Thembisan self-taught visual artist uses coffee grandules for illustrations

Elias Nkuna has received pleasant reactions when showing off his artistic work. With only a pen and coffee granules, the 22-year-old can produce impressive portrait illustrations.

The Makhulong Section resident discovered his drawing talent when he was in elementary school. His love for comic shows at that time helped him to develop new ways of enhancing his drawing skills.

Nkuna wanted to professionally pursue his dreams in art and obtain a BA degree, but he couldn’t because of the marks he obtained in matric.

“I was not able to obtain results that would have enabled me to get a university entry. That was when I started taking art seriously. I developed new ways to produce quality portraits and using Ricoffy was one of them,” Nkuna said.

Even with his special ability to produce jaw-dropping portraits, Nkuna still needs funds to purchase the needed material for his drawing.

“My job requires patience. I work at a retail part-time to have an income to buy material for my art.”

Nkuna has drawn portrait illustrations of prominent figures, such as Black Coffee, Steve Biko and South African kwaito star Zola 7.

He has also used his work to give back to the community by donating his portrait of Winnie Madikizela Mandela to the Thembisa Child and Family Welfare Society.

“If it was not for the words of encouragement I got from the community of Makhulong, I wouldn’t have made it this far. I have noticed that the community admires my work, so some of the portraits I draw I sell them back to the community.”

Nkuna dreams of exhibiting his work to the community of Thembisa and the surrounding areas by establishing an art workshop in the future.

“Five years from now, I see myself offering a helping hand to young visual artists who are in need but do not know where to start, and owning a workshop is how I plan to do it.”
Nkuna encourages young people who want to follow their dreams but are afraid of the unknown to stand firm against any obstacle that may attempt to pull them away from achieving their dreams.

“We all have talents that we should use to inspire others. Let us use our talents to create opportunities for ourselves,” Nkuna said.

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