Elected as An Associate Member of The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (The Journey)

My journey and passion with Oil colour started while I was at Yaba College of Technology between 1992-1997. It was where I discovered this wonderful medium, up till then I had only painted in water based media.

ROI 2007- The painting Rush Hour III won the First Prize in the Winsor & Newton Under 35 Category. 

I can't remember the exact year but something tells me it was in 1993! I heard a lot about the prolific painters in the Higher National Diploma classes while I was doing my National Diploma in General Art, from other art students in my class. They told me to ask politely to get a chance to watch them paint! I tried peeping through the windows first, but the windows were too high up! One day, a day that would be the day I got "trapped" in this medium was an afternoon when so many of these guys were painting pictorial compositions directly from sketches they had composed from life and imagination in their sketchbooks. They had massive palettes all placed out with juicy blobs of oil colour pressed out on them in a very orderly manner. Some of them had also mixed all the tones of each of the colours they were going to use to paint! The smell in the room was terrific! Turps and Linseed reeked in the whole place! I saw these guys absorbed completely in their paintings with various sized hog brushes bashing against their large canvases, the least sized canvas in the studio was a 24" by 36". These guys were bold with colour!! I was allowed to sit at the back and watch for a while, until I couldn't hold it again! I just shouted, "SEE COLOUR!!!"- which was a Nigerian way of saying, LOOK AT THOSE WONDERFUL COLOURS!!! That was it! From then, they would nickname me, "See Colour". That was the day I would decide to specialize in Painting! That was the day I got hooked on Oil Colour!

It's 20 years since I got introduced to the medium and I remember doing my first Oil painting in 1994 or there about. I accepted a commission to do 3 Oil paintings and I had never used the medium. I took up the challenge, gave it my best shot and my friend who commissioned me to do the work, paid me N800. That would be about £8.00 in today's Pound Sterling! But N800 was a great bonus for me and I went on to sell more work and win major art competitions where I was awarded N15,000(£100) in 1996! So I was thrilled with my improvement!

ROI 2008- Felt really great, My painting Rush Hour IV was hung in the main gallery next to Past President- Dennis Syrett's painting!!

Then in 1999 I came back to London, where I was born, to continue my life and see if I could further my career.  But when I came over it was a total shock! The culture shock was too much for me to handle! I went to the job centre in search of something I could do and it was a great disappointment!  I couldn't get to do anything but menial jobs, so while doing menial jobs-I decided never to stop sketching even if I couldn't get back to painting.  I later volunteered to share my art skills with homeless people at St Mungos in 1999 and I did that for 6 months after which I got a temporary job there.  I later got a permanent job working with homeless people from 2001-2008. I would one day become full time painter in 2008, till date!

 When I got enough money to buy my first set of oil colours in the UK, I was so pleased, that would have been around 2000 or 2001. Then the magic started again! I started painting portraits and I started getting commissions too, in oil!

In 2003 I decided to do a Diploma in Portraiture at the Heatherley's School of Fine Art in Chelsea. There, the tutors enlightened me greatly on how to mix and use oil colour properly, more than I had ever known before. Alongside this, I would buy loads of instructional books on Oil painting- The Best being Alla Prima, everything I know about Oil Painting by Richard Schmid. It was an Artist called Z. S. Liang that recommended the book to me after contacting him for advice on how to kick start my Oil painting on another level and I must say, this book completely gave me everything I needed to know about the usage of this medium. I don't know how many times I have read it, I still read it every now and then, it is a book one can refer to in a life time. The only thing I am yet to do in it, is the almighty colour charts, which my painter friend David Pilgrim cracked and he is now a Full Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. 

ROI 2009- Great feeling again as my Painting , "Summer Light, Clapham Common wins The Artist Magazine Award!

Immediately I left Heatherley's I decided to take up entering into competitions and open exhibitions at the Mall Galleries. The first society that I got my work into was the Pastel Society, in 2006! Then I got into the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal Society of British Artists! I was so pleased that I finally tried the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 2006. I was encouraged to take part because in 2005, one of the students from my Portrait class at Heatherley's won the 2nd or 3rd Prize in the Under 35 category. So I put in 2 works but none got in! I wasn't discouraged because one of them had a D, which means it was judged and then rejudged before it didn't make it into the final selection.



