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Showing posts from April, 2025

Seeds of a Creative Journey

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In the spring of 2019, a new chapter bloomed—quietly and with wonder. These six humble pieces, painted in the early days of discovery, capture my first dialogue with colour, form, and imagination. A slice of melon, pineapple, a banana, a potted tree, and a man-cup merging with nature—each image reflects the purity and honesty of observing the world as it is. They are not just studies of live objects; they are my first whispered steps into a broader universe of expression. Though the journey has since turned toward abstraction and landscapes, these works remain the roots—still pulsing with emotion, still whispering reminders of where it all began.

Shelter In The Storm

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Life becomes truly beautiful and fulfilling when we choose to live in harmony. At our core, we exist not in isolation but in relationship—with one another, with the world around us. We thrive through mutual understanding and support, recognising that our differences are not barriers but bridges. We live because others live. This textured abstract painting portrays three faceless human figures—one dark, one bronze, and one white—standing united beneath a large black umbrella. Each figure represents a unique identity, yet together they embody unity beyond division. Behind them swirls a stormy backdrop of red, white, and black—a chaotic world that mirrors life’s trials. And yet, the umbrella above serves as a powerful symbol of shared protection, togetherness, and quiet resilience. The rich textures carved into the canvas give the scene emotional depth, speaking to our human vulnerability—but also to the strength we find when we stand together. Take a moment to reflect. Wha...

Red Horizon

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When it comes to the use of colour in painting, Red Horizon stands out as one of my most inspiring and personal works. It captures the essence of a classic cloudy sky, reflecting the unpredictability of human behaviour during uncertain times. Each colour offers a glimpse into a different stage of my life: white signifies the innocence of morning and new beginnings; red conveys the vitality and ambition of youth; green represents growth, renewal, and a grounding connection to nature; grey speaks to the uncertain middle years, when identity feels fluid and unresolved; while yellow and black evoke depth, wisdom, and the profound mystery that awaits us all. I invite you to interpret this piece in your own personal way—and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Agbo-Olode

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This is one of my earliest paintings—an impressionist interpretation of Agbo-Olode , a traditional masquerade and a central figure in the annual festival of Ogidi Kingdom, Kogi State. I’ll never forget one particular day during the Agbo Festival when I was a child. That morning, I was on my usual round hawking àkàrà (bean cakes) for my mother when I caught sight of an approaching Agbo masquerade. Instinctively, I ran toward an elderly man nearby, hoping he would shield me. But before I could reach him, three more Agbo masquerades emerged from different directions, closing in fast. The man stood frozen, unable to protect me, and panic surged through me. I screamed and bolted toward home, the tray of àkàrà on my head slowing me down. In desperation, I flung it aside—the bean cakes scattered across the ground, and coins spilled from my pocket. I didn’t stop to look back. I ran all the way home, breathless but safe. For the rest of the festival, which still had a few days ...

Sanctuary of Learning

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Inspired by a quiet moment outside a school gate, this painting captures the grandeur of a historic building that once served as a medieval place of worship and now stands as a vibrant centre of education for over 1,500 pupils. The artist, moved by the architectural splendor and the building’s transformation from sacred sanctuary to scholastic stronghold, uses earthy tones and luminous crosses to honour its spiritual roots. Beneath a swirling, star-filled night sky, the structure becomes a symbol of continuity—where faith, knowledge, and legacy converge. This work invites viewers to reflect on how places evolve over time, yet remain deeply rooted in purpose and inspiration.

The Lonely Planet

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This is a painting by my 7-year old granddaughter titled "The Lonely Planet. I dare say she has an eye for beauty—and a heart full of creativity. If I’ve passed on anything worthwhile to the next generation, I hope it’s this sense of wonder, spontaneity, and belief that expression has no expiry date. It’s a beautiful thing to watch someone so young create something so meaningful. It reminds me that while age brings wisdom, youth brings courage. And both are needed in art—and in life.

Beneath the Cocoa Trees

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                          The Cocoa Trees  This painting was inspired by my deep personal affinity with cocoa. My father, along with his siblings and close friends, had leased a large hectare of land for the cultivation of cocoa and other cash crops in Ẹda, in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria. The plantation was a vital source of funding for our education. In fact, my father’s ownership of the farm, located far from our village, gave me my first experience of travelling by lorry. I remember watching trees speeding past, a dazzling and unforgettable experience. For us children, the excitement of the journey often outweighed the purpose behind it. During school holidays, we would travel with my father—sometimes my mother—and many members of our extended family. We would leave early in the morning, often in a lorry that had journeyed all the way from Ikarẹ, about 25 miles away. As we departed, the whole vill...

