By the Newsdesk
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Artist
Kelvin Okafor, whose accurate drawings are often mistaken for
photographs, is making waves in the art world after scooping a number of
national awards and exhibiting at galleries across the country.
The London’s Middlesex University Fine Art graduate spends around 80-100 hours to complete his amazing pencil drawings over approximately three weeks in the studio. The genre is known as ‘photo-realism’ and Mr Okafor creates his detailed work based on a mixture of life and photographs.
The
highly skilled 27-year old has already had more than 50 commissions and
is generating a buzz at galleries he exhibits at and online. One of his
recent accolades, The Catherine Petitgas Visitors’ Choice Prize part of
the National Open Art Competition, was awarded to Mr Okafor after he
received the most votes from the public. Mr Okafor has also recently
been selected as one of the top two pieces of work in Cork Street
Gallery Open Exhibition Winter Show.
Drawing
a number of celebrities, colleagues and friends, Mr Okafor’s work is
rapidly gaining a large following and has seen him get selected to
exhibit at the Works on Paper/Watercolour Fair at the popular London
Science Museum this week from 31 January to 3 February 2013.
The
Tottenham, London-based artist said: “I’ve always been creative, but
fell in love with using pencils in particular. It was only when my
images started to create a buzz with other Middlesex University students
that I realised their impact.”
Before
even starting a piece, he spends a few days analysing a photo,
concentrating firstly on the subject’s eyes as he shapes the portrait
through them due to their importance to the piece. Starting from
£5,000, each of his pieces of work sells for on average £8,000-£10,000
dependent on the scale.
“The
attention I’m receiving is surreal and hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m
usually sheltered from it in my studio as I continue to build my
portfolio, but I’m really humbled and honoured that so many people
appreciate my work. I hope to have my own gallery in the future,” Mr
Okafor said.
To view a gallery of Mr Okafor’s photos, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdxuninews/sets/72157632629483145/show/
To hear more from him visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbNHY5bX28
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