Draw My Life 

Jono. Thank you so much for relating this story. When one is on a creative path, it’s enormously helpful and comforting to hear the life story of others who are finding success. Your story and your work are both truly inspiring.

Why do I feel emotional after watching this video!!! Truly "Behind every person's success comes by its great story!!!" keep up the good work Jono!!! We certainly LOVE your art! ☺☺☺

I teared up hearing about the loss of your mother's studio. Recently, I was in the middle of what was to be my debut into my first series for an exhibition in a local gallery that hosts international events. I was so excited to get started, especially as a "peasant artist" with no formal training, working in graphite. I was in the middle of moving homes when my son was hospitalized with a brutal respiratory illness and double pneumonia. For the greater part of the month, I had to stay away from my family to actively help my son survive, holding his confused body down for treatments day and night. When I returned, I had to pack up my studio and move it to my new home. During the move, my works were destroyed, and my son got hit with covid shortly after. I've been struggling to get back on course, especially with my baby's newfound fear of being left alone. Hopefully, one day, I can start over on these works and continue my life-long dream of being an artist. There is a huge sacrifice to career options becoming a mother. Thank you for recognizing your mother and what she has gone through. You're a wonderful son.

I loved how he used the intro after the video. It totally matched the idea of how you emerged from bottom to top. And at last came to be known as the artist Jono dry

Im too emotional 😭... You've really come far in your career, you also have a long way to go.

Your struggle to have a sustained income as an artist was definitely worth appreciating I still remember the amazement I had when I first started watching your videos 3 years ago

Wow that is awesome!!! Hope to get there one day. Beautiful ❤

Your Editor is the best

So much underrated 😭 may God bless you 🙏

Excellent works of Art

I do pencil drawing might be the understatement of the year. Moah😚

Always waiting for your vedio😊

What a WONDERFUL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL “SKETCH” of a fairly AMAZING life!!!

YES! Such a great way to start the weekend. Thank you for sharing your story with us. You are an incredible artist and person.

You are AWESOME !!! Thank you.

I am so honored to be on this Earth while we both are. Meaning………….from the 17th Century to now I only met other gifted Artist. 🎄You dear Gent , I wish you the finest of all your first Love in life.🐝

At this point you are my favourite artist on RU-vid.

I am happy for you man you deserve more

WOW sir. U r life has so many ups and downs but honestly the struggle u did is really good and i think u have got the right reward for it. Many times we say it but still sir, ur drawings are so good and u really motivate us. Best o luck sir, i hope u achieve more success. Love from india

Jono! Besides having a love for drawing, we have another thing in common. Its quite funny because i was a premature baby born in the 7th month and also had to be kept in a glass box for a month. The doctors said I had little chance of surviving but well, here i am! And I'm glad I get to admire your art while I'm at it.

Jonathan your path has delighted and inspired me. I watch your creativity. Good luck

Art therapy 🔥🔥🔥

I'm so glad that you made it to where you are, Jono. It is hard enough to move countries once, let alone several times over, as well as keeping the artistic dreams you have alive while the whole pandemic happened. Wish you the best on the rest of your journey! 😊 💜

What I admire the most about artists is their courage! Not only sharing their insides, the pure essence of who they are with the world, risking to be judged, misunderstood, cornered, even rejected, but to manage life without any safety net that is offered by an ordinary nine to five job (I'm sure you often work so many more hours than that!). I wish I had that courage. Art always was dear to me, but I couldn't find myself being courageous enough to follow through. Something I really regret.

My heart! Special, special, one of a kind Jono

Perhaps the most interesting video on your channel as of now.

Your dedication to art is inspiring. You will never have an upper limit to what you can do.

Thing about you.. And why i love your work and all that, is that you are so transparent. And more especially because because you are a South African and you are giving me hope and belief in my talent and show me that its possible for me if i work so hard... Yes you are an inspiration because im also South African

What a story this story really tells us that never give up on life we never know what is waiting in the future.

Thankyou Jono….found your story very interesting….you deserve all the good things your art brings you 💕

Great, inspired 🙏

Thanks jono for inspiring us ,you are always consistent in your work, much luv.💯❤

Thank you. It's inspiring how many times you've pushed through the tough and no doubt painful times, and come out better on the other side!

Really nice, sometimes probably struggling times ... thanks for sharing your lifestory, youre an inspiring person and for sure your work! It made me going back to my own art and trying to get better in hyperrealism ... thank you for that. All best wishes for you guys! Sebastian

Thanks for sharing. That was quite a journey.

Thank you, Jono, for sharing your story and how you got to this stage in your career. It's so inspiring to hear about your journey and so encouraging to everyone to keep going no matter how hard things sometimes get. Thank you 😍❤

Congratulations Jono, you can be proud of what you achieved. Please continue ;)

What an enjoyable video!...really nice to get to know you better and hear your story buddy. Its an amazing triumph to of accomplished what you have, with ups and downs along the way and the traumas you have tolerated. Sometimes the mental struggle is so much more of a challenge than doing the actual work...total respect to you my friend! As always, thanks for sharing your life with us 👍

This was so inspiring for me....Thank you so much for sharing your story with us...I loved it....and I hope you will come up with more of your drawings and videos...lots of love to you...🖤🤝

Jono , i found you like 4 months ago and your videos are amazing. Youre a huge inspiration and your art is beyond incredible. I plan to make art just like you one day. Your story is so interesting. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Thank you for sharing your art life journey with us. It is inspiring to see your dreams come true ♡.

