‘How I stumbled on art style using bamboo’

Weekend Magazine: When did you decide to start using bamboo to create art?Frank Ejoke: Fairly recently, actually. The inspiration came to me in a very unique way and since then the work has been selling fast. I began painting, drawing and creating impressions on bamboo in October last year, but by February this year, I […]

Weekend Magazine: When did you decide to start using bamboo to create art?
Frank Ejoke: Fairly recently, actually. The inspiration came to me in a very unique way and since then the work has been selling fast. I began painting, drawing and creating impressions on bamboo in October last year, but by February this year, I had successfully sold two batches.
I’m a sculptor and I also paint on canvass. In the process of painting, I usually brush off my brush on a surface and one day I had a bamboo stick by my side and I kept on cleaning off my brush on it, using different colours. I didn’t even notice the beautiful effect it was leaving on the bamboo.
After working for some time, I wanted to stand up, that was when I noticed the beautiful effect my brush had left on the stick. I then picked up the bamboo stick and decorated it some more and you won’t believe how good it looked. And that was it. I got a few more sticks and painted on them and the result was so good that they sold almost immediately. Since then, I have been painting on bamboo and it has become my niche. 
WM: How long have you been painting and sculpting professionally?
Ejoke: Even before I graduated, I have been painting here and there, on commission, mainly portraiture. As a sculptor, I have not done much recently because of how expensive the materials are but I am willing to start that on bamboo now, especially using metal, fiber and car body fillers and I know it is going to give me a good impression, this is in additional to charcoal works that I do a lot.
WM: Are bamboo sticks cheap and easy to come by?
Ejoke: It is actually not. But now I source for my bamboo from Gbagyi locals who normally sell them as firewood. They are happy whenever I go to buy, because I usually buy a lot. I clean them up, treat them and paint on them and at the end of the day, they come out very beautiful and I save a lot of money I would have used in buying canvas to paint on.
I’m going to focus on that style. I am actually preparing ahead of the International Trade Fair that is scheduled to take place in Abuja in September. I hope to bring out very unique artwork for Nigerians to appreciate.
WM: Do you see Nigerians as lovers of art?
Ejoke: Yes. Nigerians really appreciate art. Some people come and stare at work for a very long time showering compliments and some do buy. Since I started painting on bamboo, a lot of people have told me that they did not think bamboo could be used for painting, so they appreciate it.
Although art is not so cheap and not many Nigerians do buy them, but they appreciate the work. Also, a lot of people come and ask for their portraits to be made and this tells me that Nigerians appreciate art. In my opinion, there is need to create awareness among Nigerians about art. Nigerians should be encouraged to patronize artists.
WM: How did you become an artist?
Ejoke: I have always had a love for colours, painting and things that are beautiful even as a child. I remembered when I was nine, I had the flair and it was so strong that I started drawing on paper and often used my notebooks. It all began when I was young. I never knew it was going to set me on this path and today I’m working hard to make my work well-known.
I believe that the uniqueness of what I do will eventually bring public attention my way. I want to become popular and be known as the ‘bamboo man’.