Aug 29
Zebras
19.8cm x 27.8cm
Acrylic on paper
© Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)
It is my dream to create an art which is filled with balance, purity and calmness, freed from a subject matter that is disconcerting or too attention-seeking. In my paintings, I wish to create a spiritual remedy, similar to a comfortable armchair which provides rest from physical expectation for the spiritually working, the businessman as well as the artist.
Henri Matisse
copyright Nkolika Anyabolu
For complete details on technique and colours used; visit the painting resources page to see step 1 to step 7 and other helpful painting tips.
The emotions are sometimes so strong that I work without knowing it. The strokes come like speech~ Vincent Van Gogh
An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language~ Henri Matisse
Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art~ Leonardo da Vinci
I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly’~ Vincent Van Gogh
Every good painter paints what he is~ Rembrandt
Tsodilo Hill
2.5″ x 3.5″
Acrylic on paper
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:
/Finished%20work%20(5).JPG "Oil painting of an Elephant: Finished")
I apologize for not posting earlier than now. My mother’s 73rd birthday was on the 8th (yesterday) and since she is spending some time with me; I spent the day with her and tried my best to make her day special.
Amazingly my latest attempt at baking turned out beautifully and I was quite impressed with myself. My daughter was confused when I was jumping around the whole house singing happily.
It sure does pay to keep trying and to never give up at anything you want to excel in. I wrote a short note about this under Pencil drawing and it has been generating a lot of comments.
I (and you) was once as tiny as the baby elephant in this painting and my mother was (and has always been) very close by to protect me. Just like the huge mother Elephant shields her precious little one.
As a mother now, I appreciate my mother in ways words cannot express. And the little I can do to put a smile on her graceful face, I would do. I cannot take away all her worries and pains because these are what make life what it is. But I can make her smile and I did. I thank God for making it possible for me to do something special for my mother. The day was fun, all her children called from wherever they were around the world and most of her grandchildren sang happy birthday to her.
Now back to our work, we have come to the end of our painting demonstration and it has surely been fulfilling.
Below are shots of the finished painting.
/finished%20work%20(4).JPG "Oil painting of an Elephant: Finished")
/Close%20up.JPG "Oil painting of an Elephant: Finished")
/close%20up%20(6).JPG "Oil painting of an Elephant: Finished")
/close%20up%20(8).JPG "Oil painting of an Elephant: Finished")
/close%20up%20(10).JPG "Oil painting of an Elephant: Finished")
To all of you who followed my step by step painting demonstration of this oil on canvas painting of an Elephant right from Step 1 to now: I want to say a big thank you. Nothing gives me so much pleasure as showing you how I paint. Not only did you share in the painting process itself but you also shared in the thoughts and pains that accompanied with it.
This painting is for sale at my Etsy shop; if you are not registered on Etsy you would need to register to buy. If you do not want to go through the hassle of opening an account on Etsy you can buy it from my website
African Flutist
2.5″ X 3.5″
copyright Nkolika Anyabolu (MD)
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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