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Why Art?

I attended a seminar once and the presenter, Mike Murdock, said
that in life you will be best known for what you love doing and not what you
have to do. One of the things I love doing is art.

Training

I finished from Yaba College of Technology in 1997 with a
diploma and since then, I had practised as a full-time artist, until I got a
job as a lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos, where I
lecture in Art.

Medium

I use a wide variety of media, but my favourite is oil on canvas
and pastels. I also enjoy drawing.

Influences

When I started, one of my major influences was Michelangelo and
Leonardo. As I began to grow, I did my industrial attachment with Abraham
Uyovbisere, who was a major influence. Gradually, I began to carve out my
niche. I enjoy the philosophies of Eugene Delacroix and the French poet,
Charles Baudelaire. I enjoy their philosophies about life.

Inspirations

Some of my inspirations come from personal experiences I have
encountered and the desire to put them on canvas [for the viewer]. Inspiration
also comes from nature. I have done a lot of projects in places like the Apapa
Port and Ekiti Hills. I find inspiration in almost everything. If you have a
third eye you will be inspired one way or the other.

Best work so far

I have not created a best work yet. I have done a series of
projects and one of the ones I enjoy most is my ‘Ado Ekiti’ painting. I also
did a mural for MTN and during my solo exhibition, I did an assemblage which is
the map of Nigeria. The best is yet to come, but these are the landmarks in my
career that I appreciate.

Least satisfying work

I have learnt from the experiences of old masters that if I made
a painting that I am unsatisfied with, after a while I create a new painting on
top of the bad one.

So, the underlined painting forms some kind of texture, which
helps the new painting. So, I don’t have a least satisfying one; under every
painting, there is probably another one.

Favourite artist, living
or dead

Michelangelo was a great man. When you look at his works you see
how he has imprinted himself in the hearts of people, bringing a deep sense of
emotional feelings, especially in the work of ‘Adam receiving life from God’,
and the way he has been able to even recreate God showing Him from His
backside.

There are so many great things about the man. His legacy is
untouched by any living artist in terms of what he has been able to do.

Career high point

I have not reached there yet.

Ambitions

To be the best that I can be, which means I’m to look into
myself and search out the areas yet to be explored. It is a continuous process;
it’s a journey, and the desire to suddenly turn left requires a great deal of
courage.