MEET SAMUEL KINYUA A PENCIL ARTIST WHOSE ART TRIBUTE TO DMX WENT VIRAL

By Cheptoek Boyo | April 27, 2021

23-year-old pencil artist Samuel Kinywa popularly known as Artcoholic went viral on Twitter with his tribute portrait to DMX. He talks to Cheptoek Boyo about his ultra-realistic art and the inspiration behind his masterpieces.

When did you discover you love drawing?

My passion for drawing started in nursery school. I used to scribble stuff which occasionally became something, it improved and I fell in love with it, thanks to the encouragement I got from my teachers.

When did you realise pencil art can be a career?

In primary school when my teachers would pay me to draw charts for them. I slowly built my confidence and rapport and concentrated on the art fully. It gave me more exposure and I improved my work which shaped my career as a pencil artist.

How have you developed your drawing?

Art for me is self-taught. I have developed it through daily practice. The minute you get something to be your lifestyle it grows and art for me was that. It is basically my drug.

What subjects do you mostly like to draw?

My drawings are about People. My view on people is always a work of art that is on development and at the same time a masterpiece. Their beauty is always sketched in my brains before I put them on paper. People come in different faces, emotions and stories. They motivate me to draw them because I love a challenge.

Whats your motivation for creating art?

Just like the way music, writing or yoga is therapy for other people, being an artist is therapeutic for me. It is the one thing I do and my soul is just free and peaceful. I would also be lying if I say it’s not partially for the money, as they say, ‘bills have to be paid’ and materials have to be bought.

What goes through your mind while you draw, is there a calm silence, do you listen to music or do you experience doubt, fear or any emotions at all?

I like drawing with music playing or listening to comedies in the background. It gives me the atmosphere I require while doing my drawings. My only worry is not meeting my client expectations on the art entrusted to me. People are entitled to different opinions and I might not meet their expectations but I make it my responsibility to give my drawings all I can. I’m always anxious when drawing a piece.

I know that you don’t just simply ‘copy’ from a photograph. There are many skills involved to create an original artwork from a photograph and your drawings are more realistic than the photograph. What’s your process like?

For me to draw a piece, I must be inspired by my muse. As for clients, it’s usually the clarity of the image, their description and instruction on the expected outcome. I take all my drawings personal. The process involves; printing the image you want to draw, getting the right coordinates, sketching, shading and putting some final touches.

Your tribute drawing to DMX went viral, did you expect it?

I knew it was a great piece but I didn’t expect the attention and appreciation it came with. I did some drawing for Konshens a while back and when he came to Kenya, he called me and I gifted it to him. Others like musician Anne Marie have shared my work.

How long does it take you to finish a portrait?

It depends with the size, the bigger the portrait the more time it takes. Some could take days others just hours. The DMX portrait took me two days.

What’s the most challenging part when drawing a portrait?

Every new drawing comes with its own challenge. People come in different faces, age and unique facial features and they always want every part of their face highlighted in their art. My personal struggle though is drawing the lips, it is challenging.

Tell us about an exhibition that has made impact on your life.

I have never exhibited any of my work, Kenyan exhibitions prefer paintings over pencil or pen art and exhibitions are also quite expensive. I’m hopeful this will change in the future.

One of the limitations for most artist I’ve met in Kenya, is getting the right art supplies. Do you have this challenge?

Well, the materials that available are quite expensive and the ones not available you have to ship them at a higher cost so when using them you incur losses in your business. 

What do you like about using a pencil?

It is definitely the hardest and the most complicated forms of art but I love the way I get to incorporate all the small details in my pieces and over time I fell in love with it.

Artists are sometimes under-appreciated. How does this affect your work?

It used to be an issue but I’ve outgrown it. Nowadays I’m getting more clients and Kenyans are enlightened. I’m also getting clients from abroad and they appreciate my art to a higher degree.

If you could meet any artist: past, present, or future, who would it be?

Da Vinci of course. I would love to learn the patience and time he took with his drawings. He would do a piece for years and it is fascinating. I would also want to ask him who is Mona Lisa.

If your art could be displayed anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would have to see the people I have drawn hang my piece in their houses. Celebrities like Rihanna I’d love to see my piece in her Beverly hills’ mansion as well as Eminem and former US President Barack Obama.

Do you have any special unique advice for other artists who are learning to draw in realism at this very high standard that you are drawing at?

I would lie to y’all if I said being an artist easy, it has its ups and downs. It is up to you to master the art of patience and practice as often as you can and also be passionate about your work.