African Creatives & Societal Expectations

In a world where success stories often echo the triumphs of athletes who have soared beyond the confines of their African roots, it's time to shine a spotlight on a different arena of excellence - the realm of artistry. As an African visual artist hailing from Nigeria, I've grappled with the societal perceptions that often belittle the pursuit of artistic endeavors, painting them as frivolous or impractical. Yet, in this narrative lies a profound misconception that deserves to be challenged.

Take, for instance, the awe-inspiring journey of Israel Adesanya, a testament to the unyielding spirit of African excellence. His meteoric rise in the world of mixed martial arts defied all odds, showcasing not only his physical prowess but also the resilience ingrained in the African spirit. However, his success transcends mere athleticism; it serves as a beacon of hope for individuals across various disciplines, including the realm of visual arts.

As an artist in my late thirties, I've encountered my fair share of doubts and societal pressures. The notion that dedicating oneself to the pursuit of art is synonymous with idleness or lack of ambition is a fallacy that permeates our cultural landscape. It's a sentiment that often whispers in the recesses of my mind when I immerse myself in the creative process, questioning the validity of my endeavors.

But here's the truth: artistry is not a frivolous pastime; it's a profound expression of humanity's collective consciousness. Whether through strokes of paint on canvas or intricate sketches on paper, artists have the power to evoke emotions, challenge perspectives, and ignite social change. Our creations are not mere indulgences but rather catalysts for dialogue, reflection, and transformation.

Furthermore, it's essential to recognize the myriad of successful individuals of African heritage who have made indelible marks in the creative realm. From renowned painters like Ben Enwonwu to contemporary visionaries like Njideka Akunyili Crosby, the landscape of African artistry is rich and diverse. These luminaries serve as testament to the boundless potential inherent within the African creative spirit.

As I navigate my own artistic journey, I'm reminded of the profound impact that art can have on society. It's a reminder that my passion for visual expression is not only valid but also essential in shaping the narratives of our time. So, to those who question the legitimacy of my craft, I offer a simple rebuttal: art knows no bounds, and its value transcends societal expectations.

In celebrating the triumphs of athletes like Israel Adesanya, let us not forget the equally profound achievements of African creatives who dare to defy convention and redefine the boundaries of artistic expression. Together, we stand as testament to the resilience, ingenuity, and unyielding spirit of the African diaspora.

 Successful Athletes of African Heritage:

1. Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) - Legendary long-distance runner, two-time Olympic gold medalist.
2. Caster Semenya (South Africa) - Olympic and World Champion middle-distance runner.
3. Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) - NBA Hall of Famer, two-time NBA champion.
4. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) - Former professional footballer, renowned for his success with Chelsea FC and the Ivory Coast national team.
5. Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) - Track and field athlete, Olympic and World Championship medalist.
6. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - Former professional footballer, widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time.
7. Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda) - Olympic and World Champion marathon runner.
8. Mo Farah (Somalia/United Kingdom) - Distance runner, multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medalist.
9. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) - Professional footballer, multiple-time African Women's Footballer of the Year.
10. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) - Marathon runner, Olympic gold medalist, and holder of the world record in the marathon.

 

These individuals, among many others, have not only achieved greatness in their respective fields but have also inspired countless others to dream big and pursue their passions, no matter the obstacles they may face.

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery ~ Millions of Nigerians Last Hope

The $19 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery marked a significant stride towards full-scale production with the delivery of an additional one million barrels of crude oil, bringing the total to two million barrels. This development holds the promise of not only boosting the nation's economy but also alleviating the hardships caused by the soaring cost of petrol in Nigeria.

The refinery's recent purchase of one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited underscores its commitment to kickstarting operations. This marks the initial phase of a larger plan, with a total of 6 million barrels set to be supplied by various providers.

The delivery, which was efficiently discharged into the refinery's crude oil tanks, has generated optimism among oil and gas experts who anticipate a positive impact on Nigeria and West Africa. With a production capacity of 350,000 barrels per day, the Dangote Refinery is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the economic landscape.

In a recent telephone interview with Vanguard, NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, expressed excitement about the refinery's progress. He emphasized the significance of the facility in reducing the country's reliance on fuel imports, a reliance that has persisted for decades despite Nigeria's substantial proven oil reserves.

