Art studio opened for a good cause

A man who is passionate about art and who has been painting and drawing since the age of six, Emmanuel Kaitano has opened the Art Club art studio at Van Dyk Park Shopping Centre to teach young people how to draw and paint for free.

Kaitano said he decided to open the art studio because a lot of people in Van Dyk Park are not exposed to art.

“I have been living here in Van Dyk Park for a long time, but I haven’t seen one artist in the area. People don’t know that art can be used for a lot of things. It can be used as a modem of expression and it is also therapeutic.

Art can also be used to put food on the table, which is what I do on the side, I draw people and sell them their portraits.

“Young people can do a lot with the skill I’m imparting to them. I already have three students I’m teaching how to draw and paint. I have two students from Van Dyk Park and one student from Windmill Park. They are doing well and they are promising to be good artists in the future.”

He said that art has always been part of his life.

“My art technique has improved a lot. I’m drawing better from when I started and a lot of artists have to understand and know that drawing improves with time. I went through a hard time last year and almost thought of giving up on my life, but when I picked up my drawing tools it eased up my pain.

“Most of my drawings and paintings are about the pain I went through last year, but sometimes I paint and draw lovely pictures so I can break out of my shell.

“I’m 40 years old now, I want to make the most out of my art studio and make a difference in people’s lives with art,” explained Kaitano.

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