MARS MAGAZINE ISSUE 7 by Marsmag

ISSUE 7

AFRICAN ART & CULTURE THE ROLE OF ART IN AFRICA

TUTORIALS / AMBASSADORS

WIN R20 000 WITH STAEDTLER

Table of Contents

P/ 14

My name is Asanda Noduda. I was born in Uitenhage ‘Kwanobuhle’ in the Eastern Cape and was raised by a single mother. I took an interest in art as a kid in primary school.

P/ 4 - 7

AFRICAN ART & CULTURE

P/ 8 -13

DAVIRY DUVALDO APRIL -

P/ 14 - 19

THE ROLE OF ART IN AFRICA

P/ 20 - 23

JOHN TSENOLI

P/ 24 - 28

STAGEWORX

P/ 30

PHOTO COLLAGE HOBBY X

P/ 32 - 37

TUTORIAL - DRAW A CAR

P/ 40 - 45

TUTORIAL - PAINTING / TRADITIONAL ART

P/ 46 - 49

COLOURS OF THE MONTH

P/ 50 - 53

WIN R20 000 - #YOURSTORY

P/ 54 - 57

ASANDA NODUDA -

P/ 58 - 65

TUTORIAL - FIMO - FLOWER POT

P/ 67 - 71

RICK BALOYI -

AMBASSADOR

EDITORS NOTE Welcome to our first issue of MARSMAG for 2020. Who would have thought that the South Africa and the rest of the world for that matter would be faced with a pandemic known as CORVID-19? We decided that this issue should focus on South Africa, our beautiful country. We look at the role of art in Africa as well as African Art & Culture.

P/ 24

We have so much talent in this country which is evident in our STAEDTLER ambassadors, whose amazing work is once again showcased in this issue. We look at the incredible John Tsenoli and his long road to getting noticed and finally releasing two incredible songs. We have also included some great tutorials that you can do while you are stuck at home isolating. We are also launching one of the most exciting competitions to date #YOURSTORY, with incredible prizes monthly as well as the grand winner taking home R20 000 in cash.

P/ 20

We hope you enjoy this issue and urge you to stay at home and stay safe - From the whole team at STAEDTLER SOUTH AFRICA.

P/ 58 P/ 65

LEARN HOW TO USE FIMO TO CREATE THIS UNIQUE FLOWER POT IN 21 EASY TO FOLLOW STEPS.

P/ 50

AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE 4

Art in its many forms has always given us valuable information regarding the lives of people throughout history. Obviously, the earliest items found were very primitive by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards, but they manage to tell us quite a lot about the inhabitants of the time and how they lived. Therefore, by studying the various art forms common to certain groups or tribes one is able to learn much about their culture and their history. African art covers a huge spectrum of varied art forms including carvings, drawings, sculptures, needlework, beadwork, metalwork etc., the oldest of which would have to be the rock art of the earliest known inhabitants of Southern Africa, the San (Bushmen) of the Kalahari region. They are renowned for the rock paintings which they created showing hunting scenes with pictures of animals, battle scenes, dance scenes as well as the inclusion sometimes of strange mythological figures which would have had a connection to their religious practices. All of these paintings have allowed us to gain valuable information regarding their lives thousands of years ago. Although they are physically small people, their rock paintings show them as tall and slender, which seems to indicate that they visualised themselves as being swift hunters which was a critical factor if they were to survive as huntergatherers. The colours used to create the rock art would have come from berries, plants and ochre which were found in the area and mixed with various liquids including blood to give the different shades.

