Ferndale painter and tattoo artist Tyric ‘Ty’ Nqovela is making waves and carving his own space in the creative world.

Johannesburg-born Nqovela grew up in Yeoville. He developed a love for art early on, but initially tried to follow a traditional career path by studying architecture. Eventually, he realised that his strongest calling was creativity, prompting him to abandon his studies and pursue art.

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He said he has been an artist throughout his whole life. “Since my school days, I was always doing artwork – drawings at the back of the classroom. One of my teachers advised me to take some art courses, but I never knew that I was going to be a tattoo artist, nor was it my goal.”

He then began with printmaking, another type of art where he learned to do linocuts, prints, and other printworks. His journey into tattooing was later inspired by his brother, whose body art sparked Ty’s curiosity. Encouragement from friends eventually pushed him to experiment with tattooing himself.

Once he picked up a tattoo pen, he found another outlet for his creativity. “My brother kept on getting more tattoos, and I was inspired. After a while, my brothers bought me a tattoo machine, and then I got my first tattoo done on myself.”

He used his whole leg to practise. The moment Ty picked up a tattoo pen, he connected with the craft and never looked back.

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Today, he works across two artistic mediums, creating tattoos while continuing to paint and sell his artwork. The combination has allowed him to develop a distinctive creative identity while building a career around something he has loved since childhood.

His paintings allow his creativity to live beyond the tattoo studio. He also does photography and videography in his spare time. “My last painting this year was around March. I did my first painting after four years, and then someone bought it immediately, which means it was that good. I’ve always known that whatever I’m going to do in life, it has to be art-related. I’m a photographer and videographer. I used to customise clothes as well, but now it’s strictly tattoos and other art here and there.”

Ty has tried doing other jobs, such as working as a waiter and a graphic designer. He said he likes expressing himself, and sitting in one place, doing the same thing, and being told what to do did not feel right to him. “I like being in the moment. That’s what drove me more into art because making art made me feel alive.”

He described his artistic style as creative. For his painting, he gets inspiration from what he sees in his everyday life. His body work is creative, and it portrays stories that his clients want.

“I have an impact on people’s lives. It makes me feel good. Each and every time I do, especially sentimental tattoos, they come with a story. They tell me all those emotions, and I put them into the tattoo. When I’ve seen my client happy, it makes me feel happy.”

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