Merlyn Felix Addo's journey to painting

Artwork which includes Paintings in Ghana was once seen as not a lucrative space to get into but it is currently, gaining its space with time. Émile Zola once said, "The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without works". Artworks such as paintings, drawings, sketches, sculpture among others makes our life colourful and meaningful because it expresses a lot of words with a simple art piece.

Pencils and poster colours play an important role in the art industry, but it is currently taking a transformation with the rise of technology, which has made it more easier, convenient and faster known as Digital painting. It evolved from the traditional ways through the use of pencils and poster colours into the use of Information Communication Technologies on a canvass and this transformation has become another talent making art more accessible and attractive.

People just admire art from afar without engaging more in it, to get to know the brains behind the piece of art. Some festivals like the "Chale Wote" festival has helped to promote such works and created some awareness which has today made art gain a wide audience space.

In Ghana, there are limited government institutions such as the technical senior high schools and universities pursuing the visual art program which include; paintings and other sculpture works and just a hand full of private entities encouraging creativity too.

This, as a result, discourages families from allowing their children to limit themselves to their talent but rather pursue other programs instead of visual arts. It has also become a threat to some individuals with the desire to venture into art in higher education after completing the visual art program during their senior high school days, leading to a lot of individuals at home because of the limited space in their field to enhance their skills.

The few who end up in the tertiary institutions either change their program of study to a non related art field such as nursing, law, business administration etc. whilst others manage to find a way to feed their talent by engaging in activities to enhance their talent in order for it not to meet its untimely death. But the question is, what of those who can not pursue their education but find themselves at home?

Merlyn Felix Addo a Ghanaian based Artist with his creativity to create portraits with emotions is not an exception in this case. He was discouraged by his own mum not to follow his passion in the field of art, at the tender age of five where he was once beaten because he was found painting.

First painting at the age of Five (5)

He had no other option than to give up on his art skills based on his parent's desires. He focused on his education and had his way through Senior high School at Anum Presbyterian Senior High School where he studied Business Administration to pass through the system. He furthered his studies at the Presbyterian University College in the year 2013, where he studied BSC Mathematics (Accounting).

Fortunately, his talent found him, as his passion for painting ignited with a dare from a friend, who placed two hundred Ghana cedis (¢200.00) on a bet for him to paint. This dare shook the passion he had in him for the years gone by and he started painting. It opened several doors and opportunities for him aside from schooling. But this, may not be the case for others and as a result, skills, passion, and talents of those individuals may meet their untimely death because they may not nurture their gifts and might end up losing it eventually.

MC Illusion "Omari" 2018.

He had an opportunity to teach children how to paint, and with his little experience, was able to take them through their Children’s week Celebration in Kumasi Ayigya Calvary Charismatic Centre which became a success. His group topped the event with twenty-nine over thirty (29 /30) score points at the end of the celebration. This gave him the edge to work harder and continue the path of his God given talent. It was actually the first achievement with his talent.

Made of Silver “Pierrette” 2018

“Talent is natural, but skills is only developed by hours and hours of beating on your craft”-Merlyn Felix Addo

Based on his achievements and passion for art he was encouraged to embrace his talent after meeting a Professor in art, Mr. Bumah at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who enlightened the greatness in him. He gave him brushes and colors and taught him how to get his own canvas (A board artist paint or draw on) and to go ahead to fly towards his dream.

Made of Gold "Sam" 2018

He had his first exhibition in 2014 which was held at the Presbyterian University College campus (PUC). It was a huge success which resulted in fetching him a lot of sales and gave him an income to start his own art business. After that exhibition, he had several contracts from some respected individuals and Organizations such as Kula Perry CEO of Fear No Man, Mr Francis, Manager of Consolidated Bank of Ghana, Abetifi Presbyterian University College Board, Vodafone Ghana etc. This paved way for more contracts to sell his brand. He also did paintings for some prominent people at a no charge rate and delivered it to them for either a hype or for recognition of his brand. Every artist has a brush name, of which his has been "Montex". He derived his inspiration to his art work from different angles, but ultimately, Enya, a female musician. She inspired most of his art works especially with her sad songs, such as "Dark sky island", "Books of days", "Now we are free" among others paved way for some of his creativity because it entails emotions.

Every painting, has its own unique identity which had to do with the name, the time or year in which it was made, the size, the type, the meaning (coded & uncoded message)something secretive about the painting, which could be described as the motive behind the painting, which enables it to glow in the dark, or some having vodka(Alcohol) and others with blood which exhibits its own uniqueness. According to him, A fundamental rule most artist go by is the fact that, they can not have an art piece duplicated for another person unless the original owner requests for a duplicate.

Painting, has made people renowned and rich example includes "salvator mundi" (savior of the world) attributed to Leonardo Da vinci, which is currently the most expensive art work worth $453million.

Painting, like any other art, is very expensive and requires a lot of dedication, hard work, commitment, economically and on the passionate level in order to come up with an exclusive artwork. "Art isn't only about painting, but anything that's creative, passionate, and personal. Great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator" - Seth Godin

A Treasure Map Art Piece with blood.

Some portraits and paintings of the Artist.

Writer: Priscela Ofei-Mensah

Student Journalist(Ghana Institute of Journalism).