A few years ago when I was first started working on this article, the question of what to say and where to even start had me stumped. Prior to this I’d have countless topics come to mind and suddenly not one when I needed it. Then it hit me. I’ve spent close to years working right alongside the well renowned Black Tip Crew and barely know their story. It only made perfect sense I find out and make this the first story I share.
My conversation with the BTC members Tebogo Cranwell and Karabo Maine revealed an interesting story of passion, fate and friendship.
1. Tell us how the The Black Tip Crew come to be?
Tebogo Cranwell: “Well we were friends first, Karabo, Leungo Tumedi and I. We lived and worked together. While living our lives and working our day jobs, we realized that we were also all artists and shared a mutual love and passion for drawing. It started out with us sharing ideas, inspirations, and cool stuff we found online. Then during one of our Bullsheep Fridays we decided on starting this collective. The irony is that Chopps, Maine & I united in the name of black ink and black tips while sipping Black & White Whiskey. It’s then when we toasted to becoming a supergroup of artists.”
2. The exploration of Black & White aesthetics is what your collective has become renowned for, was this an intentional decision?
Karabo Maine: “All three of us used the same mediums, filter pens and weren’t using very much color at the time. This lent itself towards a common thread between us and was all very organic. It was happenstance, happening in ‘happy coincidence’ way. So no, we didn’t ever sit down and decide on a specific style.”
3. Take us back to a time before BTC, what influenced your respective art styles?
Karabo Maine: “I read a lot of comic books, especially Mad Magazine. It informed my sense of humor and the lens I use to view the world. The level of precision and also speed these artists had is truly amazing. There’s also the likes of Alex Ross that I respect a lot and I do try, even now, to emulate that level of purpose and dedication in my own work. This all intersects with my photography background as well, both aspects feed into each other.”
Tebogo Cranwell: “I’ve always been drawn to the feminine and it wasn’t until I looked back at a lot of my work that I realised it all kind of looked like my mom. I guess in some primal way, it’s always been me reimagining my mom in different scenarios. Everything that I’ve drawn has been about women that I hold close to me and look up to.”
4. How the unification affect your respective artistic styles or practices?
Tebogo Cranwell: “It didn’t necessarily ‘change’ us. We all kind of stuck to what is was that we wanted to do and achieve with our art. I’ve always leaned towards exploring femininity sensuality and sexuality through fluid drawings and illustrations. Chopps however was heavily influenced the Setswana culture. He worked on multiple mediums, and married together contemporary art and the exploration of ancestry, heritage, and spirituality.”
Karabo Maine: “For me it’s been mainly portraiture, and it still is. Right now I’m focused on tightening my style and finding new ways to draw faces, and still on paper. I’ve opened up to the idea of transferring my art to digital platforms but it will always be truly about pen and paper for me.
5. Are there any practices that have become habitual during your respective creative processes?
Tebogo Cranwell: “I just like to have my headphones on. It doesn’t really matter what I’m listening too but I kind of like to isolate a little bit, just so I can wrap my head around an idea. Then when I feel comfortable I’ll get out of my cage and talk about it.”
Karabo Maine: “I listen to mostly Jazz. In most of my work I end up doing a lot of repetition with the patterns, the circles, the lines and so I’m not really trying to listen to anyone speak. I like Jazz cause I don’t have to be precious about if it’s the right song or not. I’ll just decide.. “Ok I’m listening to Miles today and this is what Miles and I are going to do today.’”.
Add images: *Tebogo Artwork 1 + Karabo Artwork 1
6. You both explore the human form quite extensively in your art. What inspires this?
Tebogo Cranwell: “I just think we’re are gorgeous. I am a woman, I’ve been surrounded by women all my life that I think are beautiful and I just try to shed some light that way… It’s how I see women, it’s how I appreciate them.”
Karabo Maine: “I don’t know I mean, it’s beats an animal body for me? Naah, I’m being silly. Portraiture has remained an art that can always be bended, and played with, and remixed, and turned on it’s head… yet at it’s core, is always about very paintedly ways of posing people.”
7. Speaking of inspirations, whose work do you admire locally?
Tebogo Cranwell: “Wilson Ngoni. His perspective lenses, technical ability, the themes he explores. It’s all really and truly beautiful, good-looking work.”
Karabo Maine: “Apart from present company for sure, I love the work of Meleko Mokgosi and the reach and impact it’s had.”
8. And if you could spend the day with any artist, who would it be and why?
Tebogo Cranwell: “Frida Kahlo! I want to get drunk with her, I think we’d have fun together.”
Karabo Maine: “Egon Schiele, and I don’t know why but I just want to hangout with him. You know?”
“Karabo is a Bad Man… A Badman because he just doesn’t stop. ’…Tebogo is sophisticated, I appreciate her aesthetics and the way she draws.”
Tebogo & Karabo describe each other as artists.
*Picture of Tebby & Maine
9. What are your thoughts on the journey so far?
Tebogo Cranwell: “Wow! It’s been a long time. I’ve learnt so much about myself, my craft, what I want for it and where I see myself with it. The picture is much clearer now and have definitely grown more confident. This change I think so very important to the growth of the BTC as well in that it evolves as we do.”
Karabo Maine: “I’ve improved the practical skill and gained confidence in my techniques. I’m actually at my most confident when drawing and so that’s what I need to do more of. I’m also learning to trust the process and how the ways in which we support each other will get us to where we need to be.”
10. The journey so far hasn’t been yours alone, can you speak to the involvement of Bullsheep, and this has aided your success so far?
Tebogo Cranwell: “It’s been a space of safety. In the sense that your dreams and aspirations don’t seem crazy here. That’s important, to be with likeminded people that see your vision. It’s also been very nurturing and encouraging. Everyone is so helpful and it’s always all hands-on deck. Without all this, without Bullsheep, our crew wouldn’t even exist. Also shout out to Botlhe for never letting anyone’s dreams die.”