Tenane Faotu Blog

Things get a lot more than real when we observe them through a magnifying glass. We get to develop more respect, more admiration and love for the smallest things. Silvio Porzionato's art takes the task of magnifying human subjects to another level. He does his figurative paintings on large canvases. Sparkling like a waterfall or a gushing stream, rich and vibrant! It may surprise you to know that these beautiful portrait paintings are actually representations of non-celebrities whom the artist engages in his creative process. Something about the way he lays his brushes on the canvas, can't really say. But you note the magnificence, don't you?

French painter and graffiti artist, Antoine Stevens stuns with his gorgeous figurative paintings. Working with spray cans, brushes, acrylics, he successfully blends urban art with classical. His works are nothing less than an artistic celebration of the strength, the beauty, delicacy and fertility of the feminine. He does it so well too. Poignant emotional states, astonishing earring designs, and energy! This one writes poetry with paints. Photo Credit: Instagram @antoine_stevens

What is popular culture without the camera? Does anyone know? Scrill Davis is one of the bright young stars in the fine business of photography. When your Alma Mater decides to run a two-day documentary on you, you know you have broken through. This is Davis's story. Fact! With his peculiar 35m Sigma lens equipment, Davis produces magnificent images like these: Humans, garbs and backdrops with the look of something more! So again, what's popular culture - the fashion and beauty industry, media and entertainment- without photography? Photo Credit: Instagram @scrilldavis

I know it's not a screen over a fine piece of art, but I still wonder if it is. These mind blowing paintings by 27 year old painter, Darian Mederos are of a series he titled 'obscura'. The creativity these works display is simply astonishing. He miraculously combines hyper-realistic and abstract in one painting, with great use and coordination of colour and light, and such honest attention to detail in a work that twists more and more into abstraction the closer you get to it. To me, it's like being outside this screen and not being able to visualise all I would like to, but then it feels like I am right there with her within the screen and I almost understand her beauty, her power, her fears, her melancholy. Great talent!                                                        Work In Progress Photo Credit: Instagram @dr_mederos

Chemical hair relaxer sales have dropped by about 12 percent in the last two years. There is evidence that it will drop even lower. More and more women (and men as well, yes) of African descent are embracing their natural hair. It is a good thing. Healthy natural hair is a beautiful thing to see, as gorgeous as a cobalt blue sea seen from some height. Oh, if you are not so sure what this natural hair is, well it's just how people refer to a black woman's hair which isn't straightened by chemicals. Ordinarily, natural hair is kinky and/or curly. I had thought that going natural could save one some money. Recent evidence however proves otherwise. Relaxer sales may have fallen but then there is a cost of maintaining natural hair, and I heard it does wonders to bank accounts. Natural hair care products like butters and oils, conditioners, shampoos, hair sprays are not so cheap. Naturalistas also have to do protective styling, braids and fix weaves sometimes when they are ei...

If you're a Nigerian man and you do not have at least one of this two-piece clothing we call Senator in your wardrobe, the country could deny you. Yes sir, I said it. Senator is not like the Agbada or the kaftan as it was invented (permit me to use that word) about a decade ago or so. But when they say 'traditional wear' now, what might be implied is Senator. This is funny as there is little that is traditional about its design even when it's created with traditional African fabric. Senator is ordinarily made from the same kind of materials used in making Western style suits. Something else, the Senator outfit could easily be worn in place of a suit. What makes this clothing a darling for the menfolk (there are senator designs for ladies as well), is how they hold the wearer's body and effect a sense of smartness, just like a suit or a Chinese tunic. It was created I am certain, as a lighter, more gay version of the Werstern suit. Senators come in a variety of...

Our world needs saving. Climate change grips its hammer menacingly at our backs and we humans still have to deal with the harm we do each other via acts of war. World population is growing at an alarming rate, while food crisis and poverty is beating humans in many quarters. So the world needs saving. But not many of us know this, because there's always going to be the 'haves' who we must forgive for not understanding how someone could live on less than a dollar a day and have basically no access to meaningful education, clean water or good sanitation; and we have the 'haves-not', who live the life but who may not really understand the threat tomorrow is laden with, seeing as surviving today is all that matters. Sorry, it wasn't my intention to pen down this much. I was just going to introduce you to this awesome chronicler of life and beauty and of stories of people who are not so privileged. Images speak louder than words sometimes, you know. So a ...

There aren't enough visual artists in the world. You don't agree? Well, it's true. Our world needs more people who make art. And you know something, almost everyone is born with artistic abilities. Except, you got to maintain something of the child in you to go on creating. If there were more artists, I bet the world would be brighter, safer, happier than it is right now. People will have time for nothing other than making and appreciating art, for loving and just living. Alright, please excuse my wild musings. I want you to meet Winette, one rising character in the art scene. She creates these gorgeous, really inspiring paintings. I had an interesting conversation with Winette and I thought I should share. Tell me about yourself and your art. Well I'm Dutch, with a white mother and a black father. I was an only child living with my single mom. I was a dreamer, always in my own world. I loved horses. I loved to listen to music and I loved drawing. I used to ...

Impasto may be an old technique in painting, but it also is the kind of style you expect only of the bravest and most experienced artists. Perhaps this is one of the reasons we all should do a standing ovation for Elena Gual, who only graduated from art academy in 2016. Elena is a photographer (self taught) and creates most of her unique paintings from pictures she'd taken. Impressive how she makes a figure alive with such realistic detail, through this complicated technique that involves thick application of paint. Please, is there a word in the dictionary (English, French, German, any language) that beats amazing? Photo Credit: Instagram @elenagual.art