The Vibrant World of Visual Artists at OAU

By Oyinlade Adeyemi

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is known for its rich academic culture, historical significance, and strong creative output. Among its vibrant student body and alumni are many talented visual artists who use their skills to express deep social, cultural, and personal themes. All these visual artists work across various media, including painting, sculpture, digital art, photography, and mixed media, contributing to Nigeria’s evolving art scene. 

Visual artists are individuals who produce visual art using various mediums to create works that communicate ideas, emotions, and cultural narratives, while visual arts encompass a broad range of artistic expressions that are primarily visual in nature.

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ARTISTIC JOURNEY AND DEVELOPMENT

The word "art" can mean so little to bystanders, but for individuals like Abikoye Paul Oluwadamilare, a third-year student from the Faculty of Arts, it means so much more. Art is like a second language, one that does not need words to be understood. He also says that "musicians speak through music and writers through books, and I speak through my drawings: it is how I express my emotions, thoughts, and perspective of the world."

Paul Abikoye is an English student, and on days when he is not, he is a visual artist like so many others. He said, “I have had this talent for as long as I can remember. I was always drawing as a kid, filling up any space I could find with sketches, although back then it was for fun, and honestly, my work was not great.” He took art more seriously in 2023 during his second year at university at the age of 20, and that was when he began to see it as more than just a hobby.  

As expected, he was not the only one who appeared to start his journey in visual art like this. For a third-year student from the Faculty of Arts in the Department of Dramatic Arts, Oladele Daniel Olaposi, whose artistic name is Symply_Posi, the journey into visual art started for him at age 7, when he noticed his talent for it. He said, “My stickmen were the best; I could sketch out a picture, and it would come out nice.” His artistic style is a fusion of sketches, pen and pencil drawings, and paintings on canvas, and he has also taken more interest in scribbling. As long as it is a shade of art, he engages himself in it, exploring every medium he can get his hands on. Olaposi got into abstract expressionism through his painting. Recently, it has become an art movement that greatly influences his work. 

Olaposi's work

Also, there is Akinfenwa Olamilekan Toluwani from the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management (EDM) in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, who is currently in his third year. He started actively practising art at the age of 5 or 6 back in primary school. “I first noticed my talent for visual art as a child – I was always drawn to anything creative, whether it was drawing, colouring, or crafting things with my hands; art felt natural to me.” His artistic style is best described as realism in pencil drawing, with a strong focus on capturing emotion and warmth.

He specialises in ceramic pottery, but he can also paint and, of course, draw. There are several artists he adores, such as Cherry Kemi, a well-known Nigerian ceramist; Kelvin Okafor, a UK-based hyperrealism pencil artist whose technique and attention to detail are outstanding; and lastly, Mr. Waduud, a Nigerian mural painter whose large-scale works fascinate him. 

Just like Olamilekan, Paul also mentioned several artists who influenced his work, including Kwaku Boateng Nana, a fellow hyperrealistic pencil artist, and Arinze Stanley, one of the most recognised pencil artists in Nigeria. He also admires Modupeola Fadugba and Anthony Azekwoh, even though they do not work with pencils; their approach to storytelling and composition has shaped his perspective in different ways.

Paul’s style of art is hyperrealistic pencil art, but it goes beyond merely replicating reality; it tells stories and infuses symbolism into his work. He said, “Drawing is my medium, and I love the depth and texture I can create with just graphite and charcoal.”

CREATIVE PROCESS AND INSPIRATION

Among the topics the artists discussed was the inspiration behind their pieces. Olamilekan’s inspiration comes from the emotions and expressions of his subjects; he mentioned that, when drawing, he focuses on capturing the raw mood of the muse, i.e. happiness, sadness, or deep thought. That emotional connection fuels his creativity. He said, "To me, art is like a safe space—a way to express my emotions, thoughts, and ideas without words." 

Olaposi noted that he is mostly inspired by his personal life. He stated that his paintings are reflections of the things he goes through and, lastly, his passion for art. He said, “Personally, art is a powerful tool to show emotions. Expressing feelings in my own way sometimes works as a medium to take my mind off certain things." 

To Paul, his inspiration comes from life itself: the people, the struggles, and the emotions we all experience. He observes the world and translates those moments into his art. For instance, "Eniyan Ni Aso Mi" reflects how people supported him during tough times.

"When Words Fail" was inspired by a friend's deeply emotional story about her Father.

His most recent piece, "Àsìkò" explores the universal anxiety about time and the future.

Every piece of his work is rooted in something real. For his creative process, Paul starts by selecting a reference image, followed by careful measurements to ensure precision, as one wrong calculation can throw everything off. He goes further to create his grids and begins sketching. From there, he moves on to shading and detailing, bringing the piece to life. He also uses graphite pencils for sketching and shading, as well as charcoal powder for deeper contrasts. His detailing tools include a Mono Zero eraser and an electric eraser. He used to work with Pelican paper, but now he uses FBB due to availability. A quote that keeps Paul motivated in his artistic work is "Trust the process." He says, "Every time I start a new piece, there is a point where it looks like a mess, like it won’t turn out right, but with patience, it always comes together in the end. That is a lesson that applies beyond art." 

