Studio visit of Ghanaian contemporary artist Betty Acquah....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

Betty Acquah is one of the foremost female painters in Ghana who celebrates the achievements of women in her country. She says that women are the unsung heroes of our time and she depicts the same in her energetic paintings. With the use of dots and lines Betty has effectively captured movement in her artworks.

I first met Betty during my exhibition at Alliance Francaise in Accra but unfortunately there was no occasion when we met at leisure to exchange ideas. So when the Co-founder of Foundation of Contemporary Art ,Ghana Adwoa Amoah, generously fixed an appointment for me to visit Betty Acquah, I was very happy that she was very kind to immediately respond.

Her studio is located on the outskirts of Accra near Nsawam on Kumasi road which is usually a busy road. Betty has a separate room as a studio in the premises of her house. It was delight to meet her. An elongated room with a big work table in the center with the walls full of finished and unfinished paintings was her studio. The movement in her paintings have always caught my attention. Bursting with colours, movement and brushstrokes , her paintings so beautiful and vibrant give a feeling of life force pulsating. Especially in her paintings depicting dancers, she has successfully achieved a visual rhythm much like the rhythm in music. Instead of notes and  sounds, the use of dots, lines, colours and shapes creates a strong rhythm. 
 Betty uses pointillism technique and for my recent series on Reflection I have also used pointillism and hence was very eager to know her process and gain more knowledge of the technique.

Betty was a comfortable person to talk to and we began our conversation in a very informal way.

Thank you Betty for having me here. To start with can you tell us about your initial artistic journey?

 I was born in Capecoast and was a 10^th born in 12 children.I did schooling in Capecoast and Graduation in Kumasi. I had been drawing since childhood. And my drawings used to impress my teachers, family and friends. I knew instinctively that I was going to be an artist. While studying in Kwame Nkrumah University, being good at drawing and painting my lecturers persuaded me to take up Painting as major instead of Textile and Design. I completed B.A(Hons)Art and later on went to the same college to complete MFA. I also had a professional training course in Tokyo school of Arts while in Japan. After coming to Ghana, worked with Berj Gallery in Accra as a Manager. I also worked with the art gallery of Center for National Culture , Ghana. After 4 years of work I stopped to pursue as a full time artist.

How have you evolved as an artist?

I was the artist of the family. I got a lot of encouragement from family and friends. I was also a dancer and I knew that I wanted to do art right from the beginning.

How do you seek out opportunities? Tell us about your first exhibition.

My first exhibition was at PAFAM 90( Pan African Festival of Arts and Music) which was held at Trade Fair grounds in Accra. My cousin paid for the space . It was a satisfying exhibition as people were amazed that a lady could paint in such a way though I didn’t sell a single piece. There I met two gallery owners who liked my paintings and that is how I started exhibiting at other places as well.

Which artists have influenced you and have you collaborated with other artists?

Locally I was influenced by Wiz Kuduwor, Prof Abalade Glover and a few others whereas Internationally mostly the impressionists. My first exhibition was quickly followed by another one at then Amahema Art Gallery. I collaborated with already famous Ghanaian painters like Amon Kotei( who was the designer of Coat of Arms of Ghana), Prof Ablade Glover (now the owner of the Artist Alliance Gallery) and Tafa Fiadzigbe( who now lives and paints in US). I have also exhibited  in India, Japan, Nigeria, Spain,UK , USA etc. All these exhibitions have helped me grow as an artist.

            

 Let us know a little bit about your work.  What is the creative process of your work? Do you make any preparatory drawings?

Yes, I always have preparatory sketches. I first do the under-painting by adding different colours at random to my primed canvas and then decide on the colour scheme. I then transfer my concept from the sketchpad by making tiny dots ,almost invisible , with darkish colour. Dots are then used to make the outlines. Mid tones for the figures and the background is done simultaneously. With the shadows done, figures are finished with highlights. Every painting is ended with the dots in white. I always try to follow a rhythm in my paintings.

You use pointillism technique about which I am very eager to know  as my recent series of artworks are in the same style. How did you develop your style?

It came through experimentation. In the 3^rd year of College of Arts, students were expected to come up with their unique styles. I experimented with many techniques but finally settled down on impressionism. I loved the works of French Impressionists. Especially Monet, Pierre Renoir, Van Gogh impressed me a lot. I was hooked at them. That’s when I decided to try pointillism. My lecturers liked it and advised me to continue with it which I did. But after a while I realized that I was stuck there , I found my paintings too still which I didn’t like. Me being a dancer ,I needed movement , some rhythm and that’s how I was successful to achieve the aesthetic arrest which people find in my paintings.

