Before anything the whole TLOTA team want to say a big happy birthday to our brother. We are glad our paths crossed and may 

Nature (Kwabnat) real name; Albert Kwabena Adabo, was born and raised in Tema. He started exhibiting his skills in live art sketch at age 10, parents noticed and encouraged him. At age 15 he started painting on his own, his first oil painting on canvas which he  sold to his neighbor. Kwabnat got his name "Nature" from his grandpa Polycarp Anderson (who is also his mentor) because his art works looked natural and real. He has the ambition of being amongst the best hyperrealistic artist the world would ever witness.

He received his middle education at the Tema Methodist Day Senior High School from 2007 to 2009. He then upgraded himself at IPMC College of technology in 2009 where he studied graphics and website designing for diploma.  Kwabnat is curious and  always wants to explore the different fields of art. He loves to do live art and expresses it at exhibition events with pencil more.

He is inspired by artist like Kelvin Okafor, and other fellow artist like JD.Hillberry, Omar Ortiz, Simon Hennessy and Charles Geong. He also had the chance to exhibit his works in some parts of his country Ghana. He now works as a portrait painter, pencil artist and a graphic designer.

ARTIST STATEMENTS
 

His interest for pencil art began way back in 2008 where he discovered pencil artist Kelvin Okafor on the internet, at then he was more into painting but had a little idea about pencil shading. Kwabnat said, in fact  he was marveled and he couldn't believe  a person could use a pencil to create a piece so real and lively. Since then,   Kwabnat focus diverted straightly into pencil art.

He had worked over 500 portraits in both pencil shading and paintings, majority of them being commissioned. Due to his natural ability and passion for portraitures he had being inspired to draw many celebrities like John Dumelo, Yvonne Nelson, Dr.Crym, Martha Ankoma, Beyonce Knowles, Ishaan, Justin Bieber, Ana Brenda Contreas, Chika Ike, Nadia Buari, Kofi Annan, Lauryn Hill etc.

John Dumelo (Actor/Director)

The first step he considers before starting a drawing piece is, he studies the picture for a couple of days just to draw inspiration and interest from the picture. After this he focuses on his goals which are details, precision and realism. Spending some time with the picture he develops the best technique to carry out his work.  Kwabnat says, the most interesting part of the human figure he always loves to render is the face  because he thinks that's what identifies human beings. “Art my soul “

Kwabnat was one of the exhibitors at TLOTA 
exhibition where he amazingly captured a lot of people on paper with his pencil. We can't to see Kwabnat achieve his dream of being the best hyperrealistic artist. The world is your studio mehn. Keep Vimming and Happy Birthday Day! 

Photo Credit: Enoch Nsoh Photography

I am CASODJE. On social media, I am known as Adjetey Bass. Art and instruments has been in the family for long. Grandpa was an artist, Daddy plays the drum and it is natural that I Draw and play the Bass. 

Growing up was like a battlefield. I had to work hard for everything I wanted. I got my primary and junior high school education from the Freeman Methodist School, then to Koforidua Secondary School now (OBOSS), where I read Visual Arts and then to IPMC for a diploma in Graphic Design. 

Sold at TLOTA Exhibition

I am a freelance artist and bassist  now so y'all keep the commissions coming; Na man for chop.  The art just popped up from nowhere. I have had teachers though Edwin Opare was my first till I became his competitor lol. Now, I look unto Ray Styles, who’s been an amazing friend and an inspiration. A teacher in this thing they call Hyperrealism Movement. 

However, I nearly became a drummer like daddy. It took just a week to grasp what my teacher taught me. The guy tutoring the bass guitar was lazying around  so I had to swap and start learning the bass guitar. I have had teachers here too. I believe it is - arts and playing instrument - a never ending cycle, a long learning curve where one can always improve and become best than they are. 

Latest Piece (Minister Joe Mettle)

 

I have been a part of TLOTA from day one. And I was the most successful artist at the first exhibition because I exhibited one work (The Ugly Old Woman) and it was bought :) . I went home empty handed with a fatter wallet. 

We look forward to better days where the face of art would be changed in our part of the world, become more resourceful and all that.  To the young ones, keep practicing, get a mentor and be humble, pray and always be positive. 

Chale the world is too small for us. Long Live TLOTA; Long Live Session Boys; Long Live CASODJE. Am out!!!

