From pencil lines to hyperrealism: 18-year-old artist draws his way towards a creative future

MATHYZENSLOOP – In Mathyzensloop, a sheet of paper and a handful of pencils have become the tools through which Lizwilezwe Mahlangu is building his future. What began as a childhood ability to sketch has grown into a serious pursuit of hyperrealism, with the young artist now turning portraits into commissioned work and using every drawing to sharpen his craft.

Born and raised in Mathyzensloop in Thembisile Hani, Mpumalanga, Mahlangu rediscovered his passion for sketching while he was in Grade 10 in 2023. Although he had been able to draw simple sketches as a child, he did not initially see art as something he wanted to pursue.

That changed after he came across the work of Ngcebo’s Art on Facebook, which reminded him of his own childhood ability and sparked a renewed interest in sketching.

“I remembered that when I was young, around six or seven years old, I was able to create sketches. But at that time, I did not have a passion for sketching,” he says.

Now 18, Mahlangu describes himself as a sketch artist working within fine art, with portraits at the centre of his work. His style is influenced by hyperrealism, with an emphasis on capturing fine details and creating realistic representations of his subjects.

He has no formal artistic training and has developed his skills through practice, observation and mentorship. His mentor, Zein Mahlangu, has been an important influence in his development, while artists Artin Martin Sefako and Sphesihle Hlatjwayo are among those who have inspired his work.

Mahlangu says his mentor’s work continues to challenge him to improve, particularly when he takes on difficult portraits.

“I am very passionate about my artwork and stubborn when it comes to working on portraits that give me challenges. I always want my work to look exactly like I imagined it,” he says.

His creative process starts with drawing the basic structures of his subject. He then builds the image using graphite and charcoal pencils before using a Mono Zero eraser to refine the shading and bring balance to the portrait.

People remain his favourite subjects, and his growing portfolio already includes several notable commissions.

Among his works is an A1-sized portrait of Mineral and Energy Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Another piece that holds special meaning for him is a portrait of South African DJ Black Coffee.

Mahlangu says the Black Coffee artwork challenged him because of the amount of detail required, while also giving him a personal goal: he hopes one day to see the artwork displayed in Black Coffee’s home.

For Mahlangu, the value of art extends beyond how realistic a portrait looks. He wants viewers to recognise the patience, skill and effort invested in every piece.

“I want people to feel inspiration and respect for the effort that has been applied to my works,” he says.

His passion has also begun to develop into an income-generating business. Mahlangu’s prices vary according to the size of the artwork. An A4 piece costs R600, an A3 costs R1,500, an A2 costs R3,000, an A1 costs R7,000, while an A0 artwork is priced at R10,000.

His clients include people from his community, including one family that has commissioned him to produce portraits on several occasions.

However, building a creative business has come with challenges. Mahlangu has struggled with limited access to a cellphone, money and art materials. At one point, he relied on his mother’s cellphone while working towards getting his own device and purchasing the materials needed for his craft.

He has also encountered customers who struggled to pay for commissioned work. Despite these obstacles, he has learnt that building a sustainable career in art requires finding the right market and developing loyal customers.

One of his biggest breakthroughs came when he attended the All White Picnic (AWP) with his mentor, where they were able to sell his artwork to celebrities.

Among those who bought his work were Leemckrazy, Mafikizolo and Masterpiece. For the young artist, the experience provided valuable exposure and showed him that his work could attract attention beyond his local community.

Mahlangu’s ambitions extend beyond his own career. He has mentored a few aspiring artists and hopes his journey will encourage more young people to consider art as a profession rather than simply a hobby.

“I want to empower young people to take it as a job, not a hobby,” he says.

He believes young artists should not wait until they have expensive equipment or perfect conditions before beginning their creative journeys. His own experience has taught him to work with the resources available and remain patient.

“Perfection takes time,” he says.

His long-term goal is to establish an art gallery or dedicated creative space where he can exhibit his work and teach young people who want to pursue art.

For Mahlangu, every portrait is an opportunity to improve. His journey is still in its early stages, but his ambition is clear: to master hyperrealism, grow his audience, create opportunities for other young artists and eventually see his work displayed in galleries and homes far beyond Mathyzensloop.

For now, he continues to work patiently, one line, one shade and one portrait at a time.