In the vibrant community of Lenasia South, a self-taught digital portraiture artist, Shaheen Pillay, is gaining attention with his distinctive style that blends realism and animation.
At 37, Pillay’s creative journey has evolved from a childhood love of drawing to a full-fledged passion for art.“I’ve been drawing since I was a kid. My dad, Saleem, always encouraged me to pursue it,” Pillay shares, reflecting on his earliest memories of sketching.
Over the years, he transformed his casual doodles into serious art through dedication and practice, all without any formal training.
“I’m completely self-taught. I downloaded free resources, studied hard, and put in the work,” he told GLOBE POST.
Pillay specialises in stylized portraits, finding a balance between realism and the fluidity of animation. His focus has been on refining his craft and developing a unique style, which he hopes will catch the attention of art enthusiasts at the highly anticipated Comic Con 2025.
Although this year’s competition, hosted by local anime merchandise company Craft Singh, may not have seen Pillay selected, he remains undeterred. His goal is to exhibit his work at next year’s Comic Con.Beyond his passion for portraiture, Pillay also takes commissions and offers graphic design services, drawing on his background as a web developer and server technician. While his primary medium is digital, he occasionally returns to traditional forms, using pencil and paper to create intricate hand-drawn pieces.
“I work from home, balancing art and fatherhood, and there’s nothing that excites me more than drawing,” Pillay enthuses.
His mission is not only to improve his own skills but also to support fellow artists on their creative journeys.
To explore Pillay’s work or commission a piece, visit his website at www.shanosart.co.za, or follow him on Instagram and Threads @shanos.art, and on Facebook at Shano’s Art.
