When you realise that being comfortable in an uncomfortable place no longer serves you, shift over to exploring a new dream that will awaken more than just your passion and fulfilment. That's when you’ll realise that you aren't where you should be and that there's absolutely no reason to relax. Seek a new wilderness and go where you've never been before. You are not a tree and you weren't born to stay rooted in one place. Take the form of water and be fluid and flexible in your approach.

Olatunji Sanusi took on a decision about his future that shook his craft and served him well in his journey as a fine artist. In a foreign South African country far from home in Nigeria and nothing close to anything familiar; he had his faith and a rough sketch pad that presented his future. 

He draws what he sees and is lead by what he feels, hardly misled and continues to soar to new heights. 

I spent P-hive Minutes with Olatunji Sanusi and learnt that his unwavering faith in reaching the ultimate dream pushed him past his fears and faced the unknown with the known.

As you’re originally from Nigeria; how long have you been staying in South Africa? What encouraged your move here?

I’ve been living in South Africa for almost the last six years and I came to live here a few months before the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I was sketching outside the Telkom Tower on a rough notepad and a tourist from the USA came to me, she saw the sketch and intended on buying it. I didn’t believe her and told her it wasn't for sale but she still wanted it. She gave me some money and left with the sketch. The same thing happened the following day with another tourist from France. I knew I was only wasting time and started drawing on a clean sketch pad and really took the craft seriously.

Of all your passions and talents, why did you choose a career as a fine artist?

Choosing a career within the arts wasn't intentional. It was a passion which turned into a reality and I made a career from it. I found myself doing what I love and enjoy and it makes me happy. I can’t go a day without thinking about art.

Did you study towards being a fine artist?

Yes, I studied and obtained a National Diploma in General Art at Yaba College of Technology in Nigeria after my high school.

How long have you being painting? What challenges did you overcome when you first started out?

I’ve been painting for the last 10 years and I started during my varsity days. There are always challenges I face as an artist and I make mistakes. When I think it’s possible to create certain piece, I really do it. I struggled a lot with sketches in the beginning and I didn’t compose perfect drawings but I got better with practice.

Do you use different techniques to produce your artworks? How would you describe these and why do you choose to utilise them?

I use different techniques. I am found of using pieces of magazines and newspapers to make collages and other methods apart from paint. I love experimenting and as I see it, it’s part of recycling. I love thinking out of the box and as the saying goes, “If you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”

What ideas or focus points do you communicate through your work? How would you want people to perceive your pieces?

I communicate different ideas through my artworks, I relate them to everyday events and inspiration usually takes over. Sometimes I dream of my paintings and at times the ideas just flow. People have their own ideas, but they should perceive my pieces by the message I communicate through my art. Focus on the impression of the faces in my paintings and the activity going on. There’s always something special about them.

What’s the most expensive piece of art you’ve sold? How do you price your pieces?

The most expensive painting I’ve sold here in South Africa was worth R10 000 and I sold the painting back in 2011. It was a painting of Nelson Mandela in front of the Union Buildings and I sold it to the Waterkloof Guest House. I price my pieces differently according their sizes, the message and the amount of work and inspiration it took to complete the pieces. I price the pieces accordingly.

When did you first host your own solo exhibition and how was the response thereafter?

I had my first solo exhibition at the American Embassy in 2012 where I was invited by people who had seen my work at the Union Buildings. The exhibition launched my career as an artist and I was featured on publications such as Plus 50 and the Nigerian Voice Magazine.

How does it feel to know that you have supporters from international countries that own your artworks and appreciate you as an artist? How do you respond to the support?

I’m always excited when art lovers support my work. Knowing that I have supporters from international countries and having my works appreciated humbles and encourages me to do better. The support keeps me going and I respond to it by producing more striking pieces. I try not to disappoint them because they’ve made me who I am today. My work as an artist is to heal people’s minds and to encourage people to believe in themselves and bring them joy. I want to motivate and inspire the younger upcoming artists as they are the future of tomorrow.

Have you achieved everything you’ve wanted to achieve through your work as an artist or is there still more you want to achieve?

I still have so much to achieve through my goals. At this stage, I thank God for my talent and achievements because I don’t know how my life would be like without Him. I don’t view myself as a worker, yet I wake up every day and do what I love and that brings me joy.

Do you aspire to be like any artist in particular?

I am inventing to my own path because I believe in embracing myself to become stronger and confident unlike imitating other artists I can’t be.

As a fine artist, what is art to you?

Art is life and it would be unpleasant if it had no colour, the world wouldn't even survive without it. A day spent without art is wasted and has no meaning.

When you have no clue of where to turn, look into yourself and trust your abilities. Know where you stand with yourself and how far you're willing to go to protect the vision you still search to live for. No one can achieve greatness single-handedly; because it didn't take just one thing to make each of us. So it’s true that everybody needs somebody.

I spent P-hive Minutes with Olatunji Sanusi; inspired by his bravery and focus to achieve what he has and still remain true and humble to his blessings and talents.

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Sithembiso Promise Xaba | Art

No matter how you picture the world, it’ll inspire you, one way or the next. Inspiration comes when it arrives, sometimes at the most unusual of places. That’s the beauty of it, the randomness of it all. Expressing what you can’t put in words could prove to be frustrating. But, then there’s Art, ready and waiting.

Stumbling upon people who support your work is an amazing feeling, especially when you doubt anything great could come from it. When you think back to it, you realise that you don’t have to buy nor beg to be noticed, because when something is meant for you, it‘s meant only for you. These are blessings, yours and true. I stumbled upon such a lady; beautiful and mellow Tshepiso Bojosi, who produces incredible drawings simply from observing life and all that comes with it.

I spent P-hive Minutes with Tshepiso Bojosi, amazed by her effortless talent.

