ZASTRON's FINEST ARTIST "Napo Ntebe"

Photo: Napo Ntebe

By: Neo Ntsele

A young talented artist Napo Ntebe 25, from the dusty streets of Zastron a small town situated in the Southern Eastern Free State region, shows his finest artwork created with a mere pencil.

The maestro also urges young upcoming artists to seek mentors from experienced artists and skills development programs.

"To the youth in Zastron who share my passion for art, I would like to say pursue your dreams with dedication and perseverance. Seek out mentorship and opportunities for skills development", said Ntebe.

He also noted that one of his dreams is to become an art teacher and render his services by passing the gift and skills to the deprived young people from his home town, with an interest in art.

Ntebe said that his passion and interest in drawing portraits started in primary school during his fourth grade, one of his classmates who used to draw cartoons invited him to draw a piece and he never stopped drawing since then.

"I realized my talent and passion for drawing back in 2009 when I was in fourth grade. Seeing my classmates drawing cartoons sparked something in me, and I found myself drawn to the art form. My goal is to one day be able to inspire my people by teaching those who share the same passion as I do in art, I would like to initiate art classes or workshops where I would be able to guide and teach upcoming artists", said Ntebe.

He transitioned from cartoons to drawing people fueled by the deep love he had for the craft.

Not only does he wish to become an art teacher but he also aspires to become a graphic or fashion designer.

Ntebe completed a two-year art course where he elevated and polished his work to a point where he was able to draw recognizable portraits.

He also noted that opportunities in the sector for him include selling his drawings to interested people or furthering his studies to get recognition on a broader magnitude.

"One of my favourite pieces is a drawing I did of Lungelo Mpangase. It's a testament to my ongoing improvement in portraiture and represents the dedication and effort I put into my craft", said Ntebe.

He reiterated that his own experience with mentorship from Deidre Van Straten has been instrumental in his growth as an artist.

Interaction can be made with this talented young man by using the numbers on his portraits and following his social media page, Facebook Napo Ntebe.