THE ART OF A WOMAN

Art has always been a powerful tool for creativity, self-expression, and healing. It has the power to transcend boundaries of language, culture, and geography, and bring people together in a shared experience. This is why World Arts Day is such an important celebration of the power of art to inspire, heal, and empower individuals and communities alike. On this special day, we celebrate the journey of Viola Dodoo, an inspiring artist who has used her passion for art to empower others. In this article, we will explore Viola’s journey, her inspiration, and the impact that her art has had on those around her. Join us on this journey of discovery and inspiration as we celebrate the power of art to transform lives.

The transition from being a law school graduate to an enthusiastic artist.

On a serene Tuesday morning, my team and I journeyed to meet Viola. As she entered the premises carrying a few of her paintings and tools, she appeared just as I had seen online. With her fair complexion and medium length green colored dreadlocks, she exuded a calm demeanor. Meeting her for the first time, I was filled with a sense of admiration and anticipation for the artist whose work had left an impression on me.

Journalist (left) posing with Viola Dodoo (right)

Viola’s passion for art started from childhood through little sketches. She is a self-taught contemporary visual artist, muralist and illustrator who has spent the last four years, falling in love with the various vibrant tapestry of art. She is creative with every medium she gets her hand on: walls, canvas, handmade bags and any other medium. She works mainly with acrylics but is skilled in the use of watercolors, markers and digital art. In our conversation she shared how she discovered herself during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The patterns depict the wavelength in music.

“When I was in secondary school, I offered General Arts but that consisted of Economics, Geography and Elective Maths. That was the hard stuff, I did nothing related to arts. I only designed cards for my mates when we had to send letters to other schools which they loved. I was only having fun. I actually feel like I always knew I was good with art but I did not think of it as a full-time job.”

Viola continued, “After senior high school, I was uncertain about which career path to pursue. I was actually very clueless. My mom was the one who suggested the study of law because I love to read. So, I started law school. And during my third year, the pandemic struck. While at home, I experienced boredom. However, whenever my friends visited, we would invariably begin painting. At that time, I shared my works online and got a lot of people showing interest. Some even wanted to buy them. I then decided to quit pursuing law so I could pursue art full time.”

Viola shares how she began law school even though she was unsure about what she wanted.

“When I initially told my mother about my decision, she was not happy about it. She suggested that I could do art on the while being a lawyer. But when she realized how serious I was, she eventually became supportive and has since been to a couple of my exhibitions” she recounted.

The Art of self-expression.

Art has been a transformative force in Viola’s life, providing her with a means of self-expression. Through her art, Viola channels emotions and stories, breathing life into her creations with a distinctive flair that is unmistakably hers. Her use of mixed media, incorporating elements of acrylics, oils, and unconventional materials, adds depth and complexity to her pieces, inviting the audience to explore and interpret the layers of meaning embedded within.

Her inspiration comes in different forms but mostly from real life experiences. Just at a glance, she gets inspired by the light rays hitting a person’s face.

“I get inspiration from everywhere including Pinterest but mostly real-life experiences. The aim however is to produce art that is more meaningful, that is referring to social issues. Arts that speak on sexual harassment, sexual assault, what it is like to be a woman and what it is like to be a black person. I want my art to start a conversation, to move you to action” She stated.

“An example is a painting I did which three faces had attached to one. This was to represent different personalities which anyone can interpret differently. That was the intention behind it. I like to leave my art open for different interpretations. As an artist, I can use colors, lighting and shapes to express things that you cannot really express with the use of common words. There are certain things that cannot always be expressible through verbal language. But I can represent them with my paintings” she explained.

A piece about alter egos and the multifaceted nature of human beings, being able to juggle different personalities.

Although Viola has started telling stories with her arts, she aspires to get to a point where her art becomes a platform for advocacy, highlighting social issues including mental health, and the issues women face in society, reflecting her views as a feminist.

“Untitled, 2023”, the Elf painting reflects Viola’s interest in marrying elements of fantasy with modern elements as an artist.

Using art to project my identity and race.

Like every other artist, Viola started drawing cartoon characters which she found interesting and intriguing. But she wanted a niche for herself and originality for her works.

“I started drawing in my room, which I still do. People paid me to draw their favorite cartoon characters, but I wanted to do something original, something that felt like me, so that when people see my works, they can immediately associate it with me.” she said.

Viola draws in the comfort of her room.

“Works focused on feminism, female portraiture which are heavily influenced by the beauty of black women in all its forms are specific to me. I project black women on the pedestal through my art because I am a woman and racially black.”

“That is what black artist should be doing. We should focus more on projecting ourselves through our arts. Since I fall into this category, I want to shed light on who I am and where I come from” she added.

A piece incorporating adinkra symbols.

Personal growth and community impact

Art has facilitated personal growth for Viola. It has paved way for many opportunities which includes participation in several exhibition and collaboration. Viola has also had the opportunity to sell her arts beyond Ghana.

“I have had lots of opportunities which I may not be able to list them all. I have done about 11 exhibitions since I started four years ago. Some of them have been commissioned and some for exposure. About 2 months ago I did an exhibition at the British Council. I also collaborated with a handmade bag company where I painted on the bags. It was a collection for Valentine’s Day. I have also had the privilege of participating in exhibitions with other women which provides us with visibility and recognition.”

“I do mural paintings for community impact. I beautify spaces, organize some sip and paints, hosted some events where I taught kids and families how to paint. “

Sip and paint event with families.

“This is more like a community building activity because I am interested in connecting with the community. I am actually planning some art events now. I want to be an artist but I also want the community to be involved in the process somehow. It is not just the artist who should be making art anyways” she explained as we shared a moment of laughter.

Viola aims to have an expanded specific audience that relates with her art and what they stand for. At the moment she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design at Radford University as a way of self-investment and development.

Conclusion

As I conclude, Viola Dodoo has woven a narrative of self-discovery, resilience and creativity. Her transition from being a law school graduate to impassioned artist serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of following one’s true passion. Through her paintings she does not only communicate the complexities of a society, but she inspires by speaking truth through art.

As we celebrate World Art Day and reflect on the myriad ways art shapes our world, let Viola Dodoo’s story serve as a testament to the boundless potential of creativity to ignite change, foster connection, and illuminate the human experience.