Paradigm Shift: Local Pots and Earth Pigments as Supports, Grounds and Media for Painting in Nsukka Art School, Nigeria

Abstract

It has been noted that the creative ideology of Nsukka Art School lays much emphasis on the exploration of the environment as potent creative sources of ideas, materials and forms, which has in no small measures contributed and also resulted in the appropriation of culture based art forms as viable creative resources. It is this exploration that permeates the various areas of art in the school. For instance, in the area of painting, the use of clay, other earth pigments and local pots for media, ground and supports are clearly the resultant effects and the gain of this restless search for down - to - earth materials for painting. Therefore, this paper sets to review the conventional paradigm and then underscore the paradigm shift to ascertain what gave rise to their usage, origin, as well as their advantages and disadvantages over the conventional ground, supports and media. Examples of works rendered in this manner will be used as visuals for easier comprehension. However, it has been found that the use of earth pigments and clay pots for supports, ground and media is aesthetically appealing, highly innovative and far cheaper to acquire than conventional painting materials.

Keywords: Earth pigments, Local pots, Grounds, Supports and Media and Nsukka Art School.