Engaging video, great back story, thanks for sharing.

Thank you for the video. I have been watching you develop your work and path for some time now. So happy that you have never given up and you have just kept going. Well done :-)

Yes we know you do pencil drawings which we love sssssssoooooooooo much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

What a great video. Thank you for sharing

Love your work Jono! Hope you keep on keeping on!

You have really given me courage and motivation over the past few months, and I have taken my art skills more serious than ever

This is absolutely beautiful Jono!

That's cool I live in Hermanus

That was so wonderfully interesting. I like that you decided to share more of your story. You are such an incredibly talented artist. And it seems that it runs in the family since you mentioned your mother. I hope she's gotten back into art as well. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Loved the video, thank you for sharing your journey with us!

Thank you for sharing your story. I found your creative journey very encouraging, I love your work so much :-) It was because of your that I was inspired to draw with graphite, I was blown away by what could be achieved with a pencil. I was 62 years old at the time, and although I will never be able to attain your level of skill, I enjoy what I am able to achieve. I'm sincerely grateful for the way that you bare your soul and share of yourself.

Beautiful 👍❤️ Thanks Jono...

I'm so happy that you made such a video 😭 awesome idea

Thank you for sharing a piece of your journey. I find your artwork mesmerizing and wish you a lifetime of success!

What a ride! Congrats on sticking with it and achieving the successes that you have. Appreciate you sharing. Wishing you much continued success 👏🏻❤️

Thats very hearttouching. Big handshake to you Jono. Such a journey. 🤝

Beautiful story.

Woah! U r so creative man!😉It's the first time I saw this type of life story with the help of drawing! That's amazing 😍😍

thank u jono ur a great inspiration

Congrats on your continued growth and expansion! Been a big fan for some time

This is the first time I've seen how you hold your pencil - extraordinary! Great vid, Thanks! 🙃😊

It havent been easy, but now your work is perfect .

Passionnant, merci pour ce partage, merci pour votre oeuvre ! BRAVO💐🥰

Amazing story your art journey

Nostalgia hits me hard with the draw my life. Man did you have an interesting life

Woah!! Inspiring✨

So interesting 😎

Been craving this Jono 😘😘😘 Thank you 🥰

You r one of the few artists that is capable of doing miracles

I don't know if you did it on purpose but I love the way your drawing evolve through the entire video, like your art I guess. I really like your art, that requires so much skills and patience, very impressive !

This is your autobiographical storyboard ♥ ¡I love your channel, Jono! Always constructive, pleasant, without repetition. You are not a trend, you are novelty ✨

Fabulous ❤️

Mom: OMG my studio burned down Jono: Don't worry it will make a cool metaphor for my video one day.

Thanku so much sir for explaining ur life.... sweet n unforgettable memories....💐💐🙏🙏Bappa bless u

Love this channel 🖤.

Wow so beautiful ☹️❤️

I'm always a Huge fan and will always be.... Your works and this video is really inspiring... 🔥🔥🔥

Your voice is just so calming 😻

Every time life threw a curveball you have come out stronger. Keep at it. You have a long way to go. All the best Jono. All of us are here cheering you on.

This was sick. I really enjoyed how the art got better as if it was growing with you it was a cool touch. Keep up the amazing work.

You are a great artist

Really inspiring

Oh my god! Been waiting for a video like this for sooo long🥺…. I haven’t watched it but i know it’s gonna be great! THANKS A LOT💜

thanks for sharing your story...im really inspired

What an awesome story...even the simple doodle drawings told the story nicely

This was so awesome to hear some of your back story! I feel like I'm just as invested to you as to your art. I loved the way you drew the like button at the end too. (:

Wow so beautiful

dropped drawing when I was young because art equipment was very expensive and didn't have extra money for it. When I see you throw giant high quality papers my heart hurts :)) I love your works.. I think i am your very early subscriber.. Please draw more.. Your works satisfy my soul.. peace from overseas!

This is amazing i wannna something like this too ❤️❤️

When ur favorite artist post a video ❤❤❤❤

Woooow!!!! Thank you for opening up your life to us and for me this video took it all for me because so much I learn from you including getting to know you... I understand it must've been hard day's passing through all tragic situation during at young age and as you speak about bullying and being at School of special yep me too and I learned to embrace life by following love for art too just at now beginner level and I am excited to keep learning as I already begun with your Channel. God ever bless you highly meet you with nothing but a beautiful journey ... And my mind still thinking like wow you know Zulu. Impressive life you lived and life it's interesting journey I tell you. Didn't know you also lived in my town and this video I enjoyed especially sketching on a sketchbook

As someone suffering from Depression and some other "issues" i relate to your Art a lot

Amazing Work

Incredible drawing impressive thanks for sharing.

Dammn! man seriously your drawing is beautiful i can't stop after seeing your drawing! Yeah beautiful man!

Keep up your amazing life and work. The nasty school bullies are probably being bullied by their bosses or wives as we speak... It's called, karma.

Really great story ❤️😇

Thanks for sharing!

Nice bro 👍❤️🤘😊