Mthokozisi Khumalo, a young pencil portrait artist from Bulawayo, sat down with My Kasi Magazine.

Being raised in a family of three children by a single parent it didn’t became a barrier for Mthokozisi Khumalo to shine his talent across Zimbabwe.

“I was raised by a single mother, I have two sisters, and my father died when I was three. Life has never been easy, but art has kept me going.”

He explained how his love for drawing started when he was only four years old. A neighbour would throw away used bond papers in the yard, and Mthokozisi would pick them up and start sketching.

“I started with pencil because I fell in love with it,” he said.

He futher added”,I grew up with art on both sides of my family my father used to make sculptures at Matopo, my grandfather wrote poetry, and my uncle sings ‘Imbube’ (traditional accapel). I can’t say I was inspired by one thing; I just started drawing young and it became my passion.,”said Khumalo.

When asked about his recent work for the Bulawayo Mayor, Mthokozisi’s face lit up.

The chance came through a project that honored former minister David Coltart, who had introduced free school books and worked to stop strikes.

“I wanted to show my appreciation for what he did for the city. When the mayor asked me to do the portrait, it felt like a way to say thank you.”

He spent about two weeks on the piece, facing challenges such as getting the right materials and trying to make the skin look real.

“It was hard to capture the texture, but that is what makes the portrait special,” he added.

Mthokozisi talked about what he enjoys most in his work which was love for his work.

“I draw because I love it, even if I don’t sell the picture,” he said.

“It is like therapy for me. I always try to give my best, and I see each drawing as a test of what I can achieve. I trust the process, accept the difficulties, and keep learning.”

He explained that his portraits are unique because he spends a lot of time on details, especially the way light and shadow play on a face. Khumalo described his creative process in simple steps. First, he makes a light outline, then he adds many layers of shading to build depth. He loves drawing faces because they tell stories, and he often chooses subjects that let him explore texture from the wrinkles of an older person to the smooth skin of a child.

“I like working on themes that let me show how skin feels,” he said.

When giving advice to other artists, Mthokozisi was clear to stick to their work that they love.

“Create what you love and don’t be afraid,” he said. “Look at yourself, keep practicing, and remember that art is about being consistent. The more you draw, the better you become.”

He also encouraged young artists to stay humble and keep learning. Khumalo hinted at several projects that will be revealed before the end of the year, promising that they will show a higher level of texture and detail.

“I won’t say everything now, but I hope to surprise the city,” he said.