Miniature Painting Series ("Omele")

 "Omele". 16"x16", Acrylic on canvas. 2025.

This painting titled "Omele" is an abstract painting that further explored the synchronisation of lines, colours and forms. Omele is a descriptive name for a distinctive Yoruba drum. Juxtaposition of design elements pushes the narrative towards subjective interpretation.

The Omele drum plays a vital role in the group of Yoruba drums. In Yoruba culture, drums like Omele are not just musical instruments but vessels for communication, storytelling, and spiritual connection.

Significantly, Omele drums are a set of small drums beaten with a distinctive curved stick, typically used in ensembles to create complex rhythms and polyrhythms. There are different types of Omele drums, including Omele Ako and Omele Abo, each with its unique role in the ensemble. Omele Ako is often a group of three small differently pitched drums tied together and played by a single player, while Omele Abo is a double-headed drum that produces a unique tone.

Omele drums work together with other drums like the Iya Ilu to create a rich and dynamic sound. The Iya Ilu sets the pace and rhythmic style, while the Omele drums add flavor and texture with their fixed pitches and varied tones. This interplay between drums creates a captivating musical experience. Omele drums are used in various cultural contexts, including, Wedding ceremonies, . Traditional coronations, and Festivals. Omele drums are an integral part of Yoruba festivals, adding to the vibrant atmosphere and cultural celebration.

Conclusively, the Omele drum is a vital component of Yoruba music and culture, serving as a symbol of tradition, community, and artistic expression. Its unique sound and role in Yoruba ensembles make it an essential part of Nigeria's rich cultural heritage.

Miniature Series ("Iyun-Ade" (Crown Jewel).

"Iyun-Ade". 16"x16", Acrylic on canvas.

 Miniature Acrylic Painting. Metaphorically symbolic of the place of a virtuous woman in man's life:

"Iyun-Ade" (Crown Jewel). 16"x16", Acrylic on canvas. 2025.

The Crown: A Timeless Symbol of Power and Elegance

The crown is a majestic and iconic form of jewellery that has adorned the heads of royalty, nobility, and even deities for centuries. This regal headpiece is not only a stunning work of art but also a potent symbol of power, wealth, and prestige. From ancient civilizations to modern times, the crown has evolved in design, materials, and significance, yet its allure and majesty remain unchanged.

The crown holds significant cultural and historical importance in the context of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria. In Yoruba culture, crowns are not just decorative pieces but symbols of authority, power, and spiritual connection.

Crowns are worn by kings (Obas) and chiefs in Yoruba society, signifying their authority and power. The crown is a visual representation of the wearer's status and role in the community.

Crowns are believed to possess spiritual powers, connecting the wearer to the divine. In Yoruba mythology, the crown is associated with the gods and ancestors, and is thought to hold mystical powers.

Crowns are an integral part of Yoruba cultural heritage, reflecting the tribe's rich history and artistic traditions. Yoruba crowns are renowned for their intricate designs, featuring beads, metals, and other materials. Crowns showcase the artistic skills of Yoruba craftsmen, who intricately design and adorn the crowns with symbolic motifs and patterns.

The crown, in the context of Yoruba culture and beyond, can be metaphorically related to the place of a woman in a man's life in several ways such as:

1. Adornments and Beauty: Just as a crown adorns the head, a woman can be seen as a precious gem that adds beauty and value to a man's life.

2. Support and Strength: A crown provides structural support and strength to the head, much like how a supportive woman can provide emotional strength and stability to a man's life.

3. Symbol of Honor: In many cultures, a crown is a symbol of honor and respect. Similarly, a woman can be a source of pride and honor for a man, bringing joy and fulfillment to his life.

4. Partnership and Unity: Just as a crown is placed upon the head, a woman can be seen as a partner who complements and completes a man, forming a unified whole.

This metaphorical connection highlights the importance and value of women in men's lives, emphasizing their roles as sources of beauty, strength, support, and partnership.

#woman #loved #delicious #light #crown #sweet #illusion

Ball-point Pen Drawing to Painting

"Je nwi temi" Ballpoint Pen on paper, 2019.

"Je nwi temi" Acrylic on canvas, 2020

 Sometimes the creative journey takes a definite direction from a particular viewpoint with the end view clearly mapped out. However, unplanned diversions in time and space take the journey into limitless boundaries that could either make or mar the exploration exercise on the long run.

