Basic 4 · Creative Arts · Thinking and Exploring Ideas
Studying Ghanaian Visual Artists
In this topic you will study the works of selected Ghanaian visual artists and make artworks inspired by them.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Name some Ghanaian visual artists and their works
- Describe their styles and materials
- Make an artwork inspired by a Ghanaian artist
What you already know
- Experimenting with visual art media
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Visual Arts &Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Thinking and Exploring Ideas
- Indicator
- B4.1.1.1.1 – Study and make artworks created by selected Ghanaian visual artists
Introduction
The Ghana flag and the coat of arms were designed by Ghanaian artists. Today many Ghanaian artists are famous around the world.
1. Ghanaian Visual Artists
| Artist | Known for |
|---|---|
| Theodosia Okoh | designed the Ghana flag (1957) |
| Amon Kotei | designed the Ghana coat of arms (1957) |
| Kofi Antubam | painter and designer; created murals and state designs |
| El Anatsui | sculptor; large metal tapestries made from bottle tops |
| Ablade Glover | painter of colourful market and crowd scenes |
| Kane Kwei | carpenter known for fantasy coffins in Teshie |
2. Styles and Materials
- El Anatsui reuses waste like bottle tops and wire.
- Ablade Glover uses thick paint applied with a palette knife.
- Kane Kwei's coffins are shaped like fish, cars or cocoa pods.
3. Making Inspired Art
- Choose an artist.
- Study their style.
- Make your own work using similar materials or ideas.
- Write a label saying who inspired you.
New words
- sculptor
- An artist who makes 3-D works.
- mural
- A large painting on a wall.
- tapestry
- A large decorated cloth or hanging.
- fantasy coffin
- A coffin shaped like an object linked to the person.
- inspired
- Given ideas by someone.
- palette knife
- A flat blade used to apply paint.
Summary
- Theodosia Okoh designed the Ghana flag; Amon Kotei designed the coat of arms.
- El Anatsui makes metal tapestries from bottle tops.
- Ablade Glover paints colourful market scenes.
- We can make art inspired by Ghanaian artists.
Class activity: Artist Study
- Choose one Ghanaian artist.
- Collect clean bottle tops, paper or other materials.
- Make a small artwork in their style and label it.
You need: Pencils, Crayons, Old cartons, Manila paper, Kente, Adinkra samples
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Who designed the Ghana flag?
- A. Theodosia Okoh
- B. El Anatsui
- C. Amon Kotei
- D. Kane Kwei
Show answer
Answer: Theodosia OkohShe designed it in 1957.2. El Anatsui is known for artworks made from…
- A. Bottle tops
- B. Clay pots
- C. Kente only
- D. Glass
Show answer
Answer: Bottle topsHe makes metal tapestries.3. Who designed Ghana's coat of arms?
- A. Amon Kotei
- B. Ablade Glover
- C. Kofi Antubam
- D. Kane Kwei
Show answer
Answer: Amon KoteiHe designed it in 1957.4. Kane Kwei made fantasy coffins.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIn Teshie.5. Ablade Glover is a sculptor who uses bottle tops.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseHe is a painter.6. A large painting on a wall is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: muralThat is a mural.7. Name two Ghanaian visual artists and their works.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. Theodosia Okoh – the flag; El Anatsui – bottle-top tapestries.Any correct pairs.8. Why is El Anatsui's work good for the environment?
Show answer
Answer: He reuses waste materials like bottle tops instead of throwing them away.Recycling in art.
Homework
- Collect clean bottle tops for a class artwork.