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- Jake Kwesi Bennett
Jake Kwesi Bennett
"I was born in Hampstead, London on a Sunday - hence my name 'Kwesi.' (Most tribes in Ghana have both day names, such as Esi for a girl born on Sunday and Kwesi for a boy, and family names.) My father worked with the Ghanaian High Commission in London and that's how I was born in London. I have four older siblings who were also born in London. <br><br>
"We returned to Ghana in the 1970s and I was immediately enrolled in preparatory school, and I eventually went on to the university. <br><br>
"I discovered my talent for art at an early age. I realized that I had the talent to draw, and I used to draw just about any object I saw. <br><br>
"I started commercial painting in my third year at the university (1993/94). I soon started selling my works at art galleries. I had my first exhibition after my graduation in 1996. It was wonderful; I made a lot of contacts and I've since maintained some of them. <br><br>
"I only paint when I'm in the mood to do so. Since you need to be inspired when at work, one needs to be in the mood to paint. I love using acrylic - it dries faster and the colors are pure and bright. I use the palette knife more than I use the brush. I like using oil pastel and chalk pastel. I also love using watercolors. <br><br>
"I love painting women because of the style they possess. Their every movement has some mystery and intrigue associated with it. I also paint gourds - a very interesting plant. I like painting seascapes and landscapes because these scenes relax the mind. I sometimes travel to get motifs of places of particular interest."