The art produced by other African tribes depended upon the materials which were readily available to them. The Zulus, although very adept at bead work, weaving, and pottery also made much use of animal skins and these were often incorporated in their clothing, ceremonial headdresses as well as their shields for use in battle and blankets for warmth. Still today the Zulus dress in their traditional clothing for special celebrations such as weddings or when entertaining crowds with their Zulu dances. For many people, carrying water for long distances from rivers to homesteads necessitated the creation of strong clay pots which were also required for cooking. The Clayey soils found on local riverbanks such as in the Free State of South Africa were ideal for this necessary art form which was typical of the Sotho people living there. The clay was moulded to the right shape and then fired in primitive style kilns, and the finished product was not only practical but often beautifully decorated as well, using natural colourants. These items are still often found in modern homes today. Another beautiful art form is that produced by the Ndebele women who traditionally decorated the walls of their mud houses in geometric shapes using bright natural ochre and other earth colours during the dry winter months, because the rain in summer washed away much of the paint. This painting often coincided with important occasions in the lives of the people such as a boy or girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiation or a wedding. Nowadays, the colours used are far more vibrant and the background is white to emphasise the contrast with the bright colours. Until the relatively recent adaptation of bundles of twigs with feathers to be used as brushes, the women did the painting using their fingers.

AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE 6

Basket weaving using plants which are readily available locally is also typical of African artistry. Sometimes words are woven into the article, but this is a modern adaptation which has come about through literacy. In the past these baskets would have been used on the heads of the carriers to transport food items possibly from the fields where they were harvested. The baskets themselves are woven by the women in the community using grass, vines, leaves, papyrus, in fact whatever is suitable for weaving. The process is very complicated, and the finished products are true works of art. The Shona people of Zimbabwe are reputed to be some of the best stone carvers in the world and they produce items of very high quality. The kind of stone which is used is, in most cases, dependent upon what is available in the region. There are some craftsmen who use sandstone for their sculptures, but this has to be handled with care due to its sometimes delicate consistency. As times have changed, so have the reasons for traditional art being produced. Tourism and the visitors it provides has created a demand for artefacts which allows people to try to make a living from the sale of their art. The original meaning for their creation may have become less relevant than in the past and more modern techniques may be used in their production. In the case of intricate beadwork, these would have been made out of bones, the shell of an ostrich egg, stones or seeds. However, nowadays these colourful beads are mass produced and usually made of plastic. Whilst one admires the skill, handed down from generation to generation, needed to produce these works of art, the items themselves often served to tell a story. The colours and designs which were used in their creation were often able to indicate emotions and information which was transmitted without the use of words and it was predominantly women who were the craftspeople.

DAVIRY DUVALDO APRIL I am Daviry Duvaldo April, a South African citizen born on 27th January 1998 in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape. I completed my matric at Môrester Secondary School in 2015. I am a realistic pencil artist aspiring to become a hyper realistic pencil artist and I live with my parents.

“I would love to host exhibitions locally and internationally”. I am currently working on my portfolio by getting all the relevant qualifications, skills and knowledge which will ensure that my work will be exhibited in local and established galleries. Over these past few years I have gained experience in working with charcoal, pens, crayons, paint and colour pencils. But pencil drawing has always been my favourite medium as you can create so much when using graphite pencils, which enable you to make your drawings life-like. Living in a town with no local galleries for upcoming artists makes it difficult to get the exposure you actually need to make a name for yourself within the art industry in order to have your work exhibited. I have been a full-time artist since 2019. For now, I prefer to be a commission based artist and I am available for commissioned drawings.

STAEDTLER AMBASSADOR

My love for drawing started at the very young age of 5 years when I used to draw cars and stick figures with crayons and in primary school my friends and I used to compete with each other. In 2006 when I saw the works of Bernard Le Kay, I was truly inspired and motivated by his drawings with pencils which looked like photographs and I wanted to be able to do that. Ever since that day I practiced and tried to draw everything that I could find and made use of magazine pictures. I participated in an art competition in 2008 and I was the only one selected from all those who entered at my school. After that, a teacher commissioned me with my first portrait and that boosted my confidence. During school lunch breaks I would always draw, and I bought my first set of drawing pencils in 2011.

STAEDTLER AMBASSADOR

Facebook: Daviry April

| Instagram: @DaviryApril

e-mail: aprildaviry7@gmail.com

DAVIRY DUVALDO APRIL

STAEDTLER AMBASSADOR

In order to choose the subject which I am going to draw, I go through a lot of speciďŹ c pictures, selecting the one I connect with. As a realistic artist, I want to capture everything of the model or image, especially emotion as I want my audience to be able to immediately relate to my art.