What are the mediums you work in?

I have used oil and water colours but now have settled on Acrylic as it dries fast.

How would you describe the subject matter or the contents of your works? We have seen women taking foremost place in your works.

Yes, most of my works depicts the ordinary women working courageously. The trials , celebrations, successes of these women form the central theme of my works. I love dancing so I also like to portray dancers, musicians. I also like painting nature. And in all these works my main focus is motion.

When do you think that your work is finished? How much time do you spend working in your studio?

My work is finished by an instinct. Since my studio is in the premises of my house its easy for me to enter studio anytime. I spend at least 8 hours in the studio.

What are you inspired by? Are you reading , listening or looking at a particular thing to fuel your work? Are you a philosophical person? How do you navigate through the art world?

I like to listen to music while painting. I also listen to the spiritual messages on You Tube, though I am not a philosophical person. I simply follow where my heart leads me.

I have an account on Facebook . There are some galleries in Ghana who represent me like Artist Alliance gallery and Tiga-African Art gallery.

What is the art scene like in Ghana?

The art scene in Ghana is promising. There are a lot of talented artists in Ghana. But there are not many galleries , museums or art magazines. There is a challenge to start this art industry and keep it running.

Born in Capecoast, Central region of Ghana in 1965, Betty Acquah lives and works in Accra, Ghana.

Her works are exhibited and collected worldwide. Her works can be viewed here:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bettyacquah.5

Studio Visit of Ghanaian contemporary artist, Kofi Nduro Donkor.....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

I left Ghana(West Africa) in Dec, 2014. Never thought that I will ever visit Ghana again in my life. But since 2017 my husband kept visiting Ghana for his consultancy and here in 2020 I got a chance to open the pages of my life I spent in Ghana. I was excited to visit all those places I had been while in Ghana and recollect my memories. I stayed in Ghana for 14 years so Ghana was my second home and has a very special place in my heart. It has given me an identity of an artist. My first exhibition was held in Accra,Ghana. Ghanaian art and culture has a great influence on my art.

There are many people who write about their visit to Ghana but as an artist I wanted something else.  I wanted this visit to be memorable in an artistic way . I have always been intrigued by artists and their work-spaces so decided to visit Ghanaian artists in their studios and celebrate the creativity of Ghana. I was glad to have been able to visit some of the studios and chat with the artists with the help of some of my artist friends, Directors of Foundation of Contemporary Art, Ghana,  Ato Annan and Adwoa Amoah . Through this blog I intend to bring forth a few Ghanaian artists and then will continue to do studio visits of the artists from my hometown, Pune. I will look forward to meet some more Ghanaian artists in my next visit to Ghana .

Artist Kofi Nduro Donkor, one of my mentors in art from Ghana and a very gentle and lively personality. It was such a pleasure to meet Kofi again after 5 years. He adviced me on everything related to art,right from brush techniques to stretching to small tips of Art business. I had always felt his positivity very inspiring. After years of sheer dedication today he is one of the top selling artists from Ghana.I feel privileged to meet such a soul.

Kofi had his studio in cantonment area when I was in Ghana .The studio was located behind my daughter’s school so was easily accessible. I visited his studio not only when I had difficulty in art but also when I just wanted to see his painting process. Now he has shifted it to his newly built house. I was really happy to see him so proud of his house. Co-director of Foundation of Contemporary Art , Ato Anan accompanied me to his house. His house is on the outskirts of Accra just before Casawa, still under construction. It’s located at a higher altitude with clean air and gives a beautiful view of the surrounding area. As soon as we entered his house I was caught with large body of works with vibrant colours which evolved around the theme of everyday life scenes among which was my favourite market scene. His works show how deep he is in the African lore.

It was a friendly talk with Kofi. He took us around in the house before we settled down with a bottle of water for our informal chat.

Thank you for having us here. To start with, we would like to know more about you and your background.

I knew that art would have a special place in my life at a very young age . When we were in Accra one of our family member came to stay with us who use to draw and paint. I was greatly inspired from him to become an artist.. After my elementary school, I wanted to do something in Art but like many other parents , my father was against my decision. So to join the Ghanatta college of Art and Design in 1982 , I had to work to support the college and I did that by selling newspaper on roadside. My father didn’t know about this. Once we students had to exhibit our works and ithad a coverageon  television news channel. My father heard when my name flashed as a participant and he was filled with proud feeling for his son and never stopped me from doing Art after that. Though I didn’t complete the school due to financial constraint and thus have no certificate in Art.

