ArtistsNetwork.com 45Anne Hevener: When did
your interest in art begin?
How were you introduced
to watercolor?
Ibe Ananaba: Growing up,
I watched my older brother
re-create comic characters and
create his own. Following
comics wasn’t my thing, but
I shared his love for visual rep-
resentation and began drawing.
Looking back, I can see that
drawing helped to develop
my mind and perception about life in general. Th e
soothing, therapeutic process of making art engages
my senses, and I’ve been pursuing art ever since.
Watercolor is one of my primary media, but it’s the
most diffi cult. My love for watercolor began with my
study of fi ne and applied arts in school. My mentor
Okechukwu Iwundu demonstrated some watercolor
“magic,” and I decided to give it all the attention I could
to learn the basics and fi gure out my style. What I like
best about the medium is its fl uidity and control.
Knowing when to stop a watercolor work is a gift.
AH: Describe the art scene in your hometown
of Lagos, in Nigeria.
IA: Th e art scene in Lagos is booming. Technology and
social media have helped so much in providing oppor-
tunities for growth. International collectors and
curators are beginning to see the potential of artists
from Lagos, which inspires more artists to set up
studios, regardless of the harsh economic challenges
the country faces.
AH: Are portraits and fi gures a favorite subject?
IA: Yes. My philosophy is simple: I’m human, and fellow
humans surround me, so it makes for an easy favorite.
I also like to study identities, which leads to my love for
portraiture. I’m interested in capturing the essence of
my subject’s character and soul. I fi nd joy in observing
how light plays on the human form. Th ere’s the joy,
too, that comes from breaking the rules with an artist’s
creative license in search of new meaning.
AH: How did you come upon the idea to document
the World Cup in watercolor?
IA: I’m always looking for ways to engage my audience,
and one of those ways is by making art related to topical
issues. Th e World Cup is a global event that unifi es
people regardless of diff erences. Initially, I’d wanted to
make it more interactive by involving fellow artist
friends in competing countries, but I ran out of time.
I decided to participate in each match the way photog-
raphers do, illustrating the entire tournament, but it was
a big project for one artist to handle. I painted along, cap-
turing highlights and moments that moved me. I’m not a
OPPOSITE
Ahmed Musa—
Nigeria (watercolor
on paper, 18x24)TOP, RIGHT
Lionel Messi—
Argentina
(watercolor on
paper, 24x18)BOTTOM, RIGHT
Romelu Lukaku—
Belgium (watercolor
on paper, 24x18)