Ayuk highlighted the forthcoming production of diesel, aviation fuel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Premium Motor Spirit. He emphasized that these products would contribute to Nigeria's self-sufficiency, allowing for exports to regional neighbors and potentially ending fuel subsidies, high prices, and inconsistent supply. This achievement sets a formidable benchmark for other resource-rich African nations.

Dr. Diran Fawibe, the Chairman of International Energy Services, echoed Ayuk's sentiments, acknowledging the positive ripple effects, including job creation. He stressed the importance of refining as a crucial component of a producing country's economic strategy, recalling historical instances where nations engaged in conflicts to secure their energy security.

As we eagerly await the full operationalization of the Dangote Refinery, there's a palpable sense of hope in the air. This development has the potential to usher in a new era, mitigating the challenges posed by the high cost of petrol and positioning Nigeria as a self-sufficient player in the global energy market. While we cautiously acknowledge that this is still news, the optimism surrounding this milestone is undeniably contagious. Here's to hoping that 2025 will mark the year when Dangote Refinery becomes a beacon of progress for Nigeria and the entire West African region.

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Nairaland Shutdown ~ Why we shouldn't burn it down

In the wake of recent events, it's hard to ignore the controversies surrounding Nairaland Forum. The temporary takedown has brought to light the need to appreciate the unique aspects that set Nairaland apart, even in the face of its imperfections.

Nairaland, often criticized for its occasional descent into negative tribalism, presents a distinct advantage over platforms like Reddit. While some may find the discussions here discomforting, we must acknowledge the platform's commitment to free speech—a value that often takes precedence over political correctness.

One undeniable truth about Nairaland is its rawness. Unlike Reddit, where unpopular opinions can be buried beneath a sea of downvotes, Nairalanders have a reputation for addressing issues head-on. It's a place where, for better or worse, candidness is celebrated.

Reflecting on past discussions, I recall an instance where someone attempted to downplay the grim reality of ethnic cleansing in the Middle Belt, using impeccable English grammar to cloak their perspective. On Nairaland, such an individual would likely face immediate and unfiltered backlash—receiving the blunt honesty of fellow users who refuse to sugarcoat their responses.

This may seem like a 'disgusting' aspect of Nairaland, but let's consider it in the context of free speech. In a world where censorship and the suppression of differing opinions are becoming increasingly prevalent, Nairaland stands as a bastion for those who believe in the power of open dialogue, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths.

As the platform faces challenges and undergoes necessary scrutiny, let's not forget the importance of fostering an environment where diverse opinions can coexist. For the sake of free speech, let's give Nairaland a second chance—a chance to evolve and demonstrate that the strength of our community lies in its ability to navigate the complexities of open discourse.

In solidarity for a more open and resilient Nairaland,

Yours @faceland

Ifeaka Terry

A major national newspaer (The Punch), documented the event:

https://punchng.com/popular-website-nairaland-is-down/

&

https://punchng.com/netizens-lament-as-nairaland-server-down/

 

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Twitter X Downtime: A Glitch, Hack, or Psychological Experiment?

In recent hours, users of Twitter X, now under the ownership of Elon Musk, have been experiencing an unexpected and perplexing issue – the platform is down, hacked, or simply malfunctioning. As users eagerly navigate to their timelines, they are met with an eerie silence as the feed fails to display the usual stream of tweets. Instead, a peculiar phenomenon unfolds: the platform automatically suggests new profiles to follow.

Speculation runs rampant among users as they grapple with the mystery behind this unusual behavior. Is Twitter X the victim of a malicious hack, or is this an orchestrated experiment by the platform's owners? Elon Musk's influence has undoubtedly brought a wave of changes, but could this be a deliberate move to reshape user interactions?

One prevailing theory suggests that the automatic profile suggestions may be part of a psychological experiment aimed at increasing the number of followed profiles. By steering users toward new accounts, Twitter X could be testing the impact on user engagement and the dynamics of online connections. This strategy, if true, raises ethical questions about user consent and the boundaries of experimentation on social media platforms.

On the other hand, a more optimistic perspective points to a potential engineering glitch. Technical issues are not uncommon in the realm of social media platforms, and the timing of this incident might be purely coincidental. Users are left wondering if the platform's backend is experiencing a hiccup, resulting in the temporary disruption of the familiar Twitter X experience.

As the outage persists, the user community remains in the dark, unable to access their regular feed or comprehend the motives behind the automatic profile suggestions. The absence of official communication from Twitter X only fuels the speculation, leaving users to craft their own narratives to make sense of the situation.

