PHALABORWA – A young artist from Phalaborwa is turning a moment of youthful admiration into a growing career in art after discovering his talent while trying to impress his high school crush.

Thabo Nkoane (20) has been gaining recognition in his community for his detailed portrait sketches, specialising in realistic drawings of people’s faces. Nkoane said his interest in drawing began at a young age when he would sketch during his free time whenever he felt bored.

“My journey started when I was young. I used to draw when I was bored,” he said.

High school crush sparks turning point in his art journey

However, he explained that he only realised the true extent of his artistic talent in 2022 while attempting to impress his crush with one of his drawings.

“I was trying to impress my crush, and that is when I saw that people actually loved my drawings,” he said.

Since then, Nkoane has continued to improve his skills and dreams of becoming one of the recognised young sketch artists in Limpopo.

Motivation to inspire other young creatives

He said his biggest motivation is the desire to become successful and open doors for other young creatives who may not believe in their talents.

“I want to become successful and create opportunities for young artists. I also want to set footsteps for my younger brothers and other upcoming artists so they can believe that talent can change their lives,” he said.

Nkoane believes art has the power to inspire and bring hope to young people who may be struggling to find direction in life.

Challenges faced in building an art career

Despite his growing popularity, he said the journey has not been without challenges. One of the difficulties he faces is dealing with customers who request customised portraits but fail to pay the full agreed amount.

“Some people ask for customised portraits and then do not pay the full amount after the drawing is finished. That can be very discouraging,” he said.

Focus on growth and future artistic success

However, the young artist remains focused on growing his brand and encouraging others to pursue their talents. “The money motivates me, but what motivates me even more is inspiring other people to start drawing and believe in themselves,” he concluded.