Groutville artist turns turmoil into beauty, pencil by pencil
It was at Nonhlevu Secondary School in Groutville where he finally found an avenue in which to turn his negative feelings into something beautiful. Under the tutelage of
Hard times produce good art, and France Mthembu of Groutville is the proof.
The young artist, who recently turned 20, has found art to be a way to channel his emotions.
Born and raised in Groutville, Mthembu lost both parents to a double suicide when he was just 7 years old,
“I did not know how to process it, and at that stage it was just me and my brother in the house,” he said.
The two brothers moved in with their aunt, also in Groutville and he recalls feeling lost for years.
“I became on orphan overnight and it was like my life had changed without me having any control over it.”
It was at Nonhlevu Secondary School in Groutville where he finally found an avenue in which to turn his negative feelings into something beautiful. Under the tutelage of
Mr Xaba, an art teacher at the school, Mthembu was able to harness his inner turmoil and natural talent to deliver strikingly realistic pencil drawings.
“I had always liked drawing, but Mr Xaba taught me about shading and many other aspects of drawing that helped me.”
Since graduating from high school in 2018, Mthembu has continued to practice daily and cites his art as therapeutic.
“I put on some music – typically Shekhinah or Afropop – and then I can just get lost in the canvas, I feel as if I am at peace.”
His specialty is portraiture, and he was happy to show off his improvement in the last few years.
From basic sketches, he has now become comfortable with lifelike depictions of family and friends who are willing to sit for him.
He has also recently started to experiment with watercolours and pastels, and showed the Courier his first two attempts.
“Drawing is what I do mostly because it is more affordable, but I really want to try different things whenever I can.”
He was unable to fund tertiary education, but hopes that one day he will able to study art at a higher level, and find his way into galleries across the country.
You can contact Mthembu at 060 392 1010 if you would like to book a commission.
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