Regardless of the cause, this unexpected downtime serves as a reminder of the inherent vulnerabilities and complexities of online platforms, even those under the leadership of visionaries like Elon Musk. Whether an intentional experiment or a technical glitch, the incident prompts users to reflect on the power dynamics within the social media landscape and the implications of such disruptions on their digital experiences.

As users eagerly await the resolution of the Twitter X downtime, one thing is certain – the incident has sparked conversations about the evolving nature of social media, privacy concerns, and the delicate balance between user experience and platform experimentation in the digital age.

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Artist Packaging themselves for the Art World with Limited Resources: An African Artist's Journey

In the bustling city of Bauchi (Nigeria), I find myself juggling between my passion for art and the need for a day job to sustain myself. Balancing these two worlds poses a unique challenge, especially when it comes to marketing and presenting my art.

My trusty laptop, albeit fairly effective, faces a significant hurdle – no battery. On the other hand, I have an ancient laptop, so slow that I playfully renamed it 'typewriter' because it struggles even with basic internet tasks. Despite its slowness, it comes with a battery. However, the catch is, I can't work online with it.

Complicating matters further is the unreliable electricity in Nigeria. At my workplace, there's only electricity from 6 pm to 6 am, making it impossible to carry my laptop and work during those hours. Financial constraints make getting a new laptop seem like a distant dream.

In this challenging scenario, my phone becomes my lifeline. Despite its limitations, I've managed to create a thumbnail using an online editor called Canva. This tiny device has also been my tool for creating videos, recording voiceovers, and even converting text to speech.

While the road ahead may be tough, and the resources limited, I'm determined to make the most of what I have. Every creation, every video, and every piece of art is a step forward in my artistic journey. Thank you for joining me on this challenging yet rewarding path.

Thanks for reading through.

Artist Ifeaka Terry

https://youtube.com/tugis7

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Grok and ChatGPT Face Off ~ AI Chat that is not politically correct

Elon Musk's introduce Ai Chat

Elon Musk recently unveiled his latest AI chat, Grok, under his Venture XAI initiative. Grok boasts noticeably fewer restrictions compared to its competitors and is promoted as capable of answering questions with a touch of wit and a rebellious streak. The company's website humorously warns against using it if you hate humor, claiming Grok can respond to spicy questions typically rejected by other AI systems.

While the announcement doesn't clarify the exact meaning of "spicy" or "rebellious" in the context of commercial AI, concerns arise about potential risks. Most AI models are programmed to abstain from generating explicit, violent, or illegal content and minimize biases. Without such safeguards, there's a worry about AI's potential involvement in nefarious activities.

XAI's announcement mentions that Grok is built upon a language model known as Grok 1, featuring an impressive 33 billion parameters. They claim to have developed Grok in just two months, highlighting a significant advantage in real-time knowledge through the XPlatform, formerly known as Twitter, acquired by Musk for $44 billion in 2022.

Stella Biderman, an AI researcher with Uther AI, finds XAI's claims credible, suggesting that Grok likely employs retrieval-augmented generation to incorporate current information from the XPlatform into its output. Other advanced language models, like ChatGPT, also use similar techniques, relying on search engine results and other sources.

Over the past year, large language models have demonstrated remarkable capabilities, ingesting extensive text data from books and the internet. They undergo human-guided training to reduce the likelihood of generating offensive or dangerous content, enhancing their ability to provide coherent responses. However, they still remain susceptible to errors and biases. The launch of Elon Musk's new AI chat raises questions about its practical use, with skeptics viewing it as a potential hype or the next big thing after ChatGPT.

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Simple drawing but took an hour to draw

 Here is a rough sketch I just made.

It ought to be a quick drawing however, it took an hour to draw. The pen wasn't discharging ink the way I wanted, It was very uncomfortable to use.

I might attempt the drawing again with a different pen of even different medium. 

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Qualified for YPP after 12 Years on YouTube

YPP means; YouTube Partnership Program

 

I have an art YouTube Channel that would be 13 years old this month. The issue is that the channel just wouldn’t grow. This partly due to the infrastructural challenges I have as a citizen of a third world country. I can’t have clear camera and when I manage to get a meritocratic HD video shut with my phone, it is hard and expensive to upload GB video. I just can’t produce a quality visual on YouTube which is my shortcoming. I also procrastinated and wasn’t consistent.

