So, it is a few hours to 2017. Enough time to let go of every negative thoughts and attitude that limited you in 2016. It is time to channel positive thoughts into 2017. It is time to focus on that thing you truly desire and learn not to give up easily. It is time to challenge yourself beyong your comfort zone. It is time to rise above negative circumstances and people. It is time to work towards good success not wait for it to come your way. It is time for a new and positive you. It is time for a new year. It is time for 2017. Do right by God and yourself.

So I remember telling you guys about the elements of art. I started with lines. The next on my list are colours. Red. Blue. Orange. Purple. Black. White. You name it. According to research, color is the element of art that is produced when light, striking an object, is reflected back to the eye.
There is this quote I recently saw.
"The most colorful thing in the world is black and white, it contains all colors and at the same time excludes all", Vikrmn.
I don't really know why exactly but I really love this quote. It just sums up everything. Let me know what you guys think.

So in the first section of my art history, I told you the story of how me and art fell in love with each other. Here is another significant story in my art history- my first date with graphic design.lol. It was junior waec. I offered fineart and we all had to choose among batik, painting, ceramics, graphic design and others. Painting was my first option but so many people were there and I just wanted something different. So I decide to choose graphic design and I enjoyed every bit of it. This art piece is not the work I did(that will be I dont know where) but this is one of many. It was an assignment to draw logos.smiles

I am so so so happy. Ask me why? Well, I found this sack full of my art pieces from secondary school. I am obviously going to be sharing them with you. To me, art is something personal. A reflection of me, how I see the world, how I think the world sees me, how I want the world to see me or how I think the world should see me. That is one thing I love about art. I also love when people appreciate my art pieces. Who doesn't?
*by the way, moi means me

So I drew this for a competition. It was inspired by this awesome graffiti I saw in a movie(There are so many talented people in this world). Anyway to the main topic, COMPETITION.
According to research, competition provides motivation to achieve a goal; to demonstrate determination, creativity and perseverance to overcome challenges; and to understand that hard work and commitment leads to a greater chance of success. However, we should know that some things require togetherness not competitiveness and also,competitiveness is not an excuse to be cruel.

Art is so much fun which is why it can also serve as great therapy. It gives you an avenue to express yourself freely and fully. You can draw, write a poem, read, sing and so on. Use your talent as a way to embrace the pain and get past it. Only when you acknowledge it can you overcome it.
POEM
You can cry till you stop
And not say a word
Wrapped in caring arms
All you need is warmth
Don't hide the tears
Don't conceal the fears
Just trust in the one who's always there.

So I really love drawing in the night because everyone is asleep and everywhere is quiet. So it is only my art piece and me. But what makes it more interesting is listening to good music. Hmm.. It just keeps the inspiration flowing. The work depicts how I am at that very moment. The Afro depicts my natural and comfortable state. The glasses depict how focused I am. The headphones depicts music, obviously 🎶

Where do I start? In the beginning of this journey, I wrote on the history of art which is very significant. However, the most significant to me is the history of my art. Well, my love for art started through determination to achieve a set goal. I always admired the way my art teacher drew an image on the black board and it was so perfect. So, in a certain class, I studied him attentively- how he drew the lines and it all came together. It was breathtaking. So, in the faintest lines, I drew an ostrich. I scored a 7. It was not a 10 but to me, it was better than a ten. Each of my drawings hold a part of me- my love, happiness, awe, sorrow, fear, anger- whether I realise it or not.

So while I was looking through my gallery, I saw this old piece I drew. And it just brought back a lot of memories. You know how people tell you to forget your past and build a future with your present. I don't totally agree with that. You will always remember your past. They are filled with so many memories-good and bad, but it is your decision whether to dwell on the good ones or the bad ones. So my advice, remember good memories and for the bad ones, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Finally, my advice for building the future, it is okay to be scared as long as your courage outweighs your fear.

Reflect
Reflect on who you are
Reflect on who you will be
Reflect on what you desire
Reflect on how to achieve it
Reflect on the friends you keep
Reflect on how they mould you
Reflect on the journey ahead
Reflect on the joy in it
Not on your tired feet
Reflect
This art piece shows that although we should see things for what it is, we should also be optimistic.

This year is gradually coming to an end. While some may call it the best year ever, others may not agree. Anyway, whether good or bad, the fact is that there is one BIG thing we should be thankful to God about. That is our lives. That, alone, is a major miracle. So instead of mourning about time lost, why dont you make judicious use of the remaining weeks and work towards a favourable new year. Enjoy all the chicken. Enjoy all the excitement. Enjoy all the fireworks(I hate fireworks). Sing and dance into the new year with thankfulness in your heart to God. Happy 2016 in arrears(well, soon).

So I am sure we have all studied fine art at one point(colouring books can be included) in our lives, enough to know the elements of art. They are the things that your art will have no matter what. So this will be a series where I will enlighten you relating them to life. We will start with: LINES.
MY OPINION
We are just like lines. We have a beginning and an end. What matters is the direction we take and how it determines our length. When we get to the tip of the paper,we can decide to bend to create a shape or we can just stop.

I cant stop laughing. I tried to experiment with finger painting and giggles it was not my initial intention but it ended up like this.
There will be things you want to try out but people keep discouraging you. And when at first, it doesn't go well, they will be like 'I told you so'. Well, my point is do not let a bunch of 'I told you so' lead to you having a future of 'what ifs'. Failure doesn't mean you would not succeed. Failure means you tried. Success doesn't mean you never failed. Success means you kept trying.

Childhood...
Ohh. The fun. The memories. Those moments when you played wholeheartedly not caring what anyone was going to say. That is the problem with adults. We care too much. There is nothing wrong with caring but it passes the limit when you start to care about irrelevant things. Care about what people will think. Care about what people will say. Care about how people will react. Even to our detriments. Be like children and care about what really matters. Care about God. Care about yourself. Care about your family. Care about your friends.

@omolayo Exactly... Others should not be given the opportunity to tortue and tell you what you can or cannot do.. That is something only you can determine...

@Nairadays Thank you

So I saw an old notebook of mine and decided to be imaginative. I cut out the letters on the back cover and viola. Art is all about creating new things. Expressing yourself. Seeing what others term as trash but what you see is only the possibility of what it can be... That is how we should all see everyone especially ourselves.. Don't think yourself as not being able to achieve anything because you are more than a conqueror... The only person that can pick you up from that trash, others and maybe you see yourself, is YOU.

You know... Abstracts can be refreshing. A great way to get back on track when having artist's block.

This piece is titled 'DECIDE'.

You can decide to see the use of a lot of black or the tiny bits of colour. You can decide to let a situation bring you down or use that situation to motivate yourself. So you decide: A moment where you see only the 'black' or one where you see the 'tiny bits of colour'.

Fashion... Fashion... Fashion...

Fashion is an art... To me, it is mostly about clothes, design and confidence..

Combining pattern to make a lovely attire which you can only rock with confidence...

Although confidence is not only about holding your head up high not caring what others might think(I feel it is something of the mind), you have got to act it to eventually feel it. How we act eventually affects who we are(how we feel). So you might not feel confident now but act it and tell yourself positive things and it will rub off on you,I assure you..

Be free
With your words
With your ideas
With your actions
Be considerate
Think about yourself
Think about others
Embrace the world
Be yourself
That is your identity
That is your depth
YOU is free
This art piece is all about freedom; embracing who you are and not being restricted.