Esther Kaki Caesar

?My name is Esther Kaki Caesar. I was born in Accra, Ghana. Painting is my specialty. My friends say I am surreal, enigmatic and funny. I come from a family of 5. I live by the maxim ?Service to God and service to man.? I was born with art, and had parents who cared enough to educate me. I became attracted by the colors of nature, which helped me express my art. I studied art in school at the Ghanatta College of Art and Design, and have even been invited to help teach art there. My education has helped me a lot, and I would love to get a Master's in Philosophy. I would support my children, should they want to get involved in the arts.<br><br> ?I lived inside my imagination during childhood, but at the age of 17 I was struck by reality, and it took me until the age of 23 to finally settle down. One difficult moment that happened in my life was when I lost my sister in a car crash. I looked up to her, and her death really affected me, but God carried me through it all. Starting on my own has been an interesting journey; as a little girl from Africa, competing with big gurus on the market hasn't been easy. However, I am relentless and continue to soar. Today, I am a member of a women's art institute that advocates art, and I am also a member of a foundation for female photography.<br><br> ?I mastered this craft by studying both theory and practice very rigorously. I would often spend 18 hours a day in the studio, experimenting with different colors and techniques. I would virtually sleep in my studio, because that's the place I love the most. I deliberately employ both traditional and innovative techniques with a variety of passionate colors. I use materials like canvas, jute sacks, raffia, and sawdust. My favorite thing about my art is the variety of techniques and applications of colors. One difficult aspect of my art is when I have to use a totally different technique altogether. My inspiration comes from nature and the complex flow of energy manifested in different colors and forms, especially during sunrise in the early morning. A funny thing that happened to me was when I first exhibited my art at the Accra city hotel. I was so nervous and totally messed up while explaining a piece of art. Everyone laughed, but it turned out alright.<br><br> ?My community has benefited from my work with advocacy being my hallmark. I am an advocate for art and other diverse fields, so that people will understand and appreciate art. My efforts have yielded a good result and positive reactions so far. My hopes and dreams are to further advocate art and its benefits to human existence, and work with other artists to establish institutions for training talented youth in the hopes that they, too, will uphold our art heritage.?