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ArtzmaniaNG Chat With Dhoro Styles

Artzmania September 18, 2021

street style, graffitti artist — *Dhoro Style*

We are excited to share with you our Artzmanian column where we spotlight Nigerian artists and their amazing works.

Our first feature goes to Peter King Ubiebor popularly known as Dhoro Styles.

With inspirations from contemporary urban cultures, street arts, Chicago muralists, tramp art and graffiti arts from the 80s and 90s, Dhoro has a strong focus on drawings, paintings, graffiti writings, and murals with spray paints and paintbrush techniques.
His leitmotif is to bring colours to places, indoors or outdoors and stand up against gloom.

ArtzmaniaNG: We heard you never had a background in arts, but in science while growing up and in school too, why did you leave science behind to do arts? 
Dhoro Styles: Art has always been about passion to me, so it wasn't really about leaving anything for something but was about "me doing me''

ArtzmaniaNG: You always refer to yourself as a battle artist. What does this mean?

Dhoro Styles:  Battle art is another way and fun in the graffiti culture to art jam. Basically designed solely for fun, and it sure does help to inspire, motivate and encourage members to grow &  better themselves as artists.ving anything for something but was about "me doing me''

ArtzmaniaNG: Street art is a lot more popular now because of the relevance you and other artists have acquired. How did you break-in, and become one of the best?

Dhoro Styles: I never thought of myself as one of the best though, but self-belief/development, persistence and consistency keep my ship sailing.

ArtzmaniaNG: Could you share your experience with one of the most challenging street art you have had to create?

Dhoro Styles: One of the most challenging art I’ve ever had to create was alongside one of my graffiti crewmates “UPRIZN” sometime in 2015, under the Egbeda Bridge, Lagos. The process of getting it done was a struggle because we had to run up and down the sloppy hill approximately 7 metres, just to spray paint graffiti throw-ups of our names ”UPRIZN STYLES” including graffiti writings of “KEEP LAGOS CLEAN” aligned with the tag name of different areas in Lagos. There was no step to climb on the sloppy sandy based floor, so it was just sand breaking down due to us stepping on it, so we had to keep running back & forth, for hours to make some line and finish it up.

ArtzmaniaNG: Word has it that you don't give sketches of what you will do on a project, how do you get jobs done without it?

Dhoro Styles:   I do present sample illustration sketches to clients before project commencement but on the other hand, I do get to a ''higher form'' unlocked, when a client gives the free will to just hit and exhibit a project without W.I.P of sketch illustrations.

Dhoro Style is on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dhoro_styles/
Interview conducted and edited by ArtzmaniaNG 
Photo Credits: Dhoro Styles

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Fabric Paints – What Not to Do as a Beginner + Go-to Supplies for You

Artzmania August 15, 2021

Fabric painting is exactly how it sounds, painting on fabrics! The best thing about painting on fabrics is the endless designs and patterns you can pull off, just like painting on canvas. As a beginner, these are some of the basic tools you need to draw/paint on fabric; foam brush, fabric paints, medium or diluent if you’ll be working for longer, and an outliner if you are trying embroidery with the paint.

Avoid the temptation to buy so many supplies: We are as shocked as you, that an art supplies company is giving this advice 😀. Focus on the essentials mentioned above and choose 3 or 4 primary colours alongside white and black. The beauty of primary colours is that you can mix two or three to achieve new colours, so you are not as limited as you think. Getting so many supplies initially might leave you more confused than equipped. As time goes on, you can buy more colours to experiment till you are a pro!

Do not Paint on every clothing surface: A light coloured 100% cotton fabric is the most suitable for painting with fabric paint. That’s what we also recommend for you as a newbie. You can start with an old bedsheet, as time goes on, paint on curtains, T-shirts, scarves, silk, basically anything, but get a hang of it with cotton fabric first.

Different Paints You can use on your Fabric:

Matte Fabric Paint – Acrilex matte Fabric paint is great for fabric works. It is wash-resistant and has excellent coverage. This is your go-to paint for all your fabric needs. For dilution use our Fabric Paint Diluent.
3D Paints – This 3D Glossy Dimensional Paint is very versatile, and can be applied on different materials, including fabrics. It is Wash-resistant and non-toxic. Apply directly with the applicator tip on the surface in lines, points and graphics. It can be applied on any type of porous and adherent material, such as cotton fabrics without starch, wood, paper, EVA, leather, ceramics, plaster, glass and cork. It also comes in glitter and metallic colours.
Acripuff Expandable Paint – This fabric paint gives off a rubber 3D effect finishing. After application it must be expanded with a hair dryer or by ironing on the reverse side. As with other fabric paints, the fabric must be prewashed and completely dried before application. Can also be applied on Paper, cardboard, wood, ceramic or plaster. When applied on these surfaces, the Acripuff must be expanded with a hair dryer. It can be applied directly with the nib or a brush. It is Non-toxic and Soluble in water.
Fluorescent Fabric paint – It comes in 6 exciting colours, is wash-resistant, has optimum coverage and can be mixed to achieve new colours! What more? It comes ready to use, is versatile and gives a glow effect under black light. It is available in size 37ml. Note that the fabric must be completely dried before application, and should be washed 72 hours after application.
Fabric Marker – These markers are great for drawing thick and thin lines on your fabrics, as well as colouring or shading. It is a go to for painting and marking fabrics permanently. The paint is wash resistant and comes in different exciting colours. For best results, wash only after 72 hours after application.

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Get Your Kids Excited About Learning Again with these three Tips!

Artzmania August 15, 2021

If you are reading this, it means you have an interest in engaging your kids better. We might not have the ultimate solution to their short attention span when it comes to school work, but we can assure you that these tips will aid their creativity, and yours too!

Incorporate arts and crafts into their weekly routine: Letting children find ways to get creative not only keeps them engaged, but it also fosters curiosity and exploration. Keep them engaged by letting them play with slime, finger paints, wax crayons and the cold porcelain/ air dry clay that allows them to mould just about anything. In this process, they develop the ability to play independently and enjoy activities that do not include a gadget. Haha, we know!

See what some #TinyArtzmaniacs created during the lockdown. (Insert pictures of kids art)

Don’t be afraid to let them get dirty: Instead of being bothered about them getting their pretty dresses and shirts dirty, see their creative moments as an avenue to bond and make memories. With the tempera gouache, finger paints and other kids craft items, your child is on his way to making the most beautiful mess, and creating sweet memories. Best part, you can join them while at it, and save pictures from those moments. Dirty hands, Cheerful hearts should be the mantra!

Have a creative corner in the house stocked with arts and crafts supplies: Having a space in the house dedicated to creating helps your child decode that you prioritise creativity, and it helps them see the importance as well. It doesn