I want my ideas to visually relate the world correctly – Ebuka Pen

Ebuka Emmanuel is a self-taught hyper-realist popularly called Ebuka Pen due to his mastery of the ballpoint pen. The Anambra State-born secondary school graduate said his dream of studying computer science is alive and will not distract his work because he wants to portray the world as it is in his works.

What motivated you to be an artist?

I started making art with sticks on the ground when I was six years old. My passion to make art became stronger after my elder brother started coaching me. 

I spent most of my years in Benin City, Edo State, where almost every kid is a fan of a specific movie (mostly cartoon). So, my brother and I always drew from the DVD covers we picked up. 

What is it about art that makes you love doing it?

Art is beautiful, calm and therapeutic. Art makes me see the world differently, and it is a way of showing my uniqueness. Anytime I look at my finished piece, it makes me understand the significance and wonders of God’s creations and how to preserve them. 

When you started art, what were your fears?

I had no fears. I make art for my course, ignoring criticism and competition. I just make art in my own uniqueness. So, I fear nothing.

How have you been evolving in the industry?

A little bit rapid, because the results I get now are the fruits of hard work and practice.

Tell us about the first money you made from art?

Seventy naira was my first pay; that was in 2017. I was extremely happy to see someone pay that much for a piece I knew was not so good. But back then, I knew those little payments were mainly for building me up. Now the highest someone has paid me is $5,000; thanks to God. 

What do you want to achieve with your works?

I want to achieve perfection.

I want to be able to tell stories and bring out exactly my ideas visually and relate the world correctly.

What is that challenging part of your work and why?

Large art is particularly challenging. Usually, because of the time to create it; it gets tiring sometimes making large arts, but it’s something I know I’ll be used to someday.

What informed your decision of using pen for your works?

My elder brother influenced me. I never liked using pencil because it’s what almost every artist uses. My brother told me that one could actually use pen to draw. I tried it and grew my art with it.

With technology, do you feel threatened considering that you use pen to work?

Artists have been using pen for centuries and still use it. I believe technology will only strengthen pen drawing for me. Pen drawing is also called ink drawing. Feather and ink were used before the fountain pen was invented in the 80s. Now with technological innovations, we use nib for easy pen usage. So, technology will really help grow pen drawing significantly. 

Tell us that disappointing time with a client, if any?

So many, but this was when I was younger. On an occasion I did a portrait for someone’s birthday, and after giving my all, the client rejected the work, saying the art didn’t match the reference image. He didn’t pay me; it was really disappointing. 

Do you intend to further your education?

I said something about movies earlier; I love them. Apart from drawing I’m a movie and music director, and a VFX artist. So we use computer a lot, so I have to study it. 

Have you attended any exhibition?

I am yet to attend any, but I will try next year. I got lucky to be promoted single-handedly. No exhibition yet, but it will surely add value to my work.  

What are your plans?

I want to be one of the best; build a platform where young artists will be inspired to create more captivating ideas and bring them close to their maximum potentials and leave a legacy. 

Any lesson from the Covid-19 lockdown?

The lockdown really helped me focus on building and bringing myself out the more in art. I learnt how to understand myself better and realise how art is the greatest thing I own. Art gave me comfort despite how the whole world was hazardous and had low sales. I learnt also the essence of continuity. 

As a self-taught artist, how would you advise someone with talents but preferring a degree before practicing?

The person should go for it. In life nothing really matters, nobody knows for sure what will actually work until you try, but this is to be general. Deeply within, I want to tell the person to take that which he or she already knows first seriously, or if they can combine the two, that’ll be the best. The degree helps, but 65 per cent of the success comes from skills and practicing.