Mphinyane, famed as Otsile the Artist, fell in love with drawing from primary school and continued with it up to senior school. In an interview with Arts&Culture, the young man explained that he was doing fine art where he focused on portraits. He added that his art combines materials such as pencils, charcoals, etc. “I was inspired to pursue art by my former art classmates. We used to compete in every art project and or art test. We would do our best just to prove who was a better artist in class. That made me find it easy to play around with my pencils until I sold my first portrait in 2023.
"I started learning how to draw when I was still in primary school. In fact, I loved drawing just like any other boy until I joined an art class at junior and senior schools to learn more and I did great in it,” he said. Mphinyane said he is a business-minded person but because art was close to his heart, he chose it and made it his business idea so that it would be easy for him to run a business idea that is close to his heart.
He added that the public was impressed with his work saying they were also supportive. He also said he had done many amazing drawings but there was the other portrait that he drew of an old man who works at the Palapye Agri Feed. He said he went to deliver it straight where the man works and his core workers showed so much respect for his talent. Just like other artists, he said he faces so many challenges, especially when it is time to buy art materials. He added that there is a huge shortage of art studios in their town, so he is forced to travel to Gaborone to buy them.
Since he started art, Mphinyane said he has not achieved a lot but is happy that he is independent. “I can go wherever I want or buy anything I want because of the profit I get from my portraits. At this point, I am looking forward to opening an art studio in busy commercial areas, where people will be able to see and buy my creative art pieces. "To other aspiring artists, all I can say is that focus on your ambitions every time and be humble with it as one day all the hard work along with patience will pay off; be patient and learn more you will see,” he concluded.