 

I have another YouTube art Channel that had zero followers until I uploaded a video that had nothing to do with art. I did about 5 more video on the topic that was unrelated to art and the second video got me the 1000 subscriber and 4000 watch hours alone. So art for me is evidentially not a popular niche for me. I can’t make the visual and artistic effect that might be valuable to the different art community on YouTube. I was a very active user are Nigeria biggest online Forum (which drives the most traffic to my videos), however not up to 3 persons from Nairaland ever subscribed to my channel despite I have auto requested for subscription in all my 1000+ comments.

 

So my videos are not appealing to the art community online (so far).

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Upcoming Nigerian artist should ignore trying to get into big galleries.

 For the past few years, I have come to the conclusion that it is fruitless chasing the big galleries in Nigeria (if and only if) you are an upcoming Nigerian artist without an art degree.

It is better to just grind online and identify yourself as a so called "outsider artist". Ignore the big galleries because they would reject you except you have started making waves on your own. They would come to you when you don't need them anymore, and has already started making a name for yourself independently.

Change is the only constant and those old "gate keeper" are getting obsolete. The traditional way of doing things are getting lose in the digital age. Now we have artist selling digital NFT for millions of dollars on their own without a gallery (having their own collectors and fans).

Even before the 2020 global pandemic and subsequent lockdown, many traditional galleries in England were closing down in mass. These days, the big galleries are active online and the majority of their follower are aspiring artist that are mostly ignored by these galleries.

This is just my opinion as a 12 years veteran online artist. I have made up my mind to never try to "suck up" to any big galleries. I reject them because they were useless when I needed them the most.

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My failing art blog – Is Blogging Dead?

 

My failing art blog – Is Blogging Dead?



Look at the statistics for my blog. This is discouraging. I would like to boost my traffic. Only 17 views for the whole month?



The first thing that came to my mind is that; I must ride trending topics… I might use my intuition to try and figure out how I can do this. Of cause I would document what I do here.



Every time I work (when I work), I would make sure I put in a years’ worth of work on that day (that means I dive in)… Right now I don't know if blogging is still a thing or it has really been over shadowed by SOCIAL MEDIA.




With only 17 views a month, it would be a successful blog if that single blog post gets 17 views.

 

Failing Art Blog (only 17 views in a month)

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AdSense unit display ads after entering PIN

I finally got my AdSense PIN delivered to me via mail. This is after 5 months of my first request and being demonetised in the first week of February. Coincidentally, a few left-wing political channels on YouTube were kick out of the YPP (YouTube Partnership Program). Guys like Graham Elwood were hit and I am sure if he is patient and smart about it, he would get back in next month.

 

It was distressing and I made my second request for the PIN on February 6th 2021. I got the mail yesterday 25th. I thought it was stolen during the #EndSARS civil unrest in Nigeria back in October because my first request was on October 4th 2020. I went to the post office to complain that a mail I was expecting has not yet arrived 5 months later and I was told that no post office was looted during the riots. So I stated suspecting that may it was the global pandemic that made the mail to be frozen somewhere.

 

I spent my whole time at work manually turning on the monetization setting of all 500+ videos on my channel.

 

Anyway, as of now 10pm Friday 26 February 2021, all my websites are displaying ads again and my videos too. It gave me a new appreciation of that source of income. I think I might concentrate on generating something from it. You never know what you have until it is gone.

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Challenging myself daily and trying to apply the philosophy of winning daily

There was a motivational speech I heard but never saw the speaker. I thought it was Jocko Willink but the speaker cuss a lot and I suspect it isn’t him. The speaker taught that to be a winner, you must try to win daily and if you win every-day (little by little), you would eventually just be a ‘winner’. Basically ‘incremental progress’ explained in a way I have never hear it explained before.



It also remains me of Dr Aziz on YouTube who once taught about accepting challenges with a phrase of “Bring it on”.



Today: I intend on making personal list of things (that if I do, I would consider that day as a win, these are usually unpleasant things that I have been procrastinating or would probably procreate on). Just two or three main goals & the rest are minor goals which might sum up to 30 items daily (however, the most important task would be the first 3).



Today being Tuesday 9th February 2021, I would do some deep cleaning (might take 4 to 6 hours) from laundry to washing my bike, toilet and room. Secondly, I would study for my exams and thirdly I would just make a quick sketch that would be filmed to be uploaded on YouTube (I might not have the time to upload it on YouTube due to my double shift just for today). 

