Ghanian Artist Spotlight: Tei Huagie and Circles Class

The artist, Tei Haugie, in one of his Clothoncloth pants

Tei Huagie is a man of many talents.   He is an environmentalist, clothing designer, artist, and sculptor. He also believes that he is ethically responsible for helping to clean up the environment.  Huagie puts this all in action through is many endeavors.  He is the co-founder of RECNOWA, Recycle Not A Waste, an organization dedicated to reusing waste materials into functional, artistic new items.  His Clothoncloth project reuses fabric print manufacturing and tailor extras to create new fabric.  He designs this new fabric to emphasize flow and movement for use in high fashion clothing. 
Huagie was trained at Ghanatta College of Arts and Design.  One can see the effects of his training through his inventive recycled sculpture and his dynamic composition in his highly textured canvases.  His artwork has been exhibited nationally as well as in Germany, the U.S. and Canada.

Recycled metal sculpture 'sewn' with copper wire & acrylic canvases

The intent for tonight's workshop with Huagie was to work with his concept of circles on canvas.  In his view, 'The circle symbol meaning is universal, sacred and divine. It represents the infinite nature of energy, and the inclusivity of the universe.' He went on to show us how he develops his canvases by first sketching a composition and then painting an base layer of color.  He then may further break up the original composition and reinterpret it with circles.
Huagie frequently uses circular shaped objects in his environment, such as bottle caps, lids or bubble wrap to apply the shapes to the painting.  He also makes heavy use of the palette knife to add dimension to the canvas. 

Tei Haugie's acrylic impasto canvas paintings

I strove to use his framework within my canvas during the class but I just could not quite put on enough paint for that impasto look.  It was fun to play with another artist's framework.  Thanks to Eat and Paint for organizing the workshop.  Not only do I enjoy an occasional night off to paint but I also enjoy the gourmet dinner!


My sketch, underpainting & beginning to add the circles

Our class hard at work

my neighboring student with her painting inspired by Venetian masks

My finished canvas, 20 x 40 cm

Ghanain Artist Profile and Class with Oko-Matey

Our teacher, Oko-Matey, speaking. 

Eat and Paint is an events group combining creating art and dinner organized the sculpting and painting workshop I attended.  The session was led by Artist Oko-Matey a graduate and former Lecturer at College of Art at the Kwame Nikrumah University in Kumasi.   He recently returned from a fellowship in Oakton, Wisconsin.  His artwork combines relief sculpture and painting on wood, cement, and metal.  Oko-Matey focuses on integrating traditional themes of Ghanaian visual art into a contemporary idiom.
We explored woodcarving and painting on a plank of wood with.  In addition to this enjoyable class we were all treated to an excellent, gourmet dinner at the Roots Hotel Apartment Sky Deli.   You can contact Eat and Paint here or call Fredrick, 027 442 0466. Photo essay below.

Oko-Matey's painted and carved work.



Plank series by Oko-Matey, paint on sculpted wood.

A prepared sample plank by Oko-Matey.

 

Our planks set up for our class.

Carving and painting supplies prepared.



We begin with some sketches on the plank in chalk.



Getting started on my plank.

A couple participants with gouges (the cutting tool)
and wood to pound it to carve into the wood.



A break for some dinner, spicy chilled soup,
wine (not shown) and various finger foods.
Crème Brule or rice pudding for dessert.
Don't let the small plate fool you.  There was plenty. 

My painting complete! I call it Love Maybe.