What is the type of art as well as the genre that you specialize in? My favourite subjects to draw are human portraiture, with the focus on eyes and cars.

STAEDTLER AMBASSADOR

Genre? Realism. I am aspiring to become a hyper realistic artist. Hyper realism is basically trying to draw images which look likes photographs. It is based on photography and for that reason I use reference photos. What advice would you give to young artists? Know who you are by being self-aware, and focusing on your strengths. Draw or paint what you like and don’t compare yourself with other artists. Always try to finish what you start and set daily goals. Dedicate yourself to your art by being consistent and patient as great things take time to achieve. Keep drawing, painting, reading and learning and watch YouTube tutorials. Surround yourself with positive influences. Work hard, embrace mistakes and don’t be afraid to fail. Everything will work out. What are your dreams and hopes with your art? I want to keep pursuing my dream full time. I want to show young artists that it is possible to make a living from art. I want to take part in exhibition as much as I can, in order to give my family a better living. I dream of having my own studio someday. I would love to teach art at schools and host workshops in the future and I want to travel the world through my art. I hope my work inspires someone else to start drawing. If you could have one wish – what would it be? Attending a drawing workshop of Charles Laveso in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

DAVIRY DUVALDO APRIL

WHAT ROLE DOES

ART PLAY IN

AFRICA 15

Art in its many forms and variations is a wonderful means of bringing people of different cultures and languages together and this is certainly the case in Africa where diversity is the name of the game. People the world over seem to have specific talents which are inherent in their DNA and being able to sing and having an inborn sense of rhythm is something which Westerners have come to expect and appreciate from African people. Whereas many Europeans will admit to being tone deaf and having two left feet when it comes to dancing, this does not seem to be the case amongst Africans. Song and dance make up a great deal of the social activities amongst the inhabitants of this huge continent. Music in all its forms is an art form which is widely practised and in evidence whenever there is a celebration or a tragedy in African culture. Although sometimes there is a musical instrument to accompany the singers and dancers, more often than not the rendition which resounds so melodiously is acapella. Nowadays, art and its various interpretations gives African artists an opportunity whereby they can attempt to make a living. Not only is it a way in which to express themselves, and possibly assist in alleviating feelings of despair, due to a prevalent culture of poverty, but also the recognition gained when their art is sold, can increase confidence and feelings of self-worth. With outlets such as markets and even stalls on street corners, items which have been carved, beaded, or painted are often displayed where there is a large amount of human traffic. Many of these items would be seen as valuable artefacts overseas if they were able to be exported. One only has to visit some of the upmarket shops in cities around South Africa where African souvenirs are sold to see that visitors to these shores appreciate the talent which has created many of these works of art. Dress design as an art form has allowed many students on the African continent to make a name for themselves in this field. The vibrancy of many of the locally produced fabrics lends itself to the creation of unique fashion items which put Africa on the international stage, in more ways than one. Models, designers, seamstresses, all have artistic abilities which combined often result in exquisite creations. Local beauty queens and celebrities often tend to favour local designers when they need an item to wear on the red carpet.

One only has to look at the past regarding art in Africa, and compare it to the present, to realise that it has always played a huge role in the lives of the inhabitants and this is still the case. Children in the poorest of circumstances can be seen playing with makeshift toys, fashioned from wire in some cases and they will often improvise without having the correct equipment in order to play a game of football or cricket. Being forced through circumstance to think out of the proverbial box could also encourage children to be creative in their play. The fact that they are poor does not limit their innate artistic talents, although it is not always easy for these abilities to find an outlet. Africa being a continent of vast contrasts and being home to people of many different cultures makes for a fascinating variety of art forms. Whether we talk about traditional dance, music, painting, sketching, carving, clothing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the list goes on, but we must never forget the art of culinary expertise. Every culture and group of people have their own specific way of preparing food and Africa is no exception. Traditionally the preparation of food is a skill which is usually handed down from mother to child within the home context. When the various cultural groups and overseas influences interact with one another changes are inevitable and food presentation and preparation as well as ingredients used are bound to evolve. Maize products such as mealie meal are a staple diet for many people in Africa, but a large variety of interesting vegetable dishes, curries, braaied meats, food which is halaal or kosher are also to be found due to religious as well as economic reasons.

