Art-Devine-Slasher » ACEO

The season of love is here

Nkolika — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:56:40 +0000

A Rose for you this Valentine

Oil pastel on matt board

2.5″ X 3.5″

The season of love is here. Romance is already in the air every where around here. Even if one is not into Valentine and all that go with it, you can’t help but admire the passion with which those that celebrate it go about doing their things when it approaches.

I am offering unique handmade butterfly cards at give away prices this season. And the amazing part of it all is that it comes with free worldwide shipping.Similar Posts:

Butterfly Series

Nkolika — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:07:12 +0000

Butterfly No 1

2.5″ X 3.5″

Click here to buy

I recently made a series of paintings of butterflies that caught my interest. They are part of the things that have kept my mind (and soul) busy. I have always been fascinated by the lightness and freedom of butterflies. They are so lightweight and yet very beautiful. I enjoyed highlighting the differences that existed in their patterns. I also made Butterfly cards which are good unique gifts to give a loved one this valentine.

Butterfly No 2

2.5″ X 3.5″

Click here to buy

As time goes on I would be adding more of the butterflies here. Currently I am offering free shipping on all the items in my Etsy Shop there you would find different types of paintings made with different media and different sizes.

All the best.Similar Posts:

SALE……………Blank ACEO canvases

Nkolika — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:18:13 +0000

I recently added a new listing in my shop and it is for 15 blank ACEO canvases cut to the size of 2.5″ x 3.5″. With it you get 15 more for FREE. I cut them from heavy weight superior cloth of medium grain surface that has been triple coated with two coats of highly pigmented primer and one coat of acid free sizing.

-> INDIVIDUALLY HAND CUT BY AN ARTIST FOR ARTISTS
-> CUT FROM 8OZ WINSOR AND NEWTON CANVAS.
-> PERFECT FOR AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS.
-> READY TO BE PAINTED ON.
-> IDEAL FOR USE WITH OIL, ALKYD AND ACRYLIC PAINTS.
-> PRODUCES VERY BRIGHT PAINTINGS.

The size is perfect for trying out new techniques (including heavy application of colour) without having to waste paint. They can be used as they are or mounted on mounting boards.

It is perfect for every budding artist who loves to experiment. Are you an experienced artist? Or are you thinking seriously about painting or being an artist? These are perfect to start with. It is available in my Etsy shop and it comes with free worldwide shipping.Similar Posts:

It is a New Year……now what?

Nkolika — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:36:45 +0000

Acrylic painting of Motmot birds

2.5″ X 3.5″

Click here to buy

It sure does feel good to be back here. 2009 was a tough and pretty turbulent year for me (hope it was better for you?). It was the year I found new joy in my best work of art and also the year I lost the pillar in my life: My father. 2009 also brought some profound changes and with them came great challenges.

Challenges are meant to bring out the best in us and I am glad they are doing just that in my life. After receiving the news of my father’s death, all I wanted to do was paint……paint and paint some more. Grief comes with it an array of feelings and there is no one best way of dealing with it. For me, talking about my feelings helped but what brought tremendous amount of healing was painting. I spent the weeks following his death painting. Something was unlocked somewhere and there was a great outflow of inspiration. I wonder; is that why many of the great masters had very sad and unhappy lives? Why is sadness and grief always closely associated with great inspiration?

My dad was buried on the 20th of November, 2009. I flew back home with my daughter to pay our last respects and to be with my mother. Oft times during our stay in Nigeria, I found myself staring at my daughter (who was 6 months then) and wishing I could be like her. She had no idea what was going on around her; all she was ever bothered about was food, sleep and my presence. She enjoyed the company of her little cousins and the little children around. While she and every other child was having a good time discovering new things and enjoying the change of environment; we the adults were having headaches and worrying over how the burial would go. And added to that we were faced with the added task of re-adjusting to life without our dad. Oh how I wish I could be a child sometimes!!!

So many things seemed to be happening at the same time. Shortly after I came back from home, I had to start packing. This was a major process as everything had to be packed up. My last days in Botswana were memorable ones. My family and I were surrounded by people who were both happy and sad at the same time. Happy that we were moving up the ladder. And sad that they were not the ones leaving. I guess nothing is new under the face of the sun. I wonder, why on earth would someone punish himself by being sad over someone else’s success?

So far 2010 has brought some very pleasant surprises and openings. On the 1st of Jan, I relocated to Poole, Dorset with my family. For me it is a dream come true. For many who do not know or appreciate the difficulties that abound in Africa, you may never understand where I am coming from.

I have always believed in being optimistic and positive. Expecting the best in every situation and trying to make the best out of every situation: be it good or bad. And like most people would tell you: it always pays to be optimistic. Once again, I am happy to proclaim that it pays to BE POSITIVE because you are what you think about and like the saying goes “Be careful what you think about; you might get it” it is true. Nevertheless, I am grateful to God.