Theo pencil was born in the year, 5th may, 1993 and raised in Accra/Ghana. He attended firm foundation senior high school which is a private institution in Ghana. His real name is Theophilus Boateng Kwaku Sarpong but popularly known as Theo pencil. He discovered his talent as an artist at the age of eight years when he used to draw cartoons just for fun. Theo pencil advanced as a pencil artist at the early ages of seventeen as a self taught artist, he is good in color works but most of his master pieces are in pencil which inspires him allot. At the age of nineteen,Theo pencil made presentations of realistic portraits to some popular personalities such as: Nana Akufu Addo{the presidential candidate for the new patriotic party}, honorable Shirley Ayorkor Botwe and Jackie Appiah who is an actress.he never took any art lesson or classes.He mostly works on human figures.At the age of nineteen,he also made realistic portraits of some of the world’s famous personalities like Barack Obama,Nelson Mandela,Kofi Annan,The late president of the republic of Ghana known as John Evans Atta Mills and Jerry John Rawlings who was formally the president of Ghana in the 1980′s. Theo pencil is found of listening to music when ever he is working on his artworks which serves as a source of entertainment to him.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAMP HIMSELF
                                         

I want to capture and describe a persons presence and specific inner self. Similar to what a detailed writer might employ in their analysis of an individual, I portray not only the physical attributes, but more importantly the subjects inner presence of life. It’s not too obvious as my work appears most detailed, but I understand my approach as both representational and lyrical, using marks like words and textured areas like paragraphs. All parts of a whole, telling a story about a human being. 

I choose drawing over painting as this allows me to create many layers over layers of lines and dots which react to each other in order to create a vibrant texture with directions and movement. This approach enables the finished work to be viewed more by the “senses” as opposed to the standard visual observation of a photo. Personally, I view the practice of drawing as reminiscent of scratching on a surface to observe what’s hidden underneath, where as the nature of painting projects more the inverse, covering and hiding details and forms that might have contributed to a sensuality of a work. 

I work in a style that most people refer to as photo-realism or hyper-realism. I use photos as references for my hyper-realistic drawings and paintings but I am not after a perfect reproduction at all. I use a photo very loosely once the proportions are established. I usually work as if I were drawing from a live model actually. I work with movement and expression, working fast on larger, more unimportant areas, and slowing down on parts that need more attention. I am actually improvising a lot. My main concern is to capture the essence and substance of forms in order to get close to a perceptible presence of the subject. 

He currently has a set up at the Accra Mall where he works and exhibits some of his latest art pieces. 

He was one of the main exhibitors at the maiden edition of TLOTA exhibition in January 2014. Where he  exhibited some of his amazing works.

TLOTA is proud to have such a  talented brother, pushing art across borders, who has also been meeting with great people like, Former President John Agyekum Kuffour, Kweku Sintim-Misa (KSM), Her Ladyship the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood all to talk about the future of art in Ghana as the talents of young ones grow wild. We say Long Live  hyper-realism and  Ayekoo to Theo !!

Photo Credit: Enoch Nsoh Photography.

Jonathan Kwegyir Aggrey got married recently to Lawyer Adewumi Olaoye and the whole TLOTA team is expecting another champ in water color few years to come.

Lets take a trip down memory lane, Mr. Kwegyir Aggrey, the youngest of eight siblings, was born in 1984. He received both his basic and senior education in Ashaiman.

When he was about five years old he knew that he wanted to be an artist. His family and friends did not discourage his early efforts but rather visualized his potential and realized that he had to be an artist. He continued to study and work as a part-time roadside artist from 1995 to 2003.

 He moved to Accra to stay with his uncle Mr. Richard Acquaah-Harrision who is his inspirational mentor and later also study under a professional painter Mr. Enoch Yaw Mensah of Freehand Studio, with whom he studied.

Jonathan likes to work in all kinds of media but he is best known for watercolour. Jonathan has had the privilege of exhibiting in group and solo exhibitions in Ghana and abroad, appearing in several publications. He has completed his Degree studies in Art Education (Bachelor of Arts) at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. Jonathan works as an Art educator/teacher, painter, sculptor and book Illustrator.

Jonathan has been on the of Board of Juries/Member of International Watercolor Societ, an International Ambassador for ISFIT 2013 and also Board Member of Art Society Advisory Committee, University of Education,  Winneba. 2011-2012.

Awards/Prize:

• The Second Degree Diploma Awarded by St. Petersburg Watercolor Society Art-Bridge-

Watercolor-2013 International Competition, Russia

• Istanbul Watercolor Society/Istanbul Suluboya Toplulugu, Turkey.

The Best Watercolor Painting of Month of May Contest. 1st Place Winner 2013.

•Romania Portrait and Caricature Personalities Award. 2011. Romania.

 Publications/Articles: 

•http://www.galeriacromatica.com/gallery

•http://walkartroad.blog.com/2013/10/28/the-black-star-of-ghana/

• Istanbul Watercolor Society/Istanbul Suluboya Toplulugu 2013 Catelogue page 37

• International Watercolor Society Catalogue, 2013 page 155

He was one of the main exhibitors at the maiden edition of TLOTA exhibition in January 2014. Where he first exhibited "New Day, 22 x 30 inches" a water color piece he did for new year, amongst other  beautiful works.

TLOTA is proud to have such a humble, open minded and talented brother who is pushing art across borders being part of Us. We say Ayekoo !!