Art in its many forms has definitely been instrumental in putting Africa on the world map due to those individuals who have been so talented in their own field that they have become almost household names. When it comes to music we have had so many incredibly talented people and to name just a few we remember the great late Miriam Makeba and Johnny Clegg (revered as a White Zulu.) Currently still making music are the Drakensberg Boys Choir, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and many others including opera singers who have made a name for themselves locally as well as overseas. In 2019 the Ndlovu Youth Choir made international headlines when they competed very successfully in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent. Their voices, the choreography, and the beautiful crafted costumes (handmade by the women in rural Limpopo where the children live) showed that being African and coming from a financially challenged background, but having the right opportunity, can change lives. It is all about talent and dedication.

My name is John Tsenoli, I am 21 years old and I am from a country in the middle Of South Africa called Lesotho. I am a singer songwriter and performer. I grew up listening to a lot of Afro-Soul, R&B, Hip Hop, Dance Hall and Popular music. My biggest inspirations are giants like Michael Jackson, Brenda Fassie, Fela Kuti, James Brown, BeyoncĂŠ, Burna Boy and Chris Brown . 20

My dream is to one day help the children from my village see a transformation in their lives through a change in their environment. I want to be able to create a platform through my music where I can not only inspire them to see the greatness within themselves but to also inspire them to go against the odds and chase their dreams. I want to be able to do this by performing on stage and writing songs by which people can be inspired and entertained. I have never seen myself as a role model and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never really aspired to be one either. I believe that being a role model is too limiting as there are so many behavioural expectations which would hinder me from being my truest self. My biggest fear as an artist is losing my ability to be human, to make mistakes and to learn from them, to fall in and out of love, to be able to go through dark times without having to pretend that everything is okay and, most importantly, to be able to not take life too seriously and be present in every moment. I do however want to be an inspiration. I aspire to live out my dreams to the maximum of my potential and I want children whose circumstances are similar to those which I experienced, to see themselves through my face and to realise that they too can make their dreams a reality . http://smarturl.it/JohnTsenoli_IJAB

â&#x20AC;&#x153; I want children whose circumstances are similar to those which I experienced, to see themselves through my face and to realise that they too can make their dreams a reality â&#x20AC;?. 23

STAGEWORX

Stageworx is a performing arts school with both Part-Time and Full-Time classes as well as packages. We offer classes to children and young people between the ages of 6yrs to 25yrs who are interested in developing their artistic aspirations. Some students decide they would like to follow the arts as a career and for those students we assist in either transitioning from training to working or assisting them in finding further training establishments in SA or overseas. We offer a full spectrum of classes including dance, drama, music, singing, song writing, musical theatre and we follow the Trinity College London Examination Syllabus. The aim and purpose of Stageworx is to be a performing arts school which is fully inclusive of children with disabilities, children from different cultures and backgrounds and we create as many experiences in the arts as possible for them. We offer them a fully rounded training â&#x20AC;&#x201C; singing, dancing, acting, song writing, music - the things which I was not lucky enough to experience under one roof whilst growing up. We put as much emphasis on human and social development as we do on the actual training. These are all the things which my mentors and teachers taught me about life, acceptance and communication. Stageworx is a home away from home for the students. It is a place to feel accepted, a place to make lifelong like-minded friends and a place to discover who they are and what they want through following an arts education. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter where you are from, what kind of background you have, whether you come from a wealthy or poorer family, and what your religion or culture is. When you walk into a performing arts class, or professional arts environment - whether it be acting, singing, dancing or music - none of these factors play any part at all.