I had my first successful exhibition in 1992 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra. From that time on my life as an artist changed. Before this exhibition I was already selling my smaller works at Arts Center, Accra.

How do you navigate through the art world?

I have an active account on Facebook and Linkedin as well. I have successfully sold my works through Facebook. I regularly post my new paintings and people appreciate it. Interested people  contact me directly. Though there are ups and downs sometimes. Sometimes people commission the work they see on Facebook in their desired dimensions.

During your journey as an artist, were you influenced by other artists?

In my college days Mr Apekoh mentored me. In my initial days as a young artist I was studying and observing all the great artists who visited Arts Center in Accra. Wiz (Wisdom Kuduwor) has influenced me and given a lot of encouragement. I love the energy of Prof Abelede Glover. I learned from him how to keep working as you don’t know when a buyer will come for some of your artwork. We are not only working for ourselves but for the future generation. What are we leaving behind? I want my grandchildren to see my works and feel proud .I do have some works which I am not selling as they are my family property.

Coming out of an art college you are required to create art in a specific way, some create the works that sell. Is that a determining factor in your art creativity?

As an artist you have to survive by selling your art. But in my opinion don’t sell all your works. Keep some to yourself which will in future define you.I sometimes gift a work to some clients and in return they bring more clients. Sometimes you have to make some works that will sell but as you are doing that you have to measure your work, it has to stand test of time.

How did you develop your style? What are the subject matters that you handle?

I would like to leave that to art writers. I just paint whatever comes to my mind and not think of painting in a particular way. Over a period of time people do recognize me from my art. For me it comes naturally. Most of the time ,I paint through my imagination. People are painting big scenes, market scenes but I paint through my perspective, my imagination. Sometimes I paint from a photograph, people will not be able to actually recognize the place but they will surely like it.

 

What is your creative process?

Sometimes it’s a headache what I am going to paint. Sometimes I work and destroy it. Sometimes I don’t know the destination. Sometimes I start in the middle of the night when some idea strikes me.

What media do you work in? What tools do you work with?

I have mostly worked in acrylics. I use brushes and knives.

  

Do you work in series?

Not always. But if a painting is a big scene then I work on a number of canvases at one time.

We have seen very vibrant paintings of yours and there is so much movement and happening in your scenes like the market scenes and beach scenes. The themes include mostly African’s love for music , dance and social gatherings. Do you always paint what you see or observe ?

Definitely I am fascinated with these scenes. It comes from the observation of everyday life. When I am not painting I go around the city and some scenes fit in my mind and when I get back to the canvas I work from my recollection and imagination. As an artist some of the old symbols do appear in my paintings. I feel whatever comes to your mind, just do it.

When do you think that the work is finished?

According to me , artist has to know when the work is finished. I know which of my works are still not finished which you may find complete. But in such times I keep these works aside and come to it later on.

How much time do you spend in studio?

I am in my studio from morning 7am to 3pm but sometimes I get bored and don’t even pick a brush. Then I go round in the town , meet friends , do family chores. But when there is an urge I work like a horse and it doesn’t even pain.

How is the artist community in Ghana?

There is no place for artists to come together and discuss art. Everybody is busy minting money. In my opinion young generation has to work on this issue.

Where is your collective base?

My collective base is in Europe, Africa and mostly in U.S.  

How did you break in to the international art?

There is an art collector from U.S who came to Ghana for some personal work. I got introduced to him and through his contacts I was introduced to the galleries in Brooklyn and Maryland. That is how my artworks reached U.S.

What are your upcoming projects?

There is nothing like a project but my works will be showcased in a group exhibition in March 2020.

What are your thoughts on Art fairs and Art Residencies?

Every artist wants to meet new opportunities to show their work. Some are fortunate to grab these as they can afford but others don’t get sponsorships to enter these Art fairs. Getting funds is difficult in this side of the world.

How is the Art scene in Ghana?

It has a bright future. I believe that art is for common people and should be shared with them but unfortunately art is a luxury here.And still I think it has bright future.

What would like to convey to the younger generation of artists?

Paint your heart out. If you are serious and a patient artist , your art will be appreciated. It is like a football. You aren’t playing for yourself, you are playing for people to appreciate. Become a master of what you are doing.

Kofi Nduro, born in 1964 in Tarkwa, the Western region of Ghana, has had numerous art exhibitions hosted for him in his own country as well as in Europe and America.His works are widely collected. He stays and works in Accra.

His works can be viewed here: .https://www.facebook.com/kofi.donkor.9