 

 

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Cultivating artistic discipline by sketching daily

Ballpoint pen drawing on recycled paper (daily drawing goals).

I am an artist who procrastinates a lot. My first attempt at vlogging on YouTube was centred on the habit of procrastination and my struggle to overcome it. I have an overwhelming amount of “great ideas” which unfortunately, can never be fulfilled completely. At the time I published my first vlog, I thought I would make the next episode within one or at most two weeks, but that didn’t happen. 2 years later and I am yet to publish a follow up.



In my quest to reinvent myself as an artist, I am convinced that sketching every day is an important ritual that I must practice to achieve artistic discipline. For example, each time I take a long sabbatical, I notice that I have to paint or draw for a few hours before my hands remember how I hold and use the tools.



In the Bible the whole-number or ‘number of completion’ is 7. However, personally the number that symbolise completion is the number 10. Coincidently, I have reached the tenth year on the internet trying to publish and market my art. I got online just after the ‘great internet art bubble bust’ (in the year 2007, which was the peak of online art sales). That year, people were making tens of thousands of dollars just selling their original art online then all of a sudden it just drop (like it’s a hot object). Had it been I knew then, what I know now; I would probably be a millionaire by now.



I have been doing some sober reflection and at this stage, even without releasing a great amount of ‘finished’ work, I have amassed a verse quantity of knowledge on online marketing. It is really time to apply these knowledges.

STARTING ANEW

Back in 2007, when I was first experimenting with the internet, I was able to make a religious paining called ‘Anew’. Now looking back at the work, I know that the young man who created that painting has drastically changed from the grown up man that I am today. My philosophy about art, religion and life are no longer the same. I feel showing some of my old artwork in the year 2019 would not be a true representation of who I am or what I want. Those works belongs in my personal archive. For this reason I have resolved to start afresh. I intend on making new set of artworks that would take almost 2 years to have a full set.

Displaying the old work would not only make my work lack coherence, but some of the old artworks are actually contradictory to the new once.

That means apart from about 10 works of old art, I would stock my personal website with works from 2018 and beyond (Gods willing). So to fill up the website (so it doesn’t only have 2 or 3 ‘finished’ works), I have embarked on a huge sketching frenzy while I work carefully to create the more detailed and ‘masterful’ gallery worthy works. Hence the daily sketch undertaking.

THE DISCIPLINE I ACQUIRED OUTSIDE OF THE ART INDUSTRY

I have a day-job (as a part time artist) where I spend an average of 10 hours on the job and my phones are always open for work related emergency calls. I refer to is as my shi**y job because of the very poor income but priceless experience and exposure. As someone who use to suffer from severe SAD (social anxiety disorder), interacting with the public on a one-on-one bases has given me the exposure and strength of character that I would have otherwise never had (especially if I isolated myself in an art studio).

Another advantage acquired outside of the art industry is the work ethic and the ability to work long hours on things I don’t like. When I was 12 years old, I could paint right after school 2pm until 5am the next day, only getting up briefly to eat or urinate but I was ‘fuelled’ by my love for art and passion. There was a time I got a 12 hours a day job and I quit after 2 days because it felt as if all I was doing was sleep and work. Now, I can easily pull an 18 hours surprise extra time (and still be on stand-by during the remaining hours of that day). At my place of work, I am the person to stand-in for anyone who quit their job or fall ill. I recently discovered that the fastest way to lose 10 pounds of body weight OVERNIGHT is to pull a surprise 18 hours shift, it is far effective than just fasting due to the stress.



It is my intension to incorporate these work ethic to my art career (which is my dream career), regardless of whether I have the free time or not. The only hindrance is the medication I often take to sedate me from having a panic attack during the day (part of the side effect is tiredness as it was originally meant to be a tranquiliser).

THE STRUGGLE WITH PROCRASTINATION

I am aware of my struggle with procrastination as an artist. EVERY SINGLE DAY, I tell myself I would make art today but as Steven Pressfield would say; ‘Resistance’ out smarts me. Resistance is the name the author called an innate self-sabotaging personality that most armature-artist has to overcome to become (as he themes it) “pros” (in his book ‘The War of Art’ which I recommend all career artist read).

