My Color Journey: The Unscripted Language of Art...
Every color tells a story. Sometimes it whispers, other times it roars but one thing remains constant: color never lies.
This photo captures a moment in my creative process that I call “My Color Journey.” It’s not just paint on paper, it’s emotion in motion, a dialogue between instinct and imagination. For me, this is where art becomes therapy, business becomes purpose, and color becomes language.
I remember sitting at my worktable that morning with nothing but a blank sheet, my markers, and a cup of tea. There was no plan, just a strong pull to explore what color could say for me. In that quiet space, the conversation began.
The pinks bled into blues, blues flowed into greens, and soon there was a visual rhythm a pulse that mirrored the creative energy within. Each streak, each blend, told a piece of my story as an artist who has navigated the evolving world of contemporary African art and found her place through fearless expression.
The Freedom of Color Over the years, I’ve come to see color as both a rebellion and a revelation. Rebellion, because I refuse to be boxed in by art trends, academic expectations, or even by my own comfort zone. Revelation, because color reveals truths I sometimes can’t articulate with words. There’s something deeply personal about letting colors lead. When I first began experimenting with abstract expressions, many wondered why I didn’t paint “traditional” subjects or recognizable forms. My answer was simple, I paint emotions, not objects. Color became my compass. It led me to bold experimentation with recycled materials, unconventional textures, and mixed media expressions. Each pigment became a metaphor for something larger, resilience, curiosity, chaos, joy, healing. To collectors and curators who’ve followed my journey, my work might seem fluid and spontaneous. But behind every splash of color lies intention a story of evolution, courage, and constant learning.
The Freedom of Color Over the years, I’ve come to see color as both a rebellion and a revelation. Rebellion, because I refuse to be boxed in by art trends, academic expectations, or even by my own comfort zone. Revelation, because color reveals truths I sometimes can’t articulate with words. There’s something deeply personal about letting colors lead. When I first began experimenting with abstract expressions, many wondered why I didn’t paint “traditional” subjects or recognizable forms. My answer was simple, I paint emotions, not objects. Color became my compass. It led me to bold experimentation with recycled materials, unconventional textures, and mixed media expressions. Each pigment became a metaphor for something larger, resilience, curiosity, chaos, joy, healing. To collectors and curators who’ve followed my journey, my work might seem fluid and spontaneous. But behind every splash of color lies intention a story of evolution, courage, and constant learning.
Beyond the Canvas: A Journey of Purpose
My color journey isn’t limited to my studio. It spills into how I build communities, mentor artists, and advocate for creative sustainability through initiatives like Artmiabo and AMIAF (ArtMiabo International Art Festival).
In every project I curate or support, I ask one question:
“What story do we want color to tell about Africa now?”
At AMIAF, I’ve seen how artists from across Africa transform discarded materials and limited resources into powerful visual narratives, bold, unapologetic, and full of life. The hues are not just aesthetic; they’re socio-cultural statements, reflections of hope, resistance, and identity.
My own palette is influenced by this spirit the Lagos and Johannesburg energy, the unfiltered creativity of African youth, and the rhythm of the city that never sleeps but always dreams.
When Art Becomes a Conversation
Posting this photo on LinkedIn might seem simple, but it represents something deeper, the intersection of art, identity, and innovation.
To me, art is not separate from business; it is business. Every collector, curator, or brand that invests in an artwork is also investing in a story, an idea, and the person behind it. And in today’s digital world, stories matter more than ever.
That’s why I share these 'behind-the-scenes' glimpses of my process. I want people to see not just the finished artwork, but the thinking, the emotion, and the curiosity that fuels it.
When a collector acquires one of my pieces, they’re not just buying color, they’re buying a piece of that journey. They’re owning a conversation that began at my studio table, where color and emotion met, and transformed into something worth keeping forever.
Reflections for Fellow Creatives
If you’re an artist reading this, here’s my truth:
Don’t wait for the perfect concept. Don’t chase approval. Just start and let your colors lead the way.
Art is not about perfection; it’s about presence.
Every stroke, every blend, every “mistake” adds depth to your story.
If you’re a collector or art enthusiast, I invite you to look closer the next time you encounter a work that moves you. Ask yourself, what conversation is this color trying to start with me?
Because when art truly connects, it stops being decoration and starts being dialogue.
In Closing
“My Color Journey” continues, evolving, expanding, deepening. Each day I rediscover why I fell in love with art in the first place: its power to translate feeling into form and turn the ordinary into something meaningful.
This photo isn’t just a snapshot of me painting, it’s a reminder that creativity is alive, unpredictable, and constantly unfolding.
And if my journey inspires someone to pick up a brush, collect a new piece, or see color differently, then my purpose as an artist is fulfilled.
After all, color is not what we see, it’s what we feel.
Miabo Enyadike
Fine Artist | Founder, ArtMiabo | Curator, AMIAF