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Why art

For as long as I can remember, I have had art around me. I think
I owe it to my mum and dad. Dad bought art works each time he travelled and mum
has always been good with her hands. I grew up with all these beautiful
paintings, sculptures and figurines and I’ve always wondered how they are made
and how structures are formed.

I actually thought I would be an architectural engineer. I made
a lot of cardboard structures, but I fell in love with art more. Back then, I
had no idea that there was any monetary benefit to it, even up to when I gained
admission into Auchi Polytechnic.

Training

I received my basic training at Auchi Polytechnic where I
obtained an OND and HND in 1996 and 1999 respectively. I specialised in
Painting. Most people call it ‘Auchi Art School’ because of its popularity and
probably because it is also responsible for graduating most of the notable
names you hear in art, in the country today.

Medium

Any artist would naturally start with a pencil, graduate to
crayons then delve into water and poster colours, then build up to acrylics and
oils. All these mediums help to build the painter’s ability to manipulate and
master colour. I make use of mostly oil paint but I occasionally use other
mediums, not necessarily pigments.

Influences

My early influences in art were the things I saw around me. I
was exposed to renaissance paintings early in life, so I picked up interest in
that kind of art. I later got to see African arts in paintings and sculpture,
which I also found appealing. So, as renaissance art reflects the Western
culture and environment, and African art has its own depth, I decided to blend
both.

Inspiration

I get most of my inspiration from nature and history. The
natural selection of things has a way of exciting one’s senses. Sometimes, you
won’t see them unless you look from a certain angle or perspective. But believe
me, there’s always something of interest in even the most unlikely of places.

Best work

I would not say I have a best work, as I love all the works I
produce. But if you ask which work makes me smile each time I remember it, I
would say ‘Sax Tunes’. It’s a piece I painted in 2004.

Least satisfying work

“If an art work drags you on and on without a head or a tail,
give it an early death.” I’ve always had this at the back of my mind. I have
not really given any art work the satisfaction of being my least satisfying
work although there is no bad art work as far as I am concerned. I believe all
art is appealing. It just depends on the audience.

Career highpoint

None applicable.

Favourite artist living
or dead

There are very many people out there doing great things in art.
I bump into them very often. But my early favourites would be Leonardo Da
Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Nsikak Essien and Abraham Uyobvisere.

Ambitions

My ambition would be to create art that will appeal to as many
people as it possibly can- not only in my immediate environment but the world
over. Being an artist sometimes isn’t just enough. To be remembered as having
changed the way people think with respect to one another or provoked a certain
degree of thought and emotion in the world would be great.