The only difference is that this time, I have gained a lot of knowledge from following people like Jorden Peterson (who I respect and also hate at the same time), Mal Robbins and Brian Tracy (who I almost warship because I know what I have learnt from them, are the most influential and powerful truths that would eventually lead to my ‘freedom’ from procrastination). I am more aware of what am doing to myself subconsciously now, than ever before (and whenever I applied these knowledge, I always see the powerful results, as expected. It is the old fashion law of ‘cause and effect’).

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR ARTISTIC SKILL AND ACHIEVE DISCIPLINE?

Even an armature artist (who does it purely for the love of making art), would profit greatly from artistic discipline because it would make them skilled enough to successfully execute any idea they have at record speed (the excitement of manifesting multiple ideas is priceless). The consistent practise would result in greater efficiency.

THE MASTER PLAN

Well, as I said before, I have over a thousand ideas that I have compiled over the year. I have about 700 voice recorded ideas and many others I wrote down on papers.

So the new goal is to pick one idea after the other. Once I execute one, I rest for a day and start working on the other (yes, part of the knowledge I have gained recently is the importance of rest/break for peak performance). Some of the ideas are long term (meaning it is not something I can do in a month or a week), more like a lifestyle or a continuous activity. Two example of this long term idea is to continuously have something on my Instagram Story (probably a live sketch) or to spend 30 minutes each day reading something about contemporary art or art history.

Then there are the once where I have concept for an artwork or caricature which can be achieve and ‘tick off’ within a day or a month (I have many of these). The unfortunate thing is that it takes me weeks to ‘finish’ a single artwork and an average of 150 hours of deep concentration, so indeed I would go to my grave without working on some of these concepts.



I would start by creating an episode 2 of my Vlog, almost 2 year after episode 1. From there, I would move on.

DOCUMENTATION AND PRIVACY ISSUES

It is my intension to document almost every aspect of my artistic progression. As a new student of Gary Vee, I know the importance of these if not for today, but for posterity. However, I am the private type of person. I am sure, if you have not seen me in real life, you probably don’t know my voice or ever seen me smile, well even my next door neighbours has never seen me smile.



I don’t feel comfortable when people look at me and now I intend on posting my activities online to be judged by anyone and everyone. I am sure I would not have been able to do this 10 years ago when I first came on the internet but thanks to my day job, I have a little tolerance for this now. I intend on ‘silencing my thoughts’ as if no one is there or no camera is watching. Unfortunately, during the live section, you might hear me whisper an idea to myself or ‘think aloud’ (embarrassingly).

TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF DAILY DOCUMENTATION

I expect to face some major challenges while trying to fulfil this plan of mine to document my daily ‘studio life’.

First; I get knocked-out after work from the tranquiliser.

Secondly; There is the challenge of not having enough spare-time, which I would overcome.

Then there is the major challenge of electricity. My phone battery drains quickly so I occasionally must stop to charge it, The phone also overheat a lot (it is my camera). I am currently investing in education and it’s my dream to complete my degree (even though I no longer believe in a university degree, I feel I need to complete what I have started), so buying a new phone is out of the question for now. Couple that with an unstable supply of electricity this raining season. We are currently in the raining season and this year, it has been more of a wind than water. So after a windstorm, we often experience power outage for many hours (sometimes days). I believe my battery started developing fault because I was always charging it with a petrol generator and the current from the generators damages battery over time.

The fifth and last challenge is; internet and its cost. A ten minute video in HD is about 2GB. Only a Nigerian would understand what that means in terms of finance (not to mention the network quality and time to upload such a huge file). That means if I try to upload a 1 hour HD video daily, it would require a daily data usage of 12GB. That is why I have opted for the lesser resolution videos for now, until the time is right and I can afford the elaborate once.



Then there is the time constrain as I have to play the ‘jack of all trade’ until I am able to hire professionals who would save me the time in doing some non-artwork related work (although creative but has nothing to do with the creation of the physical artwork). Example is the editing of video (which I do poorly), and the writing up of great blog post and description, scheduling my time, research, social media engagement, photography, and etc.

All five of these challenges shall be conquered. As the good book said, the person that waits for the perfect weather condition before planting, would end up having a fallow farmland during harvest season. So it is vitally important that I fully utilise the limited resource at my disposal. I remember asking a subsistence farmer if he was able to conclude his farming before sunset, he laughed and said “that is not how farming works, the farmer does his best each day and return”.