We have students at our school who have a variety of religious belief systems. We have Jewish students, Muslim students, Christian students and students who do not follow any particular religious belief. You might think that this would cause a great amount of turmoil between the students, but quite the opposite is true. I have seen how they talk to each other openly about their beliefs and some of the Jewish students have invited non-Jewish students to shabbat supper! This opens up their hearts and minds to each other and gives them a mutual respect and understanding. Sometimes we have to put out small fires amongst the students, but these small fires come from a lack of understanding. When talking through the issue on a face to face basis, the parties involved always leave feeling uplifted. This is what the performing arts environment is able to achieve. They are sharing their passion, sharing a sacred performance space and this naturally brings them together â&#x20AC;&#x201C; regardless. Whilst working on certain pieces of theatre and musical theatre, conversations are often opened up about race, abuse, gender and, without them even knowing, they start to share stories of their own with the class. Once again, we are succeeding in getting our youth talking, understanding and sharing with one another.

We have students from some of the wealthiest areas and private schools in South Africa as well as others who have been raised in orphanages and come from some of the poorest areas in South Africa. When these students enter a class together, they learn to understand each other on a much deeper level, creating an understand and respect for one another. No student has priority over another and this gives everyone a place where they belong. The pressures of meeting the high expectations of the elite private schools or the financial worries and concerns of their home life situations are now left behind. The students find a balance and help each other. I have seen students from vastly different backgrounds becoming friends socially. Those who may have come into the establishment with a slightly “entitled” attitude suddenly see things from a different perspective and realise they have to work as hard as everyone else if they want to achieve. The most inspiring thing for me is seeing my students grow into wonderful humans! We have had some incredible successes at the school with students being cast in musicals, television shows and releasing their own music as well as being placed in top ranking performing arts and music colleges internationally. The one thing of which I am most proud though, goes far beyond the success of the students. It is the constant realisation of how “easy” they are to work with and how giving they are to each other. After creating Stageworx, I saw the need to spread this vision further in order to reach more children. So, I set up the Born To Perform NPO, which is a platform of transformation through arts education. We have to date, put on 5 shows including SHINE! 2019 at the Teatro at Montecasino. Our shows include over 450 young people from around the country as well as from local schools, shining a light on issues which our young people face in today’s society. This is achieved through high-end pieces of theatre with the result that audiences leave feeling uplifted and positive that the future of South Africa is safe in the hands of our teens. You can check out the link below to our responses from the last show. We are in a position where Montecasino has approached us to put together another show for 2021 and we are currently looking for a corporate partner. If you would like to be part of this amazing initiative or would like more information on Stageworx please contact gemma@stageworx.co.za.

If you want to go fa s t, g o a l o n e. I f you want to go f a r, g o t o g e t h e r. (Af r i c a n p rove r b)

From the 5th to the 8th of March STAEDTLER exhibited at the Hobby-X expo which was held at the Dome in JHB . Riaan Marais kept the visitors entertained with live art demonstrations and the response was phenomenal. STAEDTLER would like to thank everyone that took the time out to come and say hello to us over the four days.

Drawing a car with pens – Riaan Marais

Skill level – Intermediate to advanced

This will be a fun one. Old rusty cars are the best to draw. The nice thing is that mistakes will be much harder to spot than drawing a pristine car in mint condition. So, no more idling, let’s rev-up our pens and spin off the start-line.

TUTORIAL 32

What you will need

Graph paper, A4 or A3 depending on how large you want to go. 20 Triplus ballpoint pens by STAEDTLER

STEP 1 Find an old battered beauty

STEP 2 STEP 3

Draw a square grid over the photo. Smaller blocks will make the drawing more accurate, but might take longer to draw.

We are going to draw on printing paper first. Measure your paper and divide it into the same number of blocks as the grid you drew on the photo. Now start drawing the car block by block. The grid method is a nice shortcut to an accurate drawing. And no, the grid method is not cheating, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been used over the ages by many professional artists.

STEP 5A & 5B

STEP 4

(Not shown here) Trace your drawing onto your drawing paper. This will eliminate the tedious process of removing the grid and is less smudgy if you had to erase mistakes you made in the first stages of the drawing. Once traced on my drawing paper I use a putty eraser (kneadable eraser) to lighten the drawing till nearly invisible. But you can erase the pencil lines afterwards.

