At first glance, Takudzwa (TK) Gonese looks like a typical rugby player. Someone who is more likely to put you to sleep with a single punch for looking at him the wrong way.
In reality though, he is an ever smiling accommodative individual and it comes as no surprise that he is in the hospitality industry.
I have known TK for more than five years and all that time I had no idea that he was talented with the pencil.
It is not that I am ignorant, but rather the fact that he has not been drawing for a while.
Rediscovering his artistic side has been facilitated by the coronavirus pandemic which has forced millions of people from around the globe to stay at home.
Being in the tourism industry, TK has been among the many who have had to endure months away from work.
While he recently got back to the wilderness, it was during his time at home that he decided to pick up his pencil again.
For the past few months, he has been creating some epic pencil pieces which have led to him getting several commissions.
While he specializes in African wildlife, he is also being commissioned to do human portraits and as well as other subjects.
“I have done numerous pieces but so far eight are final products and are available as prints on canvas,” said TK.
“I have also just completed a commission for a client who is based in the UK and will be starting another commissioned drawing for a client in Harare.”
How can one be so good at drawing while staying in Victoria Falls, a town where art is a major industry, but fail to cash in on it for so long.
The 31-year-old says he has always been good at art but it is a passion that somehow faded along the way as he chose to pursue another career.
“When I was in primary school, I was always told I had an artistic eye by my teachers. I Always enjoyed and looked forward to art and craft lessons,” said TK.
I wanted to carry on with my art even after leaving Falcon College in 2008 because that’s what I majored in when I was in A level.
“I also engaged with a few well known artists who I studied during my last year of high school.”
After high school, he went to take a sabbatical year in Australia and it was at this stage that he lost his artistic mojo.
Coming back home, he joined Wilderness Safaris as a reservationist for a year before pursuing a three-year diploma in hospitality management through the American Hotel and Lodging Association at the Southern Africa Hospitality Training School.
Having fallen in love with the wild, art became a distant pastime.
“When I got to Australia, I didn’t draw as much as I would have liked due to a lot of distractions and being out of Africa for the first time, I personally think I got carried away.
“When I joined Wilderness Safaris, hospitality completely moved me away from my art, however I would draw a few sketches here and there but my mind was focused on hospitality.”
Currently, TK is the camp manager for Toka Leya Lodge in Livingstone Zambia. It is one of the many lodges Wilderness Safaris owns across the continent.
I can only wonder how he intends to balance his reignited love for art and that of his job in the safari.
“From past experience, I have now learnt not to say I am too busy with hospitality to do art. What I now say to myself is that I have to at least put in two hours or more a day of art no matter how busy or tired I am.
“I have a daughter at home so when I am there I usually sneak in my two hours during her afternoon nap or when she goes to bed at night which is usually unpredictable.”
With the tourism industry being one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic, his main job has also been greatly affected.
“Well first off, we currently don’t have our international market which we mainly cater for, therefore the business is struggling.
“Covid-19 has really put me personally on a back foot. Once you are on a specific pathway mentally and something distracts you, it’s very annoying because you have to adjust.
“I also find myself missing the interactions I used to have with my guests and fellow staff members.”
You can check out his work on Instagram and Facebook.
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