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I want to build a school of art –Oresegun Olumide
I want to build a school of art –Oresegun Olumide
The uncelebrated artist's works of art can compete with any in the world
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| Oresegun Olumide finds fame through his talent which he discovered at age of four His paintings are so close to digitally-taken photos that you may mistake them for such The genius artist wants to be celebrated like Michelangelo The gifted Nigerian also wants to be a professor of arts Portrait picture of Oresegun Olumide in his art studio. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi |
Inspiration
My environment inspires me and I have always wanted to be great in life through my environment so that also motivates me. Aside my lecturers, I try to look up to the great artists Picasso, Michelangelo and other world great artists and want to be like them. That desire to be like them also drives me to work harder. I always think if they can achieve more in their era when things were not digitalized I can achieve more this digital age.
Paintings
There are some things I take picture of before painting and some are things I see with my naked eyes. I believe my eyes are stronger than the camera. To me camera limits me but only help to capture what I cannot capture with my naked eyes at a go. For my still life paintings I don't use the camera at all I only place the object before me and paint. I also do life paintings as well depending on how patient the sitter can be.
Naked paintings
A creative painting work showing a boy and a girl taking their bath. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Portrait of Olumide Oresugun in front of one of his great painting works. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
If you look at the world greatest artists they work on human form. I took it as a challenge that if I can paint human in a life like form I can draw any other thing in 2D of 3D. if you go to Florenece of France you will see pictures of Michael Angelos and they are all nude art work. I felt it is a challenge for me if I cannot do something like that in this era.
Water droplet paintings
Portrait picture of an oil on canvass paint work by Olumide Oresegun. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Amazing creative painting works made by Nigerian-born Olumide Oresegun. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
I want people to familiarize themselves with my work; everybody understands water and the water paintings take me a long time to achieve. I have been working on the popular water droplet arts for the past five years and I am still working to perfect it every day. I try to ensure that all my works now have a 3D effect or 2D effect and if I have not achieved that I don't think I have a finished work.
Time spent on a painting
Olumide Oresugun painting a portrait picture of a lady in his studio. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
It takes a long time to get a finished work out of the studio. At times while painting I get bored so I leave it and move on to something else. There are layers upon layers of colours that I used on this piece. It takes thousands of layers of paint strokes to achieve this result. After which I try to achieve the translucent look of water then work on the water droplets. Each droplet takes five minutes of painting to be achieved. And some take longer depending on how big the droplets are. As a realist artist at times a month plus and at times two months depending on the intricacies involved, mind you I am not working on a piece just to sell, my name will be engrossed on it and that is more important to me than the money I will be paid. So I should be able to put my soul and heart into it.
Aspirations
Olumide standing in front of some of his works
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I try to improve on my paintings every day and I want to achieve greatness with this work. In as much that there are professors in art, economics and other fields I want to achieve one with my creativity. One should be able to attain a professorship with his or her talent.
Words of advice to upcoming artists
Olumide explaining the idea behind his work. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
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They should be focused in what they are doing and believe that they can achieve greatness. Be focused because passion comes with money but passion and hard work first. With that they can be better than me. Some upcoming artists send their pieces of work to me for corrections and advice online which I do for free. And I am thinking of having a school of art and I am working towards that. And I believe I can achieve with the help of Nigerians.
International exhibitions
Some creative art works make by Olumide at his art studio in his home in Lagos state.
Untitled oil painting portrait by Olumide.
Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Untitled oil painting portrait by Olumide.
Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
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Yes, some of my works were exhibited in Nigeria House in Madrid in 2009, but then I was not as experienced as I am now. Now a lot of international collectors, galleries and agents are coming.
Nigerian government on paintings
"They (the federal government) should give aids and grants. They can organize competitions too as arts can help take the youths away from social vices."
Catalogue containing some of Olumide's past art works. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Catalogue containing some of Olumide's past art works. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Challenges:
"Not much, because art is in me. You know there are a lot of footballers but you can only find one Messi. What drives Messi drives me and that is passion."
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