So I thought if I could get a D in my first attempt, I'll do much better work and see what would happen. In 2007, I entered 2 paintings: one of a Homeless guy and one of my Rush Hour Paintings. The Homeless Painting was Rejected BUT The RUSH HOUR painting was accepted and won the First Prize in the Under 35 category! I was over the moon! That was the first time I would get  a painting into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Exhibition and the last time I would be able to compete in the Under 35 category. It was a great boost for me to win and ever since then up till 2012, I have exhibiting regularly with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

ROI 2010- My painting at Norfolk was one of the paintings I did in my First Instructional DVD! You can get a copy of it with Town House Films.

In 2009 I was made a Provisional member and then in 2012 at the Annual General Meeeting after the December show I was elected an Associate Member! The journey has been long since I first discovered the medium and I am so glad to be associated with such a prestigious society!

ROI 2011-Great feeling again as my painting of "The Face of Homelessness, Kings Road" is one of the first to sell, even before the Private View starts!

I am also thrilled to be taking part in my first exhibition as an Associate member in April this year, at the A K Wilson Gallery. I'll update you with the details when the time is near.

ROI 2012- Great feeling as my painting "The Face of Homelessness, Earls Court" gets hung in the main gallery alongside Roger Dellar, A prolific painter and member of the RI and PS.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Never ever give up! You might be down today, feeling low, but don't let that feeling affect your tomorrow!"-Adebanji Alade

Adebanji featured in The Artist Magazine February 2011

Adebanji painting in acrylics pen plein air

I only knew about this yesterday by Carolann, she put a comment on one of my posts this week, that read, "Splendid as usual. I have been reading my Artist magazine - it is really nice to see you in print Adebanji"- I then gave it a good thought, because I haven't even seen the article myself. I went on The Artist Magazine website to see if I could get anything related to the article and they have put a good entry on it HERE, to see the full article you need to grab yourself a copy of the February Issue of The Artist Magazine, which is on sale now!


The Artist Magazine- FEBRUARY 2011

If you also want to enjoy the article with the full DVD, you can order your copy from Townhouse Films as they have produced a WONDERFUL FILM of how the scene in the article was painted from beginning to end. One of the great advantages of watching and reading about how other artists work, is that you can gain a full insight into what goes on in their minds and how each artist differs in making decisions that help a painting progress from the first marks to the end! Be Inspired!

Special quote
"If we hold a vision or a dream deep inside our heart and mind, it will begin to not only influence our attitudes and actions, it will reach out and influence the circumstances of our lives."
-Stephen R Covey author Living the 7 Habits

MY PAINTING DVD is now out! (Behind the scenes shots)

The DVD is now out! Its ready and you can now place your orders with Town House Films. I have watched it and it's gonna be great for anyone who'll like see what goes through my mind when I paint and how I have used 4 different techniques to start 4 different paintings all done on the spot at Cromer!



Here are loads of pictures behind the scenes, enjoy!

















In my next post, I'll be giving you an update on my exhibition with the lessons I have learnt from the 3rd and 4th Marathon! The works are already being bought even before the Private View! Now you tell I'm really happy!

Coastal Adventures in Acrylic (DVD) The trailer is here!

This is it! The trailer is just to wet your appetite! If you love plein air work, direct painting, painting with passion, or you love acrylics and would love to explore some possibilities with it outdoors- you'll ENJOY Coastal Adventures in Acrylic. It was an adventure for me and I strongly feel the only thing that takes that "spirit of adventure" we all had when we were younger out of us, is the fear or failure and sometimes rejection. But getting it back can be intoxicating and inspiring! I have always been inspired by the impressionists, they took a bold step at a time when the public was used to seeing something comfortable, something they were used too, something all too common and then came these guys in Paris with a new way of seeing! They painted the effect of light on their subjects with freedom and expression in bold vibrant colours. That movement changed a lot in art and here we are today still affected by their adventure!



This has been part of what keeps me sketching and painting. I have been affected by the freedom of the impressionists and I put all passion and energy into what I do, it's that childlike adventure bursting out in me again! THAT'S WHAT I SHARE IN THIS DVD! Hope you enjoy it, when it is finally released on the 29th of November, 2010 by TownHouse Films.