Select the appropriate colour pens that fit the colours of the car in the photo best. Remember that it is a drawing and does not need to be perfect. The colours need not be spot on and making mistakes is okay. (click the video link to see the drawing process) 35

STEP 6A & 6B

Start drawing very lightly and build the colour intensity up with crossing lines (cross hatching). Keep in mind that thin lines far apart will create light tones, while thick closely drawn lines will create darker tones. I usually draw the car panel by panel and once done go over the whole drawing fixing up tones that does not fit with the rest. 36

STEP 7 STEP 8

I use six colours to draw my car. The painted region was done with a light blue pen and a darker blue for the shaded areas. The rusty areas were drawn with a mustard yellow (yellow ochre) and the dark bits with a brown pen. For the windows and tyres, I used a light grey and black pen. The chrome was mostly grey and black with blue added where needed.

Proudly sign your name on your drawing, take a photo or two and post on social media while you wait for it to be framed. Remember to have fun and do not fear mistakes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of being human! 37

The core of African artistic expression is composed of human figures, animal imagery and geometric patterns. In reality African art is not art but cultural object with a purpose. Its purpose is to instruct the people and facilitate communication between the people and the supernatural forces that influence their lives.

Painting a traditional art piece – Claire de Lune Skill level – Beginner to Intermediate Ready to bring out your painting skills and show the world that you can paint. Make sure you have: • A clean working space • All your paints and brushes • Clean water to rinse brushes

TUTORIAL 40

What you will need

A3 canvas depending on how large you want to go. 12 Watercolour paint box by STAEDTLER.

STEP 1

Set your gridlines or borders.

STEP 2

Draw a rough sketch of the concept and layout, keeping in mind focal point, perspective, depth and dimensions.

STEP 3 STEP 4

Tone the background. I used a slightly diluted blue as it is semi-transparent and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cover the pencil lines.

Out line the faded lines and Fill in the dark shapes first.

STEP 6

STEP 5

Continue to fill in the dress with dark blue.

Use light pencil strokes for any last additions or changes Go over the dark shapes with another layer of the dark mixture to refine the shapes. 43

STEP 7

I used thick white paint to add fine beading. To add texture to the dresses, I used white paint with a touch of blue. 44

STEP 8 STEP 9

Touch up fine highlights with the zinc white by by lightly blending on the edge of the bodies to give this highlight effect.

Add any finishing touches to feel is needed and then sign your name and look at you amazing art piece you just created. Take a photo and post it on social media and tag Staedtler to show the world that you can paint. 45

In order to enter the STAEDTLER #yourstory Competition, post a video of you telling us why you love STAEDTLER and show the hashtag sign with your fingers saying #yourstory at the end. Post it on the STAEDTLER Facebook page or the STAEDTLER Instagram page with the tagline #yourstory. Your profile on Instagram has to be public in order for STAEDTLER to see the video. Please ensure correct spelling of the hashtag line. The competition shall result in a prize of the following: Monthly stationery prizes up to 30 September 2020. Closing date 31 October 2020. 1 x Grand cash prize of R20 000, 1 x second cash prize of R15 000.00 1 x third cash prize of R10 000.00 51

