Kelvin Okafor, 27, graduated from Middlesex
University in fine art and is now making waves across the country.
His subjects include popular music
artists Tinie Tempah, James Morrison and Adele. He has also picked out tragic
figures from actor Heath Ledger to the late King of Jordan, King Hussein – and
with each, he tries to evoke an emotion in the viewer.
Finally, he has used friends and
colleagues for the impressively accurate images, which look like soft focus
digital photos. Last year, the artist from Tottenham, north London, exhibited
at numerous major art galleries and won a clutch of prestigious national awards
for his remarkable work. Each of his pieces takes around 80-100 hours to complete,
over approximately three weeks in the studio.
Mr Okafor creates each piece only in black and
white – using graphite pencils, charcoal, black coloured pencil and sometimes
grey pastels. Yet he believes that the range of tone, shade and texture is
almost endless.
He draws on a combination of life
and photographs, working on his art for up to 15 hours a day. He admits he is
‘passionate about precision’. ‘I aspire to create art as vivid as eyes could
see,’ the artist writes on his blog. ‘I want my drawings to prompt an emotional
response, making viewers feel as though they are looking at a real live
subject.
Mr Okafor describes the pencil as ‘a humble
instrument’, but says this is part of its appeal. ‘I’ve always been creative,
but fell in love with using pencils in particular. ‘It amazed me, that with
only one shade of lead, you can create so many tones and textures, and almost
create the illusion of colour. ‘It was only when my images started to create a
buzz with other Middlesex University students that I realised their impact.’
He was selected as one of the top
two pieces of work at Cork Street Gallery’s Winter Show in 2012 and recently won
the Catherine Petitgas Visitors’ Choice Prize, part of the National Open Art
Competition. His work is currently on display at the The Watercolours + Works
on Paper Fair at the London Science Museum, until February 3. Before starting a
piece, Mr Okafor spends a few days analysing a photo, concentrating first on
the subject’s eyes, which are central to his works’ impact.
His pieces are now selling for on average
£8,000-£10,000, depending on the scale. ‘The attention I’m receiving is surreal
and hasn’t really sunk in yet,’ he added. ‘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.’
He
has now had more than 50 commissions, and the dedicated artist cites his role
models as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo – because they not only mastered
the arts but branched out into other fields including engineering, poetry,
science and maths. Twitter users describe his work as ‘incredible’,
‘extraordinary’ and ‘astounding’
