How My Art Portrait Caught Kevin Hart’s Attention – Eli Waduba Yusuf

Nigerian artist, Eli Waduba Yusuf, is making headlines after his pencil drawing of Hollywood comedian, Kevin Hart, went viral with the star acknowledging the work. The 26-year-old Chikun, Kaduna State-born artist spoke in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust about his sudden rise to fame, and more.DT: How did you get into art? Eli Waduba Yusuf: I started drawing when I was eight. I used one of my 12 notebooks for drawing cartoons. I took 11 subjects and used one of my notebooks to draw. I however faced some challenges after my junior secondary school with my dad. He wanted me to study a course like Medicine, Law, Engineering or something like that, but not art. I began battling with going to art or science class. I ended up going to art class but didn’t get into polyethnic for art. I ended up studying Cooperative Economics and Management. I did my first two years and I was supposed to do my one-year industrial attachment. I become confused because I never really had it in mind to work for anyone. I was thinking of what to learn and went for tailoring but, my mind was still on being an artist. Then I stumbled on Arinze Stanley’s work and I couldn’t believe it was done by hand. I said if he could do this, then I can also do it. I started practicing and I tried to beat my record. Every day, I tried to do better than the day before. Along the way my dad had to accept and support me. I remember he had to sell a plot of land to send me to training college at Ungwan Mai Gero, Kaduna, to learn to paint and draw. He bought my kit and all I needed. But at some point, I had to return back home to continue to practise here.DT: Why did you decide to draw Kevin Hart? Yusuf: I have always liked Kevin Hart. I watch a lot of African American movies and love his work. I just felt this is someone I admire. I never knew it would get out of this country. I decided to draw him. One, I like him, I got a good picture of him. It took me two weeks to do the portrait. I had customers’ works to do, also. I would drop his to do theirs, and then come back to his.DT: What was on your mind when you started? Yusuf: When I started, I told myself, Eli you are not good in Mathematics or office work. Go for your passion. You can try it, you don’t know what will come out of it. It is something that can take you anywhere. I decided that since I had the talent, I would work on it. I got to a point where I was discouraged because people were not coming. I was tempted to get a job, but changed my mind. Even if nobody was coming, I would be doing my personal work. When I decided to draw him, I had a strong belief that he may see it but I didn’t know when. I was encouraged to go ahead with it, not knowing what would come out of it. When I finished it, I posted it on Facebook and asked people to help me share. A friend asked me to open a Twitter account and tag him, which I did. To my surprise I saw over 3, 000 reactions within two days. It was so shocking. I never thought it would go far this quick.
DT: Could you describe those first moments when you saw his response? Yusuf: (Laughter) I saw someone’s screenshot with his comment because I was not on Twitter at the time and didn’t know he saw it. I began thinking if it was a scam and someone trying to play a fast one on me. Fortunately, I saw his direct message and that he had followed me back. I said, ‘Jesus Christ, is this for real?’Photo Credit: Getty

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