Moving from one house to another is one thing but moving from one continent to another is a totally different ball game. I came to UK in the middle of the winter, which has been described as the harshest winter in over 60 years. Places like Scotland had temperatures of -21 at some point. Imagine moving from a furnace into a deep freezer? That is what I did. The temperatures in Maun, Botswana were averaging 35 – 40 degrees before I left. And I found myself hit with temperatures of -2 degrees. Oh it was a big relief. While the whole of Europe and America was complaining about the cold, I was relieved and happy.

So far, so good. Still settling in. I guess it is going to take sometime to fully settle in but it is coming on gradually, Ella is adjusting beautifully too. All I see around me every time I step out of my house are OPPORTUNITIES. Endless strings of opportunities for an artist and anyone aspiring for greater heights in life.

The question I ask myself everyday now is now what??????

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Original Mixed Media ACEO painting

Nkolika — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:13:21 +0000

Original Mixed Media ACEO painting

2.5″ x 3.5″

Click here to buy

I have been experimenting with making ACEO art with plastic beads. This is one of the results and there are many more to come. I love diversity. It gives me some form of joy when I make something different each time. It makes me want to go back again and again to my easel. It increases my appetitie for creating.

The above ACEO was made with Acrylic paint and plastic bead on gessoed matt board. For all my ACEOs I use gessoed matt board (also known as mounting board). I coat both sides with acrylic gesso primer. This makes it stronger and gives it tooth. There are a lot of materials that can be used to create ACEO art. The only rule is that it must be 2.5″ x 3.5″.

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Acrylic ACEO painting of Tsodilo hill

Nkolika — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:50:54 +0000

Tsodilo Hill

2.5″ x 3.5″

Acrylic on paper

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Tsodilo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northwestern Botswana.It was inscribed in 2001 due to its unique religious and spiritual significance to local peoples, as well as its unique record of human settlement over many millennia. Tsodilo is a site that has witnessed visits and settlement by successive human communities for many millennia.

It contains over 4,500 rock paintings in an area of approximately 10 km² within the Kalahari Desert. A recent discovery of 70,000-year-old artifacts and a python’s head carved of stone appears to represent the first known human rituals.

There are four chief hills. The highest is 1400 metres. The four hills are commonly described as the “Male”, this is the highest, the “Female”, “Child” and an un-named knoll.These hills are of great cultural and spiritual significance to the San peoples of the Kalahari.

It is believed that the caves and caverns of the “Female” hill are the resting places of the deceased and various gods who rule the world from here. The most sacred place is near the top of the “Male” hill, where it is said that the First Spirit knelt and prayed after creating the world. The San believe that you may still see the impression of the First Spirits’ knees in the rock.

This is definitely one the places to visit in Africa or while holidaying in Botswana. It encompasses a spiritual richness that is unmistakable.

Sources:

Unesco World Heritage
WikipediaSimilar Posts:

Acrylic painting of an African flutist

Nkolika — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:40:16 +0000

African Flutist

2.5″ X 3.5″

Click here to buy

Flutists are a common sight back at home in Nigeria. They “spice up” every traditional occasion and they also add color to traditional ceremonies. The flute comes in different sizes and shapes even though quite frankly my subject is a Kaakaki Flutist. The flute/horn is usually made from cow horn. They are common sights in the Northern part of Nigeria and they often accompany Emirs.

Emirs are highly prominent and powerful traditional monarchs. Apart from their highly exalted traditional stools, these royal fathers are financially solid and have a lot of influence on their subjects and on the goings on around the country.

WordPress 2.8.2 is out and I don’t know if I should upgrade or not. Especially after I had some problems with the WordPress 2.8.1 version. I believe this one is meant to address the short comings of the earlier version. Have you upgraded and did you encounter any problems?????

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Acrylic painting: Surreal and Still

Nkolika — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 07:30:09 +0000

Shakawe

2.5″ x 3.5″

Click here to buy

This is from one of the several pictures I took while on a trip to Shakawe, a town near the border between Botswana and Namibia. There were children fishing in the small pond but I left them out in this painting. Will put them in the bigger one I intend to do someday.

What caught my attention was the reflections the vegetation at the side of the pool made in the still water. I dunno why I am always fascinated by reflections seen in water. They almost always look very surreal and still. Qualities I long to imbibe.

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Acrylic painting: Man’s best friend

Nkolika — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:08:45 +0000

2.5″ x 3.5″

Click here to buy

This is another painting of a strange dog that came up to me and felt so safe and relaxed beside me as I stood at a bus stop. I see a lot of beauty in these creatures and I sometimes wish all human beings can be like dogs. Dale Carnegie, in his book: How to win friends and influence people; used a dog to describe how we ought to be in other to win people over. And I couldn’t agree with him more.

I love it when they wag their tails in joy and anticipation. And no matter what you do they will always come running to you anytime you get home…………….always happy to see you. Come to think of it: why can’t we all strive to be like that? Wouldn’t the world be a much better place to live in?

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Finally…………..

Nkolika — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:44:08 +0000

Turban

2.5″ x 3.5″

SOLD

I am so excited…….finally sold a work on Etsy. It has taken some time but it finally came to pass. Looking forward to making more sales.

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