When did you discover that you could draw? Why did you decide to invest your time in your artwork?

I realised I could draw back in primary school when I used to “design” clothes for my Barbie doll. Drawing is the one thing that comes effortlessly to me. I don’t have to force it or try too hard, unlike most things I’ve attempted in life.

How did your upbringing influence your love for the arts?

My late grandfather was a music composer and a tap dancer. My mom and my grandmother were also dancers. Both my late uncles were sketch artists, but they never took it far. So, as soon as they recognised that I could draw, they urged me to keep it going and to never neglect my talent. Growing up around such people made me realise how free and genuinely happy people are when they do what they love. I wanted to be like them.

Did you study towards being an artist?

I am a self-taught artist. Sometimes, I wish I had gone to some art school as there is still a lot for me to learn. I wanted to study for Graphic Design after high school but my dad refused as he thought drawing was just a hobby and that I would not be able to make a living out of it.

Where do you draw your inspiration from and how do you translate it on paper?

I draw my inspiration from everyday people and their actions. You could say that I view things as coloured pictures, and in turn, I turn them into greyscale. When I put them down on paper, I use graphite in my most of my drawings.

How long do you take to complete a piece?

The time I take on a drawing is completely determined by inspiration. If someone sent me a picture of them to draw, I’d probably take a day to finish it. But if I had to conceptualize the drawing, I would take longer than a day.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve found yourself inspired and you just had to sit down and draw?

This one time, I was in an elevator at Menlyn Mall in Pretoria and I was inspired by a little girl with a big afro and she had a hoodie on. I thought to myself, ‘Little Red Riding Hood – but with an afro’. I just had to draw it.

What sets you apart from another artist? How are you different?

Since I didn’t go to school for art, I don’t know how other artists measure proportions and all the other complicated stuff related to drawing. I just draw. And the outcome is good.

Are you working on any projects presently?

I am working on my personal brand – me; and getting myself out there and known as an artist. It is quite challenging as I have to know the right people to make it all work. But I believe that I have had the right start by moving from Pretoria to Johannesburg and becoming a recruit at Umuzi Academy - an academy aiming at helping young creatives from townships to become active participants in the economy.

How far do you want to take and stretch your art? Where do you want to see it take you?

I want to build a career out of my passion. I want my art to take me where most parents think other “great careers” will land their children – and put food on my table. I also want to be recognized as one of the great artists in Africa, or even the world.

From some of your works that I’ve seen, you are inspired by a lot by people. Why is that?

People inspire me a lot as they come in different shapes and sizes. People are weird. People are interesting.

Three years from now, where do you imagine you would be and what would you be doing?

In three years, I would love to have made a name for myself in South Africa and expanding to the rest of Africa. I would also love to start an academy for young black artists who were denied admission into tertiary institutions just because their maths isn’t good enough or they couldn’t afford tuition. I want to make so small difference where I can.

If you could, what colours would you use to paint the world?

I’d use purple and black. I love these two colours. Black is amazing. I’m always wearing black and it makes everything look good. Purple on the other hand symbolises creativity. What would the world be without creativity?

As an artist, what is art to you?

Art is an unspoken language. When I can’t express myself in words, I grab a pencil and paper. It speaks for me.

It doesn’t take a miracle to make a dream come alive. It takes commitment, resilience and bucket full of promise – a promise to make it work for you and to inspire the next.

Nothing worth having ever comes easy and once you have it, treasure it. And then, give thanks to those that helped, mocked, encouraged and made you stronger; because, you wouldn’t be where you are without them. Life comes as it happens and when you think back to everything, be glad it happened and that you learnt from it. Because you know, everything you’ve worked for, could’ve gone wrong or west.

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Sithembiso Promise Xaba | Words That Start With P 

Coming up with a great idea is never enough these days, here a a few ideas to help you keep your creative juices flowing. 

When to use these ?

Use it when you are are stuck and are stuck in a rut of constrained thinking.

Use when you need to find more ideas.

Use it when you are more introverted, and verbal streaming is too uncomfortable.

Use it when you are trying to be artistically creative and are creatively blocked.

Use it when you are not artistic too. It is the mental results that are important, not the artwork.

Quick					X	Long

Logical					X	Psychological

Individual	X					Group

How to use it

Go hide somewhere

Find a place where you can be alone for a good deal of time. Make it somewhere comfortable, where you can write. Take lots of paper or canvasses (old ones are probably a good idea) and a variety of paints, brushes, pens, pencils, spatulas and so on. You can also take modeling clay, wood, wire or other material with which you can create sculptures.

Create, non-stop

Now just paint away. Or model away. Or sculpt away. Do not worry about the quality of what you are doing. The goal is not to create artwork you will show or sell. Let your subconscious create whatever is on your mind. Just see what appears.

When a canvas is full or a model is complete, you can leave it and do another or start again with the same materials. The goal is to keep going rather than to create anything in particular. If you like what you have done, then put it aside, by all means. Just keep going.

When you are done, you can muse over what you have created, if you wish, and wonder what your subconscious is trying to say. Or you can just scrap it.

Example

I am feeling frustrated by creative problems at work. I get home and head for the garage and get out the wood and powertools. I spend the evening carving, cutting, sawing, chiseling, screwing and gluing. The result is a strange set of what could be called sculptures. By the time I go to bed, I'm feeling much better and some useful ideas are trickling through.

How it works

This approach works by giving the conscious mind something to do that allows the subconscious mind to free itself of what is concerning it. Worries and ideas can all come out in the artwork. And amongst the weeds, fruitful flowers of ideas can also pop up as you keep creating.

It is known that in brainstorming, that good ideas appear randomly as long as you keep going. The same is true in art. If you keep daubing long enough, good stuff will appear.

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Bruno Jakes | Awareness