Art is widely considered as a profession that doesn’t really put food on the table, especially locally, yet many artists in Rwanda, some young talents, are earning from it, like 18-year-old Henry Munyaneza.

The skilled painter and digital artist has been able to attract clients mostly through sharing his artwork on social media.

As a child, drawing wasn’t even a hobby or his cup of tea, but around the age of 11, he developed an interest through his cousin who was studying art from Ecole d’arts de Nyundo.

Some of his work.

He looked at how she fashioned something gorgeous from scratch, through observation, he was amazed by how she took every step to create beauty from everything around her.

The artist explains that his cousin’s eagerness to improve her skills each and every day was exceptional and he yearned to be just like her.

"At the age of 14, I had no doubt that I would give art a shot as I had seen my cousin excel. I, therefore, enrolled at the same school where I studied graphics, and in 2019, I graduated at the age of 16. I must say, it was the best decision I have ever made. I developed a connection with art that I can’t trade for anything else,” he says.

Munyaneza’s favourite art expression is painting and is what he is currently specialised in.  Luckily, in 2020 he started drawing as a profession. And he is pleased that although he hasn’t reached where he longs to be, at least there is hope.

This is because his talent has started attracting clients and caters for his basic needs, so much that he doesn’t have to ask relatives for rent or other requirements.

"What fills my heart with joy is being my own boss even before turning 20, yet I have seen people, even at the age of 35, knocking at doors with their degrees for jobs but in vain,” he says. 

Just like any business, the painter isn’t finding it all smooth. Some of the challenges he encounters are a lack of daily customers, a thing that is slowing his business. There is also not having investors to sponsor his work since the good quality materials he uses are expensive. For painting, some of the equipment are brushes, acrylic paints, canvas, and for digital painting, a laptop.

There are artists that stir him, some of these are Banza Dolph (a Rwandan digital artist), Sam Yang (a digital artist who lives in Toronto), Samuel Ishimwe known as ‘dadyism’ (a Rwandan painter), Alex Tzavaras (a portrait and figure painter), and Richardo Sanz (a Spanish portrait painter and landscapist).

According to the painter, what makes him unique is making sure that he makes his portraits better than the previous ones, and also applying a unique way of painting while he displays brush strokes.

When asked to offer some of the tips that can make one a better artist, he responds that for any artist to achieve good results, they need to invest in high-quality material, for instance, a better grade of paper as it gives the complexity and texture of the painting. But also, expensive paints produce rich colours.

He says that before you draw anything, think of a story to tell, communicate in a way that when one looks at your art, they can figure out what it is you are trying to communicate. 

According to Munyaneza, people like to feel the mood in the painting, which is why it is important to paint something you have an idea about, but even if you don’t, carry out some research.

"Be willing to learn. Every artist is gifted in numerous ways, visit art galleries, know about what they do and what is behind their muse and be able to pick the lessons and apply them to your art,” he says.

He also urges teaching other people what you know about art as it can help you get even more skills. He believes that any talent is dull if it isn’t taught. 

The painter notes that to improve your drawing skills, you ought to practice. Set up an art studio where you can create images and paint every day.

You can find him on Instagram @muhenry2003 or reach him at +250 785877638