Disi claims to be fastest artist

Not usually does speed and finesse come in one package. However, Dalitso Disi is an exception to this presumption.

Going through his portfolio, one would think he takes time to stitch the miniature details that perfects a portrait. But in an interview with On the Arts, Disi claims it does not take him time as many artists do.

“On a normal day I can do four portraits. On Valentine’s Day, I sketched six portraits. With time, I have mastered the art that can do a portrait in less than three hours,” he said.

Disi said that his speed is a result of focus and practice over the years.

“I thank God that he did not only bless me with the ability to draw, but he also gave me the ability to do that fast.”

His prices range from K15 000 on A4 size to K100 000 on A1, while murals cost range from a minimum of K100 000 depending on the size of the wall to be painted.

Although he also paints on canvas, Disi claims that he specialises on charcoal and pencil sketches.

“I have been slow on my clients lately because I am working on murals at Amitofo and it is a huge project which will take months. So I work at Amitofo during the day and during night I work on my clients’ portraits,” he said.

Disi rose to fame as a fine artist in 2010 as he made a trip to South Africa where he made portraits for the World Cup pilgrims at stadiums and hotels that year.

In the same year, the artist claimed new markets as he made a portrait of Madonna, which was displayed on CNN and BBC.

“I have done artworks for different companies and high ranking officials in both the government and companies,” he says.

His big break in 2010 was however, not his beginning as he traces his passion in the arts from his secondary school days at Bambino Private Schools in Lilongwe.

“I have always viewed myself as an artist. I don’t remember the time I wasn’t. I used to sketch everything, from posters of superstars to my favourite cartoon characters,” said Disi.

He recalls being the pupil that gets to be commissioned by the teacher to draw illustrations on the blackboard whenever it is required in a lesson.

“I used to draw cartoons of the scenes that took place on campus. I was so popular with cartoons,” he recalls.

After finishing school, the artist pursued a computer engineering course at New Horizon in Blantyre. He landed himself a job at a cable manufacturing company but could not keep the job for long.

“I was always sketching and I was becoming unproductive to the company. I could not just stop sketching. So, I decided to quit the job,” he said.

Disi confesses that he was afraid of failure when he initially ventured into commercial fine arts.

“I secured a spot outside Shoprite, but was moved. Management of the premises said their policy would not allow me to operate from there,” he explained.

The artist moved to Sunbird Mount Soche from where he started operating until 2011 when he moved to Lilongwe, where he operates at the Crossroads Hotel complex.n