Eli Waduba Yusuf (a young Nigerian artist who draws portraits) created a black-and white pencil drawing of Kevin Hart, one of his favorite comedians.
It was one of his many original hyperrealism portraits, but this sketch, which took him two weeks to complete, was extra special because it featured his idol’s image.
“I have watched a lot of his movies, he’s my favorite comedian and I wanted to give him something as a gift as a way of saying thank you,” Yusuf told ABC News.
Yusuf has shared portraits of people as well as animals on social media. Hart was able to see the picture he shared on his Facebook and Twitter pages.
The pencil image received dozens of likes and shares on both Twitter and Facebook.
Yusuf attempted to get more attention two days later. This time, he posted Hart’s image and tagged his Twitter handle.
“Please retweet until @KevinHart4real sees it,” Yusuf wrote. “He’s one of my favorite comedian[s]Help a brother. Thank you.”
However, it was another failure.
He didn’t give up and posted another photo with Hart’s hyperrealistic drawing. He also tag his Twitter handle.
Yusuf also tagged the account of Arinze Stanley, a Nigerian hyperrealistic artist who inspired Yusuf to explore the genre.
“My name is Eli Waduba Yusuf. I am a Nigerian and live in Kaduna. I am a hyperrealism pencil artist, and hope to be like @Harinzeyart. Please Retweet, let @KevinHart4real see it, thank you,” he wrote.
Finally, the message reached its intended recipient.
Hart responded to one Twitter user, saying, “Talent out of this world… Wooooooooow,” and retweeted one of his followers who brought Yusuf’s artwork to his attention. He wrote a request, “Can somebody please tag me with this kids info … ”
Minutes later, Hart retweeted Yusuf’s Twitter post.
“I see it and I want to purchase it…I also want to support you and your amazing talent by giving you a fee to do a pencil drawing of 3 of my celebrity friends that I can gift it to. DM your info and let’s get to work!” wrote the Philadelphia native.
Hart also reached Yusuf via direct message on Twitter.
“I still can’t believe it; it feels like a dream. It’s been so overwhelming. Kevin Hart has just blew my mind,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf, who started to sketch portraits of people at the age of 8, also shared Hart’s request on his Facebook page.
Stanley, a self-taught hyperrealism artist, also took notice of Yusuf’s efforts to connect.
“I feel so graced to be able to inspire someone somewhere out there,” Stanley told ABC News. “To see people win is the ultimate deal in life, you don’t get a better feeling than that.”
Yusuf graduated Kaduna State Polytechnic from a degree in cooperative economys. Stanley and thousands more Twitter users followed him on Twitter, which was a joy for him.
“His work showed me the possibilities of art, so I decided that whatever I see I must replicate and do even better,” he told BBC about Stanley. “I made sure that every new work I do is better than the previous one.”
After his work became viral on Facebook and Twitter, Yusuf decided to create an Instagram account. Today, he has 24.9K Instagram followers.
“A lot has changed – a few days ago I was just a local artist who loved drawing and would have loved the world to see my work, but I didn’t know it would happen so fast,” Yusuf said.
A talent such as that deserves to be recognized by the entire world! Follow Eli Waduba Yusuf via Instagram TwitterVisit his website, Facebook and Facebook to learn more about his amazing artwork.
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