Whenever I got hold of a pencil or pen, I would find myself sketching something. Unfortunately, I messed up some walls with my naughty graffiti, which I created when no one was watching. I once almost got punished by prefects in Grade 2 when I was caught sketching a comic concept I had just visualised, while most of the children made noise in the teacher’s absence. Drawing has always been a part of my life, and it branched into design when I got to Grade Six,” she said.
She took a break in 2012 to focus on her studies and fully resumed drawing in 2018. Inspired by the most random things in life, she keeps getting better. She admits that sometimes getting her works on paper is not enough for her.
“When I think of what inspires me, I realise that it is the most random things in my everyday life. I have a very fertile imagination, so I get different ideas when I listen to people speak, when I see animals, hear the whispering trees on windy days, when I listen to music, in trivial banter, and the like. Sometimes it becomes very hard to express some of my ideas on paper, and I end up writing poetry or filming content.
“I am also inspired by fellow creatives, both male and female, who are around me and continuously shine in their different fields.
“They make me realise that there is power in collaborative work and usefulness in competition. It is a privilege to be surrounded by creative people because they hold me accountable when I grow complacent.
“Above all, the Holy Spirit inspires me more than I can explain. He is literally there in all the stages, helping me not to quit when it seems like all hope is lost and helping me to keep a level head when victory knocks. God is the greatest artist after all,” she narrated.
Khumalo goes on to highlight that it is not easy to be an artist, as most people do not consider art a basic need. She also states that her journey was not easy at the beginning, as she did not have enough equipment to create her art. She is, however, grateful to her family, who have always supported her and helped her invest in art.
“It is hard to be an artist in a struggling economy because sometimes art might be considered a luxury by some. One needs to find their niche in anything that they want to sell to the community, and perhaps things could get better.
“It makes it hard to have a sustainable income, and one ends up with a mental tug of war between purpose and a career that could bring financial security. But big things start small most of the time, and they eventually grow. Rome was not built in a single day,” she said.
She further shared that she has already begun grooming fresh talent in art.
“I have begun mentoring other children who are equally passionate about art like me, and I hope I am empowering them in some way. I also desire to have my art outlive me and that it becomes something that even my great-grandchildren can preserve as their legacy. I also desire that my art becomes a testimony of how belief, persistence, working smart, and having faith can birth success.
“Art is not just the act of drawing and creating, but it is my way of connecting with God. I have seen just how good God is if and when I surrender and rely fully on Him, so I hope art can be a ministry that transcends the physical and moves the hearts of those who get to experience my presence and gifts to the world,” she said.
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