Eruption of Emotions

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  This abstract painting radiates intense emotional energy and dynamic motion. It resembles an explosion erupting from a central point, sending out layered, forceful lines that generate a powerful sense of movement and tension. The artwork captures a moment of profound inner release—an eruption of emotion made visible. Viewers are invited to interpret it through their own lens, whether as a reflection of passion, chaos, or transformation.

My Art

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My art is a deeply personal journey through memory, emotion, and imagination. I paint with spontaneity, often starting with nothing more than a feeling or a burst of colour. The landscapes that emerge are not always literal—they are visual reflections of life’s stages, spiritual energy, and the contrasts between my rural African upbringing and my urban adult experiences. I am continually drawn to the horizon—where land meets sky, where day fades into night, and where the familiar gives way to the mystical. Sunset and open space are recurring motifs in my work, echoing memories of my childhood in rural Nigeria, where the close of day was a sacred time for beauty and reflection.              Celestial Dance of Particles I believe life is never over until it’s truly over. That belief fuels my desire to keep learning, to unlearn what no longer serves me, and to create with passion, freedom, and joy. Through my work, I hope to inspire others ...

About Me

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I’m a self-taught painter who discovered the joy of painting later in life—at 70, to be exact. What started as a spontaneous experiment quickly became a deeply personal journey. I had no formal training, only a 20-week course in a local college, a lifetime of memories, emotions, and a profound connection to nature to guide my brush. I spent my early years in rural Nigeria, tending cattle under wide-open skies that left a permanent impression on my soul. Those early scenes—sunsets, silhouettes of trees, the hush of twilight—live on in my work. Later, life took me to cities like Lagos and London, where I built a career, raised a family, and explored different paths. But the urge to create, to speak through colour and form, waited patiently until the time was right. Now, I paint from a place of freedom—driven by instinct, memory, and mood. My style leans toward abstract and impressionist, often capturing landscapes, cosmic ideas, or the emotional resonance of open space. Ev...

The Heart That Birthed the Universe

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There are moments when a painting feels less like something I created and more like something that revealed itself to me. The Heart That Birthed the Universe is one of those moments. This piece came from a place beyond words—a deep, internal pulse I can only describe as cosmic. I didn’t set out to paint the universe. I didn’t plan the colours or the structure. I simply began with a feeling: a sense of something vast, silent, and full of energy—like a heart quietly beating at the centre of everything. The painting evolved around a central form: not quite a heart in the anatomical sense, but a symbolic one. Radiating from it are lines, threads, and bursts—forms that remind me of galaxies, particles, rays of light, or even the veins of time itself. I used a mix of white, red, gold, and darker tones to create contrast, motion, and mystery. To me, it feels like a moment of birth, of sacred expansion—the very beginning of something eternal. Looking at it now, I see my own journe...

Ogidi’s Quiet Wonder

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This painting, Ogidi’s Quiet Wonder, was inspired by a deeply spiritual and serene moment I experienced with my wife in Ogidi, Nigeria, in August 2019. It was around 8 p.m., and we were sitting on the front balcony of our countryside home, immersed in a quiet heart-to-heart conversation, when the moon suddenly rose and cast its luminous glow across Ayọnrọ Mountain. The sight stunned us—it felt like time paused, and the hand of God revealed a piece of heaven. I quickly took a photo, not wanting the moment to slip away. Upon returning to the UK, I translated that fleeting beauty into this 75 x 60 cm acrylic painting on canvas. Today, it hangs in my bedroom and is the first thing I see each morning—a daily reminder of God’s wonder and the grace to witness such beauty. "Beauty is the nature of God," and this piece is my expression of that truth.

Welcome to My World of Colours and Contemplation

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Some journeys begin in bustling cities or academic halls. Mine began under the open skies of rural Africa, where I herded cattle as a young boy, absorbing the rhythms of nature and the silent poetry of dusk and dawn. Decades later, after a life woven with experiences across Nigeria and the UK, I found myself picking up a brush—driven not by ambition, but by a spontaneous need to express what words could no longer contain. I began painting at 70. What started as a quiet experiment has blossomed into a deeply fulfilling artistic adventure. My work—often abstract, sometimes impressionist—reflects not only the landscapes I’ve known but also the shifting states of memory, emotion, and time. Sunset scenes, open skies, forgotten paths, and the contrast between rural stillness and urban complexity all find a voice in my art. Through this blog, I invite you into that world. Here, I’ll share the stories behind my paintings, the moments that sparked their creation, and the...