My work explores complex human emotions – Blossom Oyeyipo

Tell us about your background and how it affects your work? I’ve always been involved in art right from childhood. I was encouraged early on by my mum to pursue it as a creative outlet and a hobby when she noticed interest at the age of 7. I went on to take private lessons at home, then I joined the art club in secondary school where I was encouraged to try different art styles including papier-mâché sculpting, painting and the things I made were exhibited in the school. I studied Building Technology in university but also picked art as my entrepreneurial route back then. When I came out of school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do but pursued construction briefly before venturing into the wild world of art making in Nigeria.

When did you decide to pursue art fully, and how was your decision received at home?

I think everyone was surprised because even though I’d been saying it all my life, they didn’t think I would actually go through with it. So, when I decided to fully pursue it in 2021, I didn’t really ask for opinions. I just did what I believed to be right in my heart.

How did you develop your art skills?

Initially, as stated earlier, I had two very instrumental teachers who encouraged me and saw something in me, Uncle Wilhelm (now late) and Mr Terna who taught fine art in Hillcrest Secondary School, Calabar. I took a break from serious drawing to focus on school for 5 years, so I was a bit rusty when I started again, I turned to self-taught route, luckily, we live in the age of accessible knowledge at every turn, YouTube, books, online courses and in 2021, I took drawing classes at Universal Studio of Art for a short period of time which really signified a growth in my work.

What motivates you to create?