The Ballpoint and the Art of Being Different 

Embracing the ballpoint pen, a lesser-known art tool, has propelled a wave of young Nigerian artists to fame and recognition in recent years. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports 

At first glance, the penetrating gaze in those eyes—much like those of the mariner in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 poem—seemed to captivate and draw the viewer in, as if a secret waiting to be revealed lurked beneath them. The youth to whom they belonged, whose sweat-beaded physiognomy suggested that he could be of mixed race, glowered hauntingly at him from the 38 x 44 cm-sized monochrome paper. But what truly set this artwork apart from others in the exhibition was its startling medium—it was a meticulously detailed ballpoint pen portrait, making it one of the top 25 most captivating works in the 2017 Life in My City Art Festival grand finale.

In this expressive work of art, the artist, Michael Jerry Opara, then a philosophy student at the University of Lagos, shared a deeply personal narrative, which ended up being his creative eureka! moment. According to him, he had intentionally set out to capture a figure shrouded in disappointment. Denied much-needed funds by his father for art supplies, Opara had defied the obvious setback by making the decision to sketch instead with a ballpoint pen. Hence, the artwork, which expressed his palpable bitterness, unfolded like a chiaroscuro of emotions, with its intricate details and striking realism telling a vivid story beyond words—a testament to resilience amidst adversity, a silent dialogue between the artist and his work.

For Jacqueline Dogun Suowari, an Abuja-based female artist, the encounter with the ballpoint pen as a medium of expression took place at a much earlier stage in her life. This was while she was still at Ahmadu Bello University’s Demonstration Secondary School in Zaria. “At the time, I used a blue pen to make drawings in my notebooks,” she recalled.

Unmistakable, though her talent for drawing might have been, making the decision to pursue a fine arts degree at the university level turned out not to be so easy after all. It didn’t help matters that she not only excelled in art but also in literature and history. Hence, she found herself bombarded with “well-meaning” suggestions from her teachers to explore alternative paths related to her diverse interests beyond the canvas.

But then, a dual wave of disillusionment awaited her upon her arrival at the University of Port Harcourt for her studies in fine art. Not only did she discover that drawing was merely one course among others in the curriculum, but she was also discouraged from wielding her trusty pen, which was deemed unsuitable for the art class. Thus, the more conventionally accepted tools of her trade in the eclectic world of visual expression became pastels, pencils, and charcoal.

She soon found herself at a pivotal moment for her career’s trajectory. This was in 2011, when the eminent Nigerian artist, Duke Asidere, organised a drawing exhibition that reignited her passion for sketching with a ballpoint pen. Thus, she was able to, after nearly a five-year hiatus, produce her first pen drawing, which gave her a lot of satisfaction and inspiration. 

This rekindled passion led her into a labyrinth of inner conflict in the subsequent years. Despite her formal training and graduation as a painter from university, she found more deep-seated contentment in drawing. Meanwhile, as she exhibited her acrylic paintings alongside her pastel works and ballpoint masterpieces, she also grappled with an existential conundrum: the absence of a distinct artistic identity. Thus, introspection and the unwavering support of her confidante, the now UK-based artist and formerly Nigeria-based Ndidi Emefiele, egged her on towards an organic evolution. Finally mustering the courage to cast aside conventional painting and pastel work, she devoted herself to honing her craft in the realm of ballpoint artistry—a hard decision to make since her paintings were the only sought-after pieces during that period.

Not quite unlike Suowari, Moses Oyeleye, as a Primary Three pupil of the Fresh Myrtle International School in Okota, a mainland neighbourhood of Lagos, discovered the ballpoint pen not only as a writing instrument but also appropriated it as a drawing medium. Back then, his notebook was transformed into a sketchpad, where he would replicate illustrations from textbooks. As he did this, he had no idea that he was honing his skill with the medium and paving the way for a future where the ballpoint pen would reign supreme as his chosen artistic medium. Fast forward to his university years; his mastery of the pen had surpassed all expectations, unveiling a world of undreamt-of creative potential.

Delving deeper into this interesting world of ballpoint pen artists dredged up a cache of remarkable talents who owe their emergence into the limelight to the BIC Art Master competition, which was first held in South Africa in 2017 before later expanding to include all African countries in 2019. Through this competition, which has been known to reward its winners with cash prizes ranging from USD 2,000 for the first prize and USD 1,000 and USD 500 for the second and third place winners, respectively, names like Oscar Ukonu, Jamiu Hassan, Eze Tulugo Ebuka, Hezekiah Okon, Dumbor Debeeh, and Nosakhare Igbinosa, a medical student from the University of Ibadan, who was the overall winner of its 2022 edition, among others, sparkle with promise.

Back to the initial trio, Michael Jerry Opara currently prefers to steer clear of the medium. This is while he acknowledges his capability but chooses nonetheless not to engage with it at present. On the other hand, Jacqueline Suowari and Moses Oyeleye deeply intertwine the medium into their artistic concepts. 

Suowari’s artistic journey is a passionate exploration of body language and identity, delving into how these elements affect interpretations and interactions. Over time, her artistic expressions have transformed steadily. She has explored diverse portrayals of the human form, shifting from realistic depictions to abstract interpretations. Moreover, her creative journey has witnessed a progression from simple pen sketches on paper to the incorporation of acrylics, watercolours, photography collages, and fabric elements, contributing to the multidimensional feel of her work.

Oyeleye feels a profound sense of accomplishment when considering the extraordinary progression he has made with the ballpoint pen. Among his latest masterpieces in the Duality series, he combines pen and acrylic on leather. While the exposed body parts of the subjects were rendered in pen, the remaining surface was done with acrylic, thus striking visual harmony.

Meanwhile, an eager local art community continues to await with bated breath and shining eyes the unfolding of more exciting expressions from this wonderland of ballpoint pen artists.