Resident’s drawings bring national praise

The artistic skill and talent of a Welverdiend resident has earned her national praise.

“I taught myself to draw at this level,” says Francine Kotze (28).

Kotze grew up in Carletonville and says she always loved drawing and art. She also had family members, like an uncle, who were very good at drawing.

It was only when Kotze was around 16 years old, however, that she seriously started focusing on drawing. She had to teach herself, though, as art was not a subject at her school.

It took her another five years to hone her skill enough to make money.
For the past few years, Kotze has made a name making hyper realistic drawings of people. She uses mostly pencil and graphite pencils.

Much of her work consists of memorial drawings of people’s family members who had passed away.

Through her art, for instance, she can add a loved one who had passed away onto a pencil drawing of a wedding photograph.

“People have told me my drawings of their loved ones look so real that it brought tears to their eyes,” she says.

Many people also give their loved ones drawings to on their first wedding anniversary, traditionally celebrated with gifts made of paper.

In 2020, Kotze’s work became known to the stationery manufacturer Staedtler.

They were so impressed that they made her a brand ambassador, did an article about her, and sponsored her pencils.

Kotze is also in contact with other artists elsewhere in the country and feels her drawing has opened many opportunities for her.

“A tattoo artist asked me to join the trade, but it would have taken me too far from home.

“Many people have also asked me to start giving art lessons,” she says.

Among other collaborative work, a fashion designer used Kotze’s drawing of a lion as a print on clothing about two years ago.

Meanwhile, Kotze hopes her daughter, Chanté Nysschens, now six years old, will follow in her footsteps as she also loves drawing and is already very artistic.