Tshole finds solace in murals
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Sunday June 19, 2022 06:00
Mural art is painting applied to and made integral with the surface of a wall or ceiling. The painting is inherently different from all other forms of pictorial art in that it is organically connected with architecture.
Speaking to Arts and Culture, the talented unmistakable artist, 24-year-old Tshole said she chose to enhance her skills on mural art because she grew interest in it and its potential in the market. Tshole ventured into commercial art in 2018 when she was just 20-years-old. “I’ve always wanted to experiment with graffiti and paint on walls different things to enhance my skills,” she added.
She stated that another skill set she gained over the last few years is using charcoal as a medium than pencil. The skill came in handy as it is easy to work with and flows easier on paper than the original graphite that they are used to, she elaborated.
Even though charcoal art is a bit interesting, she lamented that there is no market because people want colour. As for murals, the 24-year-old said the market is pretty good because it is an evolving thing and many businesses these days like pre-schools, graphics offices use murals on their walls, even people in their homes. “The process I take when doing murals is pretty easy.
I do my research on what’s needed by the client if it's not already given to me by them. Then I go out and buy materials needed. From there I use charcoal to sketch out the object then go on top with paint or paint sprays depending on what it is. Then I fix my artwork with a glossy setting spray intended for that. Some paints don’t need setting sprays because they already have a gloss,” said Tshole.
She also learnt that synthetic charcoal, which is often used, can create white highlights with a rubber and try to balance out the dimensions between the different hues adding that synthetic is very much easy to use because they created it in sticks.
Tshole also explained that there is so much enjoyment she gets when she is in her element creating art be it murals or any other as it helps release her creative juices. Her mural art and charcoal drawings, though, are no such secret, with 9,400 followers on her personal account and 5,000 followers on her business page Contemporary Art by Rachael, waiting for every new one to appear on Facebook.
She said that her favourite arts include the ones that were made for a braai area for her client in Gaborone. Tshole stated that the art illustrates a girl who is enjoying summer, putting on sunglasses and another one is a summer vibe, flowers and leaves contrasted through a dark background.
At the moment she said she is doing art as her full time job as she left her accounting job a while back for personal reasons. “I don’t have kids and I’m not married so the balance there is me and my art only. I work from home in my studio whenever I want to and whenever I get the chance,” said the talented artist.