THE CRAZY REASON WHY I WOULD FOREVER BE A PART-TIME ARTIST

It is my opinion that being a part-time artist is equivalent to freedom. I also think it is healthy.

The stereotypical image of an artist is someone who might be creative, but also weird. I don’t know why a lot of the famous once have been strange and many of the living once seems a little ‘out of touch with reality’. That is why sometimes when I see some artist explaining art creation at exhibitions, I wonder am I confused or is the artist confused? Some of them look crazy from a far so you can only imagine how much crazy they be when you have come to know them personally. Sometimes insanity is contagious and if you listen to a mad-person long enough, you too would be crazy.

Making art can sometime be a lonely occupation. One has to isolate themselves from others to tap into the ‘muse’ and get inspired or develop the ideas they might have gotten during the day, they also isolate themselves while making such artworks. Too much isolation often is a sign of an unhealthy mental state of mind. It is beautiful but if done too much would harm the practitioner. Even artist who were socially active and skilled (like Picasso) often still produce strange works of art (indicating that in the solitude of their studio, they started thinking ‘out of the box’).



I dream of one day re-opening a brick and mortal studio in Nigeria (exclusively for the creation and appreciation of art, not a gallery for displaying art but a studio for creating art). Although Tugis Art Studio is fully incorporated, I still haven’t paid for a studio. I use to have fantasy of making art all night long from my studio with the lights on and the large store door wide open for the pure natural fresh night air to blow me while I create alone or alongside a handful of artists who are fully involved with their work. This fate awaits other profession that requires focus and concentration (like the stereotypes for mathematicians and scientist). It is no surprise that Hitler was a skilled but unsuccessful artist; he woke up one day like a mad scientist and felt he would take over the world by manipulating the Aryan race. If only he had a part-time job to compensate his dream job of being a painter, he would have made controversial artworks instead of getting involved with unionism and subsequently politics (okay, that is a tasteless joke).



Being a part-time artist would make the artist a little less crazy (not completely though).

The disadvantage of being a part-time artist is that; if I try to concentrate too much on my art, I might lose my day job (which is the major source of my income and the source of my artistic freedom). You see, when you don’t depend on your art to pay for the bills, you can make a thought provoking work that might upset your collectors or intended buyers (for example; if I own a big national gallery, I can’t criticise the sitting government while begging for grant and support from that same government, I might praise it even though they don’t deserve it which adds to the delusion of the leader who is detached from the reality of his incompetence and how it affects his subjects).

BACK TO SCHOOL AND ITS CONNECTION TO MY GOAL OF HAVING AN ONLINE NIGERIAN ART GALLERY/STORE

A few years ago, I wrote about leaving school after two brutal years of schooling. Today, I have finally gone back to school but this time I want to get a degree in Business. The first exams I wrote; I studied and sat for it with the attitude of a student that just wanted to pass an exam with a great GP. After that examination, I noticed that the entrepreneurial strategy that was been taught academically was ‘creating some sparks in my brain’. I felt I would actually apply some of this ‘academic knowledge’ in the pursuit of my art career. I currently aspire to be am “Artist-Entrepreneur”. If I succeed, I would open a galley just like that of Chief Nikki but mine would be online instead of a brick and mortal gallery. It might be called ‘The Nigerian Yessy Gallery’. Back in the days, Yessy doesn’t accept Nigerians (due to the influx of scammer who were ruining the shopping experience of its users) so I intend on creating an online art hub for Nigerian artist who have been personally vented by me to be genuine (so the struggling local artist can have a shot at eCommerce).

Back in the days, Yessy.com use to dominate the online gallery sector. They bought google ads at a low price and gained greatly from it. However, they must have had issues with internet scammers and decided to ban all Nigerian IP Address from selling art on their website. Sometimes I feel like they take delight in telling the aspiring and upcoming Nigerian artist to elf off (many of whom at that time, didn’t know that there were hundreds of art galleries that accepted Nigerians but didn’t tap into the cheap Google advertisement placement on keywords in those days, so they didn’t get much traffic and sales because no one knew they existed, both buyers and seller).

Now I read with interest. It really supplemented the knowledge I was gaining online (already) and guided me to search for terms I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of researching (if I wasn’t exposed to the academic aspect of Business Management).

