How children inspire me to paint – Clement Colours

Clement Colours is a painter and muralist passionate about training children and youths. Recently, he completed work on his studio scheduled to be officially opened today in Kaduna. In 2018 he won a million naira in the Nescafe Africa contest for showcasing, in a video, what he and his students can do with a million […]

Clement Colours is a painter and muralist passionate about training children and youths. Recently, he completed work on his studio scheduled to be officially opened today in Kaduna. In 2018 he won a million naira in the Nescafe Africa contest for showcasing, in a video, what he and his students can do with a million naira making artworks. Here, he talks about these and more. Excerpts:

You recently completed a studio where you intend to train artists, particularly children in Kaduna where you reside. What is the update on that?

The studio is an art training center and the first of its kind in Kaduna State. It’s located at Water Intake road, Ungwan Maigero. It’s ready to be put to use in training youths, and it will be officially opened on July 7, 2019. The focus would be practical work.

Your social media page is always flooded with updates on your most recent portraits, abstract works or graffiti. Do you ever get tired?

I have purged tiredness out of my system and keep working in order to grow. However, sometimes I feel very weak and lack the zeal to paint, but with the support I get from fans on social media and their request for more, I always gear up. Painting consistently is the one rule for growth. The more I paint, the more I grow.

In 2018 you won a million naira from the Nescafe Africa contest. How did this happen?

My win was a divine act and there is no specific way of saying this is how it happened. We posted a video of what we were doing in the studio and were down to earth about it. I was inspired one night by a friend’s video on Instagram talking about what he could do if he won a million naira and I found out that there was such a contest taking place where a contestant needed to post a video about what he could do with that amount. The next morning, I showed all my students in the studio and told them we will win if we post ours. So, we studied all the videos posted by other participants and decided to make ours different. Most showed individuals, so we ensured ours included everyone. The video showed a full training session and showcased what we were working on. Anyway, God answered our prayers and we were won.

Sometimes children get you to make graffiti for them in Kaduna, so much that recently you painted Spider Man. What is the experience like?

It’s an amazing experience because all these children have different super heroes they like. Sometimes while I am working on one, some ask for another. I like how they gather round and thoroughly enjoy their company as I paint. After it’s done, they protect the painting from damage.

You seem to have a soft spot for children in your trainings. What is it like and how many have you trained so far?

Children are an inspiration to me because they don’t hide their true selves. I have inspired thousands of them, including those I haven’t met but who have seen my work on walls in different parts of the city.

What work of yours would you describe as your all-time favourite and why?

It’s the painting I once did of a footballer. The work depicts strength, boldness and breakthrough. Basically, it’s a description of courage through hard work. It took me several months to complete and I used different methods of painting. My medium was enamel on board.

What is a typical work day like for you within or outside the studio?

On a typical work day is I attend to clients or friends. I paint almost all the time so it has ceased to be work anymore. I have trained myself to an extent that I hardly feel stressed when painting, regardless of the time spent. I paint all day and at night I don’t sleep early. I have been sleeping very late for years and I still wake up early to work. I use night time for personal training and train youths and attend to clients during the day. Sometimes I paint seven portraits in three days, and at other times twenty in two weeks as a form of training. The joy I derive painting is what keeps me going.

What are your greatest challenges as an artist?

I have been painting now for twelve years. After all this while, my greatest challenge remains finance and inadequate art materials. I need a lot of support in the training I provide for children and youths. I urge the government, and even individuals, to support this noble cause. Let’s make Kaduna State and Nigeria colourful.