Lagos: Nigerian creative artist, Olatunde Emmanuel, has developed a technique of turning natural clay into paint for contemporary portraits in a bid to promote the use of locally sourced materials in the Nigerian art industry. Using clay’s natural pigments along with ceramic oxides and binding agents, the ace artist creates vivid, durable portraits on canvas.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Emmanuel shared that his innovation is inspired by a childhood fascination with art. His interest in clay painting began after noticing clay stains on a canvas-covered table, sparking the idea of using clay as a painting medium. This concept was further nurtured during his Higher National Diploma studies where he learned traditional paint production techniques using natural materials.
Emmanuel sources clay from settlements or ceramics outlets, preparing it with oxides and binding agents for canvas use. The resulting material differs from conventional paint, being manually produced, non-glossy, fast-drying, and matte
. He believes this method encourages exploration of local materials while reducing costs and reliance on processed materials.
Beyond artistic value, Emmanuel views clay painting as an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to commercial paints, given clay’s abundance in Nigeria. He noted the initial challenge was convincing others of clay’s viability as a painting material, but interest has grown following positive results.
He emphasized Nigeria’s abundant natural resources could be leveraged for diverse purposes, potentially creating job opportunities for the youth. However, he identified lack of funding as a significant hurdle for Nigerian creatives aiming to develop locally sourced materials on a larger scale.
Emmanuel calls on government agencies to support creative ideas through funding and opportunities for research, testing, and development. His long-term vision involves elevating the clay painting concept to an industrial level, with future aspects of the idea yet to be disclosed.
He advises young a
rtists to acquire knowledge, experiment, and persist in their craft, emphasizing the importance of being experimental and hardworking.