The DVD has 4 paintings I did, all using different techniques to start. I am also very pleased to let you know that the first painting I completed in the DVD has been accepted in the prestigious Annual Exhibition of the ROYAL INSTITUTE OF OIL PAINTERS. If you are in London at The Mall Galleries between the 8th and 19th of December, don't miss it. You'll be able to see the works of some of the Countries top painters in Oil and some upcoming young painters in the Under 35 category! It's always a great to see Oil used in diverse ways and also acrylic. Some may ask, why acrylic, when it's an Oil exhibition? Well, the organizers have always accepted acrylic if it is used and the work produced framed like an oil painting.

I'll keep you updated with more on the DVD, when the release day is near, meanwhile, watch out for my Bath Marathon 4 PART 3, tomorrow!

My New Painting DVD-More Information

As promised yesterday, in this post I'll just be giving a little more information about the DVD with some more pictures. When the trailer is out on YOUTUBE, I'll be making a new post on that later on. The release date is the 29th of November and you would be able to get them from TownHouse Films.

During the summer holidays I travelled to Cromer to do 4 paintings, all of which are featured in this DVD. It is titled,"COASTAL ADVENTURES IN ACRYLIC"

These are some pictures taken during the shoot out at Cromer.



Adebanji on Cromer Pier with the onlookers
While painting this you'll be able to see the way I plot the scene to include figures along the Pavilion and how simplified it can be.




The mediums I used for the paintings





This is the way I used my palette throughout the paintings





These are the colours I used during the whole coverage, all Winsor & Newton Artists Acrylic




Adebanji painting Cromer from the Rocket House Cafe
While painting this you'll see how, from a toned monochrome surface, the painting starts to build up with life and vibrant colours all painted with PASSION!


Stay tuned as I keep you updated, meanwhile I'll continue with my Bath Marathon 4 PART 2, tomorrow!

Bath Marathon 4 PART 1 and a bit of info on my new PAINTING DVD

This is Part 1 of a 5 part series of posts for my 4th Bath Marathon. I'll also be giving you some information about my new painting DVD, which features me painting at Cromer on the coasts. Tomorrow, I'll make a full post all about it and as the day of release gets closer, I'll be posting more information about it!

BATH MARATHON 4


156- Queen's Square, Autumn I- My first shot on the 4th marathon, I got to Queen's Square and made the first Autumn series at Queen's Square.



157-Here it is Green Street at night, a beautiful scene at night, the first street I lived when I got to Bath last year. There was no need for the camp light because the light from Jack Wills was sufficient!



158- Queens Square Autumn II- The sun had a brilliant effect on the tree and kind of cut the tree into equal parts of light and shade diagonally, I couldn't resist it! I got a commuter to take me pictures here, which she recommended I send to her. She loved the piece! Bonnie got some video recording of me here too!








159-Queens Square Autumn III- This one was done in a real heavy shot, one of my favourites. I felt a bit nervous as Bonnie was recording on her camcorder from start to finish, we were lucky, the rains started when I pulled my last brush stroke! ENJOY THE MINI CLIP OF IT ABOVE ON YOUTUBE




160, 161- Queen's Square Autumn IV- This is a double, I wanted to capture the beautiful building along Queens Square- The picture is not that good because the rains came rushing I got soaked and my painting too! I really got discouraged here. Then a lady cheered me up, she said she had been watching me from her office window when I did "159"- She said she really loved it and saw that I packed up, immediately the rains started- Now-every little encouragement when painting outdoors HELPS!



162, 163-The Abbey at Night(LIGHTS ON) I have done this scene before but it was with the lights off. the lights go off at 12 midnight. This time I started a bit earlier and I was able to get the texture and beautiful relief structures on the building! This place rocks at night! This painting is better seen in the flesh, I really used pounds of paint!



164-Brock Street, facing the Royal Crescent-I had just finished meeting Peter Brown on Gay Street. I was inspired! I was on my way to the Golf Course but when I got top Brock Street, the light got me I set up and with fire I knocked this one in an hour!



165- Upper Church Street, without the cars- I was still inspired here. So I got only a few steps down Brock Street and discovered Upper Church Street, as I was painting one guy begged me not to put the cars, I agreed, so it is titled, "Upper Church Street, without the cars"

MY PAINTING DVD
As said earlier I would give this a full post tomorrow, but I can't wait to share some of what you are going to see in this DVD. Earlier this year I went with the crew from TownHouse Films to Cromer to get this done. When it is out you'll be able to see everything I do and how I do it in full hot "speed" from start to finish. All paintings were done in acrylic and it's great to see the techniques involved. Below is a picture taken during the shooting. More to come tomorrow!