CONCLUSION

Ten years on the internet and it is just now I am doing what I ought to have done from day one. Although I am a little ill-equipped, I intend on optimising the current infrastructures I have at my disposal. With this limited time that I have, I have also realised that the only way I would execute this intention is if I re-ignite the passion for art that I had when I was at the early stages of discovering how to make art and practice daily by making a drawing a day, every day.

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ArtMajeur.com ~ Finally got an eCommerce after a decade

It sound unbelievable but it’s been 10 years since I last had a functional eCommerce online (where prospective buyers can just purchase my art without contacting me first). Back in 2008, after less than a year online, I found an online art gallery where I was a paid member and showed my art there for about 2 years before it closed. Since it closed around 2009 I haven’t look at that direction until today when I tested the eCommerce features at another secured online art gallery (artmajeur.com).


I am very excited about this and hope that this time, I’m able to put in 10 years of experience to be one of their bestselling artists (hopefully).


I am currently offering for sale, my ballpoint sketches at an unbelievable giveaway price (for now, to boost sales and gain trust on the platform as a serious seller).


I only paid for a month to see if it is worth it. It is my intention to try and post small work at affordable prices and test the reaction of their assumed audience. I am also driving the little traffic to the site. It is purely a marketing thing and not the romantic artist goals. As for passion, nothing can stop me (except myself) from making an art I believe in.


They claimed that I can upload unlimited number of artwork, so it is time to test this unlimited offer by posting one of my ballpoint pen sketches every single day. Anyway, I just hope I am able to utilise their platform properly (my fingers are crossed).

Email I got from the gallery that my payment was received.

  Back in 2008, I didn't have a card that could pay online. I would mail the cash to the gallery via mail. Those where the good old day.

Thanks for reading through.

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How to copy your Google plus Story after April 2, 2019

To access your full profile information after the April 2 deadline, go to aboutme.google.com 

Your information are still intact the exact way they were once displayed on Google+ so you could copy and paste vital information that might have taken you a long time to compose.

 

 

Accessing my Google Plus profile after the April 2nd Deadline

You can also download contact, picture, contacts and many more. Just go the Google page for dowloading your Google+ data.

How to copy your biography from Google Plus (Step by step)

~ Go to http://aboutme.google.com your Goople+ profile would be displayed

~ Click on the pencil icon (edit) Then click inside the box, highlight it (or just right-click ‘select all’) then copy and paste on a Word Document or on your new Blogger profile.

Copy and paste old Google Plus profile information after the April 2nd 2019 Deadline

Use this information to your digression. This information would eventually be deleted from Google Server (or so they said), so make use of the link while it works.

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Can't post on Nairaland ~ Banned?

I tried to help someone with an answer to a question (I don’t know why I didn’t mind my business) and I got banned by the antispam bot from posting anything on Nairaland. Right now, I can NOT reply to any thread on Nairaland neither can I start a topic for the next hour. However they have kicked me out of the Art, Graphics & Video section of the forum for the next 3 days. I hail my Nigerian countrymen for stumping on me.



After I did a search to find out what was going on, I learnt that I could view the reasons for the ban by going to my profile page. That was when I saw the below message. This is a post who had (at that time) less than 14 views. Obviously their algorithm is faulty or someone is pulling my legs. So based on the message; I am not allowed to post on that page for the next few days. At least until Sunday Night. 

I created 11 topics in 8 years and was still banned for spamming

I am going to check back later in an hour time to see if I am allowed to post on other categories and maybe I would publish my cartoons on the political section of the website. I know this isn’t a good sign for the algorithm to view me as a spam, that implies that my post would be promoted less (when all I try to do is ethically promote my YouTube channel while adding value to the Art section that isn’t very active).



Each video I published took me at least an hours to shoot and edit but I am not allowed to share it on a section that is in great need of fresh contents? I am not even targeting the unresponsive people in the Art, Graphics & Video category, I am targeting traffic from people coming from Google search-results, because the Search Engine favours the website when ranking search results (so I am bringing in new traffic to the website and only getting a tiny fraction to my website).



Anyway, no need to focus on the negatives because I would be allowed to post again, eventually.



The funny thing is; at the start of this year, I intended on posting daily on Nairaland and even blog about it, but I have been too busy at work and was unable to do so. I think in the past 24 days, I published 3 topics, which is less than a topic a week (so the ban was uncalled for). It makes me wonder what would have happened had I post every day as planned.

Once the ban is lifted, I would troll the moderators to let them know it’s not cool.

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