The drawing above was a product of colourful experiments with Ballpoint Pen on paper. Previous drawings had been rendered in lone colour.

Sometimes in 1996 when I was seriously engrossed in the drawing escapade at Zaria School of Art, Sculptor Kehinde Adewuyi (MFA student), my host then at 200 level, suggested that I should look into having multiple coloured drawings. Very caring suggestion, but I didn't bother to try it because I was still enjoying  the output and quite satisfied with the lone colour.

Years later, early 1999, I started series of colourful Pen drawings that has taken different dimensions of exploration till date. Most of them are in my private collections with the intention to create supporting acrylic or oil paintings like the one I have here as time and space permits.

This genre theme is a narrative relating to life of growing female adults in the rural settings where the local river or stream is the only source of water supply. Late afternoon finds them in group visitation to the stream. Opportune time to iron out strife or settle old grievance, behind the hut, along the path or by the running stream.

The drawing was executed on full imperial Strathmore paper in 1999, while the acrylic painting was created the following year on canvas measuring 74cm x 98cm.

The two artworks are available for collection together.

NB: Comments and criticism are welcome in food faith. Thanks for perusing this piece of write-up. 

Best regards.

Ballpoint Pen Drawing (Growing Hair)

"Growing Hair", Ballpoint Pen on Paper, 2020

 My immediate family has always been a source of inspiration for some of my genre themes. This particular drawing inspired the Hairdresser acrylic painting series I've been exploring for awhile now.

Titled " Growing Hair ", this study expresses the mother's believe in assisting the girl child to hasten the hair's growth through regular loosing and plaiting.

It was rendered with Bic ball-point pen, red, blue and black on Strathmore drawing paper 114 g/m2. Size is 59,4 x 41,9 cm. 2020.

NB. Available for collection

Illusion of less rain, extremely cold days ahead of winter

Sometimes we do not know why certain things are the way they were, and all we could do as artist is to rationalize it in our explorative platforms.

This narrative started some months later in the year 2023 in anticipation of times of abundant rain, only to find ourselves in the year 2024 enshrouded in an atmosphere that is almost related to the Antarctica space.

the painting is still in its foundation stages, open for extended explorations.

I hope to keep this conversation going until the work is finally completed.Warm and cold colour contrast expresses the desire of the mind, spirit, soul, and body at extreme encounter with otherwise harsh season.

"Sheltered" 66.5 cm x 122.5 cm. Acrylic on Canvas

Synchronization of line, colour, and form.

 Painting explorations with motifs from music is enshrouded in boundless possibilities. My recent encounter around this space opened up the exploration of the foregoing with narratives that relegated the object to the background where the chosen elements are brought forth for emphasis.

The two paintings presented here are the beginning of a project programmed to be unveiled before the year 2024 runs out.

NB. Concrete criticism is welcome in the comments. The paintings are still on the easel for further attention. 

"Konga" 120.5 cm x 82.5cm Acrylic on canvas

"Sound & Mind" 66.5 cm x 122.5 cm. Acrylic on canvas

Portrait of the Gbagyi Woman

"Portrait of the Gbagyi Woman"

The painting is the artist's synoptic portrait of a Gbagyi woman. 48" x 48" in size, Oil on Canvas signed and dated bottom right.

Gbagyi or Gwari are peaceful, and creative people living in North-Central geo-political zone of Nigeria. Gbagyi is the most populated, indigenous ethnic Group in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, where their major occupation is farming.

The Gbagyi people initially used to live on mountain tops because they believed they were safer on the mountain than at the plain before western civilization influenced relocation of most to the plain.

Very unique portrait of the Gbagyi woman is the placement of goods, however heavy, on their shoulder. She believes the head represents the ruler of the entire body, hence, it should not be burdened. To her, the load feel lighter on the shoulders than on the head.

Traditionally, when a man announces his interest in a Gbagyi woman, he would have to serve seven years in the would be father-in-law's farm, labouring and supplying grains and other farm produce to the bride’s house for her wellbeing. Nowadays, the groom simply pay the bride’s price instead of serving the traditional seven years.

The Gbagyi people are mostly farmers, and also well known for their visual art most especially pottery. Other arts practise include sculpture, iron smelting, and domestic craft.