Making A Difference with Shell-Themed Portraits

 

                                                  Portrait Artist: Doreen Kaunda

Given a portion of Terrazo, wood, shells, glue, paper, paint and seeds, Doreen Kaunda has the license to bring to life Shell-themed portraits that can leave any customer in awe. The youthful portrait artist has the gift of harnessing assorted raw materials for the emergence of a beautiful end-product. As a customer you can only unburden with her the idea of a portrait that you seek, but the transformation process of turning ideas into reality is her specialty.

The artist, a Computer Engineering student at the University of Malawi – formerly known as Chancellor College, is slowly becoming a go-to service provider when it comes to need for artistic portraits. It’s just two years since she ventured into the trade. However, she is concocting portraits with the experience and dexterity of a portrait artist who is two decades-old in the art.

“It all started when I saw sea shells at the lake and I decided to collect them. I collected them with no exact idea in the head but I knew I was about to go artistic with them. That is the case because I’m naturally a huge fan of art as a whole and everything that looks artistic in my eyes, I am always willing to make something out of it,” She says.

The gifted-hands, a resident of Chilobwe municipality in Blantyre, admits her being capable of coming up with 5 portraits in a day, subject to hard work. However, she indicates that her commitments have paralyzed the fast growth of her business.

“I should say they’re some days I don’t work according to my tight schedules with school and they’re some when I have no choice but to mix up the two. So, I can sacrifice a period of 4 hours to make portraits and continue the rest of the day with my studies. But I should confess that harnessing the two has proved to be a barrier since both are too demanding,” Doreen said.

She said, her price ranges vary from the design and size of the portrait but the starting price is k13,000. The artist could not hide her plans but render them bare.

“I have plans to become a game changer on this shell-themed portrait business. I feel that most people are still not convinced on the depth of art here in Malawi. I plan on growing this business bigger, of course I would love to make a mark on the international market as well. I am looking and focusing ahead on this and I feel I will be one of the stepping stones here in Malawi,” she said.

When drawn to disclose her role models, the artist said her mother and Nthanda Manduwi on the justification that these two ladies in mention inspires her to do more and be great.