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Archive for category Acrylic paintings

Acrylic Sunset Landscape painting

Feb 3

Posted by Nkolika in Acrylic paintings, Women | 19 Comments

Acrylic painting of a sunset landscape by Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

Sunset landscape

13.4 cm x 21.4cm

SOLD

It is amazing how time flies. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was baking my Christmas cake and roasting a massive turkey? It is as though I closed my eyes and on opening it I’m in February. Dunno if I’m supposed to be happy or sad……………I have mixed feelings about this remarkable speed of time. I am happy that time is moving on quickly so that I can reach my goals faster. Yet again, I am sad because each minute that passes by means I have added another minute to my age and if I had been sleeping……..that would be a minute gone without achieving anything tangible. O well I guess there’s no way one can eat his cake and have it at the same time. In all things, to God be the glory.

I have been busy these last couple of days finishing up some paintings I started last year and dumped along the line. I wonder if there are other artists that are in the habit of starting a painting then dump it halfway only to pick it back up again after some months? I guess there may be many of us. Anyway I am glad I finally got round to getting back to each and every one of them.

I also did some new ones too. Kind of got a burst of inspiration (and energy!!!) and I put it to good use. Trying to spend less time on the computer and more time with my sketch pad and brushes. Yet again, one can’t avoid sitting in front of the computer all the time. To reach out to the world and have the world reach out to you……..you got to spend some time on the computer. Still don’t have a camera so it’ll take some time before I can get to show you what I’ve really been up to.

I was pleased to discover my blog has been featured for the month of February on the  Blogging Women directory. Being less than 3 months into blogging  with little or no incoming links I must say I think I am doing well. Hopefully over time I would build up my links and have a better exposure.  I guess it all boils down to what the experts say: having a blog is one thing, getting people to visit is another ball game all together. Now I know having a blog is the easy part. With time I am sure I’ll be able to sink my teeth into it all one step at a time.

ART-DEVINE-SLASHER

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Acrylic ACEO painting of a dog

Jan 24

Posted by Nkolika in ACEO, Acrylic paintings, Wildlife | No Comments

Acrylic ACEO painting of a dog by Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

2.5″ x 3.5″

Copyright Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

Click here to buy

One day several months ago while on my way back from a town where I went with my husband (he had to go and cover a clinic there), I instantly made friends with a nice looking dog.  As I stood at the bus stand he came up very close to me and stood. Stretching from time to time. What struck me was he felt so comfortable and at ease just standing beside me. Of course with my camera close by I took some shots and recently painted him.

Animals always enact a feeling always close to supernatural in me anytime I come close to them. They’re such wonderful creatures and I enjoy painting and drawing them.

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Acrylic on paper painting of Giraffes

Jan 19

Posted by Nkolika in Acrylic paintings, Botswana, Inspirational, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Acrylic painting of giraffe silhouettes by Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

Giraffe Silhouettes

20cm x 28cm

copyright Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

For some time now I’ve been having a lot of fun and deriving a lot of joy from painting wildlife. It definitely is influenced by where I have found myself………………….Botswana.  Botswana hasn’t been good to me in a lot of ways, but I have simply chosen to see the good sides of the place.  I keep saying I’m way too young to burden myself with thoughts that will not in anyway make me a better person or make me happy. The bottom line’s that I am too young to send myself to an early grave. Needless to say it is always very important to try and see the beautiful side of any where you find yourself.

Coming here opened a totally new chapter in my life. A chapter I was not in anyway ready for (can we ever be completely ready for what life throws at us?). But like a popular saying in my culture that says “a na awachi uwa ogodo”…………which means adorning life with beautiful ornaments no matter the circumstances, I decided a long time ago to keep my shoulders straight and walk with my head high at all times. Yeah, like the giraffes in the painting above. If I could get my neck to be that long I would definitely be making a statement to the world around me that I have simply chosen not to be deterred.

What is it that you’re going through now? Have things happened that have made your shoulders slouch and made you constantly afraid of looking the world in the eye? Brace up and know you’re not (never alone). Like giraffes who never walk with their heads low, may we all learn to stare down adversities and disappointments.

Everyone reaches a point in their life where they must either change or cease

Brett Whiteley

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Acrylic Still life painting

Jan 17

Posted by Nkolika in Acrylic paintings, Videos | No Comments

Acrylic Still life painting by Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

Apple on a table

Acrylic on paper

13.5cm x 21.5cm

SOLD

I have been listening to some classical pieces since yesterday. I had not listened to them for a while and I had totally forgotten how much peace I get from listening to them. Shubert’s Ave Maria always evokes a feeling in me that’s so deep that all I can do when I listen to it is cry. There are so many other versions of Ave Maria like Bach’s version but I love Schubert’s piece more. It’s a perfect piece to wake up to in the morning. It always calms the nerves and spreads peace in the atmosphere. For me it always brings to light the remarkable beginning of our salvation through the Virgin Mary’s humble acceptance of the will of God when angel Gabriel came to her with God’s message. How many of us are willing to totally abandon ourselves, our plans and dreams at God’s feet and humbly submit to His will. Even when we know that what He wants may not always be what we want for ourselves.

Charlotte Church singing Ave Maria

The day I found Charlotte Church‘s rendition of this beautiful piece, I was mesmerized. I got to know Charlotte through my mum (who’s also a soprano singer with a heavenly voice. And at 73yrs still sings beautifully). She came home one day from Glasgow with dozens of classical CDs (that’s how I accumulated so many of them) and she was so in love with Charlotte who was still a very small girl then. Now she’s all grown and I think her voice is still magical.

There are so many beautiful people with beautiful talents/gifts. Many people tell me I’m blessed because I’m very good at doing things with my hands/fingers. But I always feel I am no different from everyone else. That does not in anyway mean I don’t appreciate my talent neither does it mean I am not grateful to God. I strongly believe we all have something we are good at…………..something hidden away somewhere deep within us. All it needs is determination and self confidence on our side to build it up.

I hope you would reach deep inside you to discover your gifts and if you have, I encourage you to press on. Never give up…….one day you would get to that point where the world would discover your worth and appreciate your talent.

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Acrylic Seascape painting

Jan 16

Posted by Nkolika in Acrylic paintings, Botswana | 4 Comments

Acrylic Seascape painting by Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)

Reflections in the Okavango river

Acrylic on paper

13.5cm x 21.5cm

SOLD

This is a seascape painting of a part of the Okavango river in Botswana, Southern Africa. I was struck by the beautiful reflections in the water and I could not resist the urge to capture it in paint. The Okavango region from where the river gets its name is a famous tourist destination in Botswana that is home to a wide variety of animals and wild life. It is painted with Acrylic on paper and framed with a mounting board ready to be inserted into a frame.

An artist needn’t be a clergyman or a churchwarden,but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.

Vincent van Gogh

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