For Olaposi, his creative process starts with having a concept, often in the form of a rough sketch. He mentioned that most of the time, he has his title and caption for his art before he finishes it, and he finds that the most interesting part for him is the feeling he gets from writing his name on his piece when he is done. He also stated that he is emotionally connected to his pieces, as they tell his stories and mirror each phase of his life he expresses. His favourite quote is, “The act of creating is often more important than the end result.” 

Regarding Olamilekan’s creative process for his ceramics, he either buys his clay or goes through the labour-intensive process of preparing it himself. He then gathers references and begins moulding. For his drawings, he either takes pictures of models or finds references online, but he always adds unique elements to make the artwork original. He also mentioned that his mood at the time reflects in his work, making every piece personal to him. A quote that resonates with his work and that he likes is, “Whatever we want to do, let’s be good at it and give it our best.”

ARTISTIC OUTPUT AND PREFERENCES

According to Paul, his output depends on the size of the work he is creating. Mostly, he works with large pieces, so he can usually complete about three artworks in two months. However, with school activities in the mix, he sometimes finishes one piece in a month. He also prefers just two colours as a pencil artist, namely white and black, as they represent the purest form of storytelling. He stated that the absence of colour removes distractions, allowing emotions, textures, and details to take centre stage. His favourite piece, which is also his most cherished memory, is *Eniyan Nì Aso Mí" because of its deep emotional connection. To him, it is more than an artwork; it represents the people who have been his cover, strength, and support. He mentioned, “Life constantly reminds us that no one walks alone, and in my toughest times, the kindness, encouragement, and presence of others kept me going.” Through this piece, he expresses his gratitude to all who have ever been his "Aso."

To Posi, however, the situation seems different, as he creates as it comes. Sometimes months pass, and he doesn’t have a solid piece of art, just random sketches in his sketchbook. He also uses any colour, as he doesn’t have a favourite. His favourite piece is his first piece of the collection, "Colourful Chaos", as it is a series of paintings that express his feelings abstractly.

COMPETITIONS, EXHIBITIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

Nevertheless, less transactional opportunities arise for artists more often than one might realise. These opportunities mainly come in the form of art contests and exhibitions. Art contests usually have a central theme, giving artists the freedom to interpret and experiment with these themes as much as possible.

Olaposi has, in fact, participated in an art contest and has also taken part in exhibitions at events here in OAU. He also said, “I haven't won any contests yet, but the win is on the way.” He receives information about these contests and exhibitions on social media and from friends. Olaposi has also received numerous recognitions for his work. Paul stated that he has participated in several competitions before but hasn’t won any awards recently, although some results are still pending. 

For Paul, competitions push him to refine his craft, step out of his comfort zone, and see how his work stands in a broader creative space. He finds most information on Instagram, and some are sent by his friends. Paul has only been able to showcase his work at a friend's book launch and a fashion show. He has also received recognition from people, and for him, knowing that his art speaks to others is the kind of recognition that truly matters.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Despite what you might think, for these artists, it's not all rainbows and sunshine every step of the way. A lot happens behind the scenes before each canvas or sheet of paper is revealed to the world. Sometimes, praise from friends and acquaintances simply isn't enough, especially when the effort put in far outweighs the reward.  

An overwhelming majority of the artists I spoke with appear to be experiencing creative block, i.e., struggling to come up with new ideas, the cost of art materials, and schoolwork. For artists like Paul, the biggest challenge is visibility. Many people focus on already established names, making it harder for emerging artists to break through. Posi also experiences creative block and the cost of art materials. He noted that balancing his artistic life with school life is not so difficult, as he has learned to adapt and make both work. He also pointed out that art materials are expensive.  

Olamilekan highlighted that, apart from art materials being costly, they are also scarce. He added that schoolwork can be demanding, making it difficult to create personal projects outside of his coursework.

FUTURE GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS

Olamilekan plans to focus on building his career as a professional artist, participating in exhibitions and expanding his reach in the art world. He hopes to inspire others through his art and leave a lasting impact by creating works that people can connect with. His goal is to contribute to the art world in a way that showcases his unique perspective and creativity. 

For someone like Olaposi, this means pursuing and updating skills, knowledge, and education concerning visual arts. He also hopes to promote the importance of art. Some artists, like Paul, want to create an art competition that is free and open to all, providing equal opportunities for every artist, regardless of background. Beyond that, he hopes to use his art to spark important conversations, challenge perspectives, and inspire others.  

Visual artists at OAU are shaping the future of Nigerian art with their creativity and resilience. Whether through painting, drawing, sculpture, or digital art, these individuals continue to tell compelling stories and preserve African heritage through their works. With the university serving as a hub for intellectual and creative growth, its visual artists will undoubtedly continue to make an impact in the art world.