Graphite and charcoal artist Rachel has spent three years turning ordinary pencils into portraits that carry memory, love, and endurance. She works only in black, white, and grey- no color at all and still manages to make paper feel alive. This is her story, in her own words.
Who are you, and what does your day-to-day look like as a graphite and charcoal artist? What brought you to these mediums, and what made you commit to them fully?
I am a Nigerian female artist who has been developing my practice for the past three years, primarily working with graphite and charcoal. My journey began back in secondary school. I remember seeing realistic artworks created with the same pencils I used every day, and it always amazed me that something so simple could create something that looked alive.
I struggled with pen at first. I watched tutorials and tried to understand the medium, but no matter how much I tried, I didn’t feel connected to it. Pencils felt different. They were affordable and accessible to me at the time, and that taught me that I didn’t have to wait for the perfect tools before I could start creating.
So I started with ordinary pencils, and from there, I chose to stay with them. As I practiced, I began to see myself creating the illusion of life on a flat sheet of paper. Even when my work wasn’t perfect, seeing people marvel at what I had created encouraged me to keep going.
Today, my everyday life as an artist can be challenging because I constantly have this urge to improve—not just technically, but also in my ability to speak through my drawings. I create artworks that I get paid for, including commissions that capture memories for people and their loved ones. Being trusted to turn something meaningful to someone into a physical artwork means a lot to me, and it makes all the effort behind the process worth it.
What started with ordinary pencils because they were what I could afford has grown into something much deeper. Graphite and charcoal have become the mediums through which I challenge myself, tell stories, preserve memories and communicate emotions without necessarily needing words.
Wow, from an ordinary childhood interest to a deep passion for expression
We have to ask, your work uses only shades of black, white, and grey—no colour at all. What is it about working that way that speaks to you, and what does it let you express that colour might not?
For me, black, white, and grey have a sense of timelessness. They don’t feel tied to a particular period or trend, and I think that gives the work a quality that can continue to speak to people beyond a specific moment. I’ve been encouraged by people to explore colour, and I don’t rule out doing that someday, but for now, I find that working without it allows me to focus more deeply on the artwork itself.
Without colour telling the viewer what to feel or where to look, the expression, values, textures, and details have to carry the message. I like that challenge. I want people to look at my work and first connect with the subject, the emotion and the story—not simply the colours used to represent them. To me, black and white isn’t the absence of colour; it is another way of making expression speak.
Hmmmmm, this is very deep
So what’s been the hardest part of building this craft—technically, financially, or in getting people to see it as finished art rather than a step toward “real” work? What has that struggle taught you?
Honestly, one of the first difficult things was convincing my parents that art was something I genuinely wanted to pursue. I believe that is a challenge many Nigerian artists can relate to. Once I had their support, I started with very little as a self-taught artist, which came with its own difficulties. I had to teach myself and improve by constantly watching tutorials, practicing, making mistakes and trying again.
Financially, I relied on money I had saved from school and a few commissions from friends to keep getting the materials I needed. It wasn’t much, but I learned to make the most of what I had rather than waiting until I had everything. As I continued, another challenge became getting my work seen. Social media introduced a different kind of struggle—creating the work was one thing, but getting people to discover it was another. There were times when the effort I put into a piece didn’t seem to match the attention it received. But those experiences have taught me persistence. I’ve learned that building as an artist is not only about improving your skill; it’s also about being patient with the process, finding ways to keep creating with limited resources, and continuing to show up even when the response isn’t immediate.
That can be a bit of a discouragement, but we like the persistency.
What’s something you’re proud of from the past year—a piece, a breakthrough, a first sale, a moment when you realized, “This is actually working”?
As a young artist, making sales can be difficult, so I don’t measure my progress only by how much I’ve sold. One of the biggest breakthroughs for me has been the opportunity to communicate and interact with great artists. Being able to have conversations with people whose work and experience I admire has made me realize that I’m gradually finding my place within the art community.
I’m also particularly proud of my latest artwork, Imperishable. Check it out HERE
The piece explores love and marriage from the perspective of endurance. I wanted it to challenge the way we often think about love—that it is only about the beautiful moments, when in reality, enduring through difficult seasons is also part of what makes love meaningful. Creating that piece made me realize that I don’t just want to make drawings that look realistic. I want my work to carry ideas and make people pause, think, and perhaps see something differently.
So where do you want this to go? Do you see yourself staying focused on graphite and charcoal, or expanding into other forms? What kind of recognition or impact are you hoping to build?
At my current stage, I look forward to seeing my artworks gain international recognition. I want my work to reach people beyond my immediate environment and to be recognized for the stories, emotions, and ideas behind it. But beyond recognition, I also dream of becoming a safe space for beginner artists. I remember being self-taught and having to learn through whatever resources I could find, so I love the idea of sharing what I’ve learned with others who are just starting.
If I can make someone’s journey a little easier by teaching what I’ve learnt, that would mean a lot to me. At the same time, I don’t want to limit myself to only one form of art forever. Graphite and charcoal will always be an important part of my artistic identity, but I’d love to explore other forms, particularly painting and digital art. I see my journey as something that can continue to evolve while still carrying the same purpose: using art to communicate and connect with people.
When someone encounters your work for the first time, what do you hope they feel or understand about you, your subjects, or what graphite and charcoal can do?
I want people to feel emotionally connected to my work, but also full of curiosity. I can’t completely decide what someone will feel when they encounter an artwork, because everyone brings their own experiences and perspectives to what they see.
What I hope for is that my work is worth stopping for. I want someone to look beyond the surface, become curious about what the artwork is saying, and take a moment to understand the story or emotion behind it. For me, graphite and charcoal are capable of much more than simply creating realistic images. They can carry memories, emotions, and ideas. If someone can pause in front of my work and feel that there is something worth discovering, then I believe the artwork has done something meaningful.
Rachel’s story is a reminder that great art doesn’t wait for perfect conditions — it starts with whatever you have and grows from there. From a few pencils to portraits that carry memory and meaning, her journey is proof that persistence outlasts perfection.
Want to discover more stories like this? Click here to read more stories from the artists and craftpreneurs redefining what it means to build a creative life across Africa.
