Petrol attendant displays remarkable hidden talent
Andile Rwalumbana will, at any chance he gets, paint, draw, and create something that will leave people truly enthralled.
An unassuming petrol attendant working at the Total Kingfisher Margate garage has a hidden talent worthy of exposure.
Andile Rwalumbana (28) will, at any chance he gets, paint, draw, and create something that will leave people truly enthralled.
Paper, sketch pads, and canvasses scattered around his room give the impression of a mad scientist gone artsy.
His walls are covered in a collage of his work. At his coffee table, there is what started as a coffee-stained piece of paper, now transformed into an astonishing piece of art. Using a teaspoon he drip-stains a forest of coffee-coloured trees on paper that most people would throw away.
Intricate landscapes are drawn with a modest Bic pen on the back of till receipts.
Born in rural Eastern Cape near Flagstaff, he then moved to Durban Folweni Township at the age of seven. He went to school there and earned a little pocket money in exchange for doing anything creative for his fellow students. He would then use that money to buy airtime, allowing him to watch art tutorial videos.
Andile is a self-taught artist with the help of the internet to get him to where he is today. He says it took many years, but underneath there is undoubtedly a natural talent.
His mother died when he was very young and he was raised by his grandmother. Most of his family still reside in the Eastern Cape and he says he grew tired of city life in Durban, and so made the move to Margate.
When his grandmother fell ill and he wanted to take care of her, the way she cared for him growing up. This prompted him to find work at the Total garage. Friends and co-workers have urged him to do something with his art but he doesn’t know what exactly.
He mentions that he has a passion for art but doesn’t know what to do with it.
Andile explains that he will draw anything anywhere whilst waiting for customers even on scrap pieces of paper or till receipts. He has a love of nature and is keenly observant of his surroundings and subject matter he might be able to use in his work.
Almost all of his work is created straight from his head and memory which is another artistic talent not many people possess. He can work eight to ten hours straight, happily, and does his best work when he is relaxed.
There is such a wide range of subject matter in different mediums and it is apparent he needs to focus his talents more. Art school could do this for him and he says it was always a dream of his to go. His ultimate dream is to become popular or even famous.
His inspirations are Bob Ross and local artist Nelson Makamo. When asked, what made him decide art? He answered, “I didn’t choose art. Art chose me.” His passion and ingenuity are unparalleled and what a breath of fresh air it is seeing someone falling in love with their craft.
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