ALMetro360 Magazine

.................................................................................................................................................................... Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter NOVEMBER 2019 25 Her love for painting lies in creating unique pieces that reflect a variety of artistic expressions. Namely, abstract, pop art, pen draw- ings, and mixed media paintings showcase her talent. While paint- ing, she uses a mixture of color schemes to allow her work to convey a message. "To me, art means being bold and telling a story without saying a word. And painting can be used to address issues that you're not able to say directly with words. Looking at a piece of artwork, someone can relate to what is presented on the canvas and derive their meaning from that." Typically, Nyaradzai uses Winsor & Newton and Artist's Loft canvases as she finds the texture is ideal to use with acrylic and oil paints and layering paint. She uses a wide variety of brushes from flat bending brushes to tiny brushes. "I usually pick the size of the canvas randomly at times, but sometimes, I get a specific one de- pending on the painting I want to create." Though Nyaradzai enjoys creating her unique masterpieces, there are several artists and paintings that she admires and finds inspirational. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has a large col- lection of African contemporary art. It's known for producing world-renowned artists and has several unique classifications. Also, recognized as a hallmark of African cultures as many aspects of life are revealed through artwork. She happily says, "I admire Cosmos Shiridzinomwa, who is a Zimbabwean painter. His art is so alive because of the bright vivid colors he uses and the stories of Zimbabwean people that he tells metaphorically in his paintings. He inspires me to make loud art that tells peoples stories in abstract art, which allows people to interpret their meaning. I also admire famous paintings like The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh because he is one of my favorite artists, due to his life story. He continued to tell his stories in his paintings even when no one was willing to listen to what he had to say." Nyaradzai’s portfolio consists of creative art filled with emotion and meaningful imagery, which bring her canvases to life. Her fa- vorite paintings are Hidden Figures, Hypocrites, and Kumba. She explains, "Hidden Figures tells a story, and if you look closely, there are figures in there. It's just like looking at people. There is something great inside of everyone you meet. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Hypocrites reveals how people often portray a different side to who they are, but if everyone were authentic to who they are (things wouldn't be perfect) but things would still be beautiful. I painted Kumba, which means home when I was home- sick. It's a culture piece that reminds me of the vibrant scenery in my country. I used a colorful palette to symbolize the joy and hap- piness that conveys the people of my culture." Her attention to detail and creativity has led her to become one of River Region's finest up-and-coming young artists. Throughout her artist journey, her artwork has been exhibited at Auburn Uni- versity at Montgomery's Filibuster 2019, the 43rd Montgomery Art Guild, the 53rd Montgomery Art Guild & Regions Bank Show, and Salon Des Refuses at Montgomery City Hall. After she graduates from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2020, she plans to further her education and pursue a Master's degree. Upon completing her degree, she hopes to return to Zim- babwe and give back to her beloved country. Nyaradzai says, “I plan to work on opening galleries and museums in Zimbabwe and help grow, elevate, and support the art communities there.” To view Nyaradzai Machachi's work or to contact her for com- mission work, visit her Facebook page, Nyaradzai Machachi, In- stagram page @artbynyaradzai or contact her via email at nyaradzai15@gmail.com. n