Colorful Batik Cotton Wall Hanging with African Symbols 'Our Culture' Item ID: 2677062751

"Novica has been my love at first sight.

"Yo first knew me as Edward Adeniran. However, today I've taken the name of Edward Lamptey.

"Twenty years ago, I joined this prestigious project filled with opportunities. In the beginning, I struggled a lot with my replenishment and with cracks in my paintings. I came to realize that Novica seeks not only to sell my art but also to train me as to how to come up with designs and better ways of improving the quality of my works. With time, the local team here in Ghana guided me as to how to replenishment my pieces and to avoid cracks in my work. I must say it wasn't easy at all. For a long time, I stopped replenishing my stock and started producing my designs as unique pieces. With the knowledge I acquired on replenishment, now I have started replenishing my designs. You have also taught me how to work with ease better than in the beginning. I have also found a better way of priming my canvas to avoid cracks. Another improvement I have seen is in the speed with which I work.

"Initially, I was based in Nigeria but, with time, I have been able to move to Ghana with my workshop. I have been able to widen my scope with the number of people I have taught. I have taught over a 100 pupils. Aside from the pupils I have trained, I have also trained my daughter Cecilia and my son Bright, as well as my wife, Oluwayemisi, Now they are all Novica-featured artisans as well.

"I also train students from various secondary schools offering art. Specifically, I teach batik tie-dye techniques,

"Novica has greatly affected my life. Aside from the pride of being part of such a prestigious group, you have also helped me attain certain goals. An example of one is my present accommodation, which was a result of the funds I received from selling my art.

"Nineteen years ago, I received a letter of recognition for being the best-selling wall hanging artisan and for my intense involvement in art as well as my ability to impact knowledge. My way of giving back is to introduce more artisans to also receive the fruits of Novica. My goal is to introduce artisans from the sub-regions, such as Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso."

Original Artisan Story

"Born to a Ghanaian mother and a Nigerian father on November 16, 1967, I began drawing at a very tender age, whatever I set my eyes on. What I fancied most, however, was copying pictures of historical figures like Sir Charles MacLean, Guggisberg, and Macarthy, which I found in the history book. Fine Arts was one of the subjects I sat for at the Ordinary Level (middle school) in 1979. Between 1988 and 1990, I sat for the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and for the Higher National Diploma (HND) in 1995 at the Polytechnic University. I specialized in painting with textile as a subsidiary."