From a young age, Sizwe Radebe knew that his passion lay in art. At 26, the young man from Ntabamhlophe is creating works of art that are bursting with creativity and promise of a bright future.
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Sizwe was born and raised in KwaNdaba and schooled at Emhlungwini Primary and Bhekathina High schools.
“My uncle used to look after me when my parents were at work and he did cool drawings, so every time when I came back from school, I’d find him drawing in his sketch book and that’s how I got started. He taught me to draw and I never stopped practising,” recalls Sizwe.
He remembers at time at the age of eight when he would forsake time with his friends in favour of drawing.
“What I liked about art when I was young was being able to capture, in pencil, something that already exists i.e. a car or house. That always made me feel good about myself,” he says.
Sizwe’s love for art gathered momentum through the years and after secondary school, he moved to Pietermaritzburg where he is currently studying Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Politics and Fine Art (drawing and design).
“My favourite art forms are paintings/drawings and sculptures even though I don’t do sculptures. I like using charcoal when I draw. A lot of artists hate it because it’s messy but I enjoy it and it’s easy to get dark tones with it. I do portraits for people. I like drawing people; trying to get a true likeness of a person even though challenging. I enjoy it and my clients are happy so far,” replies Sizwe when asked what his favourite art technique is, adding that his true style of art will emerge after he has completed his degree.
Sizwe wants his art to resonate with people and get them talking.
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“I want my art to portray positivity and share honest opinions about what’s going on in this world, when people see my art, I want them to relate and have a say about it,” he explains.
Art has been a positive influence in his life; one that has been a companion through trying and creative times.
“Art makes you more observant; it boosts self-esteem, opens the heart and mind to possibilities and fuels the imaginations. It also reduces stress, it’s therapeutic in a sense,” he substantiates.
So where does he draw inspiration from for his drawings?
“There are so many artists that inspire me. To mention one – Jono Dry – he is based in Cape Town he does amazing realistic drawings. Also, nature inspires me. I find it beautiful and interesting, that is why in some of my future works, nature will be featured a lot,” he replies.
The young artist has big dreams for his future and with persistence, he hopes to achieve them.
“My dream is that my art gets recognised, people relate to it, and that I also get the chance to do some of solo exhibitions locally and internationally and maybe one day own a studio of my own,” Sizwe says.
When Sizwe isn’t bringing a blank canvas to life, he also enjoys playing soccer and video games.
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