Terms & Conditions

1. The competition is open to all South African citizens except directors, members, partners, employees, agents, service providers and consultants of STAEDTLER South Africa as well as their spouses, life partners, immediate family members, business partners and associates referred to as ‘The Organisers’. 2. The competition closing date will be at the discretion of the organisers, but no later than 31 October 2020 at midnight (12pm). 3. In order to enter the STAEDTLER #yourstory Competition, post a video of you telling us why you love STAEDTLER and show the hashtag sign with your fingers saying #yourstory at the end. Post it on the STAEDTLER Facebook page or the STAEDTLER Instagram page with the tagline #yourstory. Your profile on Instagram has to be public in order for STAEDTLER to see the video. Please ensure correct spelling of the hashtag line. 4. All ages are allowed to participate. 5. Any late entries received will not be taken into consideration. 6. The competition sponsors and/or their advertising agents will contact the winners ONLY, via telephone, email or a Facebook inbox message. Winners who are not contactable by telephone within 24 (twenty-four) hours after the closing date will be disqualified and a new winner will be drawn and contacted. 7. STAEDTLER, and their agents, accept no responsibility for any problems or technical malfunction of any communication network or any late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, incorrectly submitted, delayed, illegible or corrupted entries. STAEDTLER, and their agents are not liable for any costs incurred, responses received, or any other consequences of user error. 8. The competition shall result in a prize of the following: Monthly stationery prizes up to 30 September 2020. 1 x Grand cash prize of R20 000, 1 x second cash prize of R15 000.00 and 1 x third cash prize of R10 000.00 as the final prizes after the competition closes on 31 October 2020. 9. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. STAEDTLER, and their agents will not be held responsible for any disputes arising from the competition or prize rewarded. 10.Winners shall use the prize at their own risk. STAEDTLER, and their agents shall not be liable for any loss, damage, personal injury or death that is suffered or sustained (including but not limited to that arising from any person’s negligence) in connection with this competition or accepting or using the prize. 11. STAEDTLER, and their agents reserve the right to cancel, modify or amend the competition at any time, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances outside of their control should arise. 12. By entering you agree that STAEDTLER can publish the winners’ name/s, photograph and entry in any printed, digital media, or any other relevant promotional media. 13. The risk in the prize shall pass to the winner, once possession thereof has been taken. 14. Entry into the competition implies the acceptance of the above.

My name is Asanda Noduda. I was born in Uitenhage ‘Kwanobuhle’ in the Eastern Cape and was raised by a single mother. I took an interest in art as a kid in primary school. I used to draw pictures of Dragon Ball Z & Pokeymon Characters. When I got into High School, I started drawing pictures from magazines. I still remember drawing a picture of ‘The Black Eyed Peas’ music group and it was then that I realised my drawing talent was bigger than I thought. After passing Matric, I stopped everything to do with drawing. I felt I had no reason to draw again, because fame was not really my thing. Only the people from my school knew what I could do, when it came to drawing. I started to look for job, because I thought that you could only be wealthy, if you worked for someone else. As time went by, I started to realize I was born to create and change people’s life’s. I woke up one day after watching ‘Avengers - End Game’ and realised I had fallen in love with the character, Thanos. I decided to pick up my black pen and draw him. The outcome surprised me, and this is where I fell in love with Visual Arts again. I decided to stop everything else I was doing at the time and put my focus back into only doing art. In 2019 I was nominated for a 6 week Sketchbook 2.0 program. There were only 15 artists selected and my art was chosen because it had sent a message to the judges. In October 2019, we exhibited our works at the Nelson Mandela Art Museum. We were awarded the Arts and Culture certificate of the month and this where I told myself that the I cannot look back now. I am currently a full time Visual Artist who specialises in 3D realistic. My dream is to open my own art gallery and have a comic that will encourage and educate many like me. To all the young artists, “If you believe you can, you can. If you believe you can’t, you can’t. Keep your head up high and always give whatever you are doing, your best.”

STAEDTLER Ambassador Asanda Noduda

You can get hold of me using the following details: Cellphone: 067 7012 554 Whatsapp: 076 8456 776 Social Media Handles: Facebook- Artsanda Instagram - @Artsandaec Email: Artsanda2019@gmail.com 55

STAEDTLER Ambassador Asanda Noduda

Tutorial by Riaan

Creating a unique flower pot

FIMO is a wonderful product to use for practical applications. In this tutorial, we will be creating a home for a small succulent plant. Using a roll and twist technique we will craft a marble-like pattern. Using a template we will cut and shape the pot. So, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jump right into it. 58

Template for project on Page 65

FIMO needs some preparation. FIMO will be hard and stiff if it is cold. To warm it up we will first roll it then fold the clay double and twist it. Roll the twisted clay again while pressing firmly. This will compact the clay. If it is flaky press everything into a ball by using the heel of your palm.

Once your colour is soft and easy to use prepare the next colour in the same way.

To get the marble colours mixed we roll two long rope-like strips called coils. Then we place them side by side and twist them together to have the two colours spiralling around each other. Roll them together again, fold it and twist again and repeat this a few times. The more you repeat this the finer the grain will be.

Compress the clay into a block or short coil. Then press the clay flat till it is more or less in a flat curved shape. Place the template over it to see if it fits.

Now we will use the roller to make remove the dents. Be careful not to roll the clay too thin. If the walls of the pot are too thin it will collapse when you try to put it together.

Place the template on the clay slab and cut the sides off.

I prepared a second colour to line the inside of my pot. Flatten it in the same way and use the roller to smooth out the finger marks.

Place the second colour over the first and pat it down from one side to the other to remove all air between the layers.

Make sure the clay still fits the template. Remove any excess clay.

Carefully place bend the side together and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; them by lightly pressing the two sides into each other. Be careful not to make the seam thinner than the rest of the wall by pressing too hard.

Prepare the bottom of the pot using the same methods we used to create the walls of the pot. Use the template to cut the round shape for the bottom.

Place the walls of the pot on the bottom piece and work the two pieces together by pressing the clay into each other. Again be careful not to overwork it, otherwise you might deform it too much.

Roll a thin coil which we will use to seal the inside of the pot.

Use a sculpting tool to smooth out the seal inside the pot.

Using a blade we will cut the top of the pot to clean and even the rim of the pot. I lightly pressed the blade towards my thumb. You could wait till after you baked it to use the sanders to even out the rim.

Prepare the base plate in the same way as we did with the wall of the pot by rolling and twisting the clay to achieve a marble-like pattern. Using the temple cut the base to the right size.

Roll the remaining clay into a thickish coil and cut four short feet for the base and press these feet on to the base.

Because I want to plant a succulent in my pot I decorate it with a cactus plant. But you may decorate it in whatever way you see fit. To make a cactus plant I flatten the clay and shape it into a teardrop.

Repeat this process until you are satisfied your plant has enough leaves.

To create the grass I shaped half a circle and then cut v-shapes out of it to create the patch of grass.

Bake your pot and base separately. Make sure you removed all the template pieces from your clay before baking. Bake the base plate upside down to ensure it is flat once baked. Read the instructions on the packaging carefully and do not exceed the recommended temperature to ensure that your sculpture does not discolour or burn.

Template for flower pot. 65

CONGRATULATIONS RACQUEL SWARTZ DOS SANTOS

STAEDTLER Ambassador Rick Baloyi

I am Rick Baloyi and I come from Tshivhuyuni in Limpopo. I went to Lishavhana secondary school and I am a self-taught artist as I never got the chance to study art, due to the limitation of subjects offered in the rural areas. I was raised by my grandmother while my mother was working in Johannesburg. The artists who influence me are, firstly, Philemon Hlungwani. I love the way he shares his stories about rural life and his traditions through his works, which I can relate to. He is followed by Blessing Ngobeni, Stephen Langa and Greatjoy Ndlovu, as other artists who have influenced me.

I look for opportunities via the websites of South African art organisations such as Vansa and galleries through social media. I also find opportunities by interacting with other artists at exhibitions and by doing studio visits where I get the chance to work with them. I enjoy doing realistic drawings with colour pens because of its uniqueness and the fact that people don’t consider it as an art medium. I loved creating art ever since I was a child. After my matric in 2017 I began practising as a fulltime artist, building my skills, gaining more knowledge in the art industry and that’s where my passion for art really started. My most important art tool, which I also cannot live without, is my pencils kit. They are the foundation for all of my works. Whether I’m painting or making a sculpture, my pencil is the very first thing I’ll turn to, to get the job done. My inspiration comes from strong African women. I was raised by women and therefore I have seen the struggle they go through every day to keep their families going. They play an important role in our communities and they deserve power. That is why they are the driving force behind my works. My contact details. Email address: baloyirick660@gmail. com Phone number: 0762283315 Social media. Instagram: baloyi_rick Twitter: @BaloyiRick FB: Baloyi Rick

YOUR FREE ARTS, CRAFTS & DESIGN MAGAZINE

https://www.facebook.com/StaedtlerSA/

https://www.instagram.com/staedtlersa/ 72