We were lucky to catch up with Lorato Botshabelo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lorato thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I started my journey in Primary School where I used to draw on the board for my fellow classmates. I fell in love with art via Creative and Performing Arts lessons even though it was just basics.During my junior school years I could not make it to an Art as a subject class but that didn’t deter me. I would sometimes shade for my classmates until 2022 when I finally decided that I have to start. This came years after I tried running away from my creative calling .

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a combination of a budding academic with keen interest for the creative space. I am a multi-media artist who specializes more on painting ,street fashion and graphic design. When I started my journey I wanted to bridge the gap between high level consumers and lower level consumer by offering affordable art works and graphic t-shirts but I also found myself being one of the business owners who uses art as a medium of change. What I am most proud of is that I share my proceeds with my social project called Saúde Menstrual in attempts to reduce period poverty in Botswana. And this is something I want people to know about my brand. I am not just chasing revenue but I am creating social impact one sale at a time. Through my art works I also address social issues like gender based violence ,mental health and overrall self empowerment .

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To be free is a goal I have been sharing ever since I started my journey. I struggled a lot with my mental health and art has always been my source of therapy. With every brush stroke, every graphic design and heatpress I feel some sense of liberation from my mental health struggles. With time I have seen a transition from the chaotic art I produced to a calm art that many constantly relate to. I also want to show the world that art really saves and can change our communities if used right .

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society should start by sharing artists work. That’s the biggest form of support as one can feel seen and heard . Also it can help them reach a wider audience. Secondly, most artists are people who did not further pursue their education and this alone has created a problem where creatives hardly apply for funding as they do not have necessarily skills to see the business side of their talent. Most of us when we paint we do so because we are passionate but we truly need to be taught how to handle paper work,keep records of every transaction and above all run our enterprises in a way that they grow. And last one is for parents. Allow your children to explore their creative talent . Gone are the days where art was viewed as a hobby . Know that art can be a career for those who want to pursue it and pay for the services rendered by creatives .

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Amical de Poche Enterprise
• Linkedin: Lorato Botshabelo
• Twitter: https://x.com/Bots1325Lorato?t=lZHsLD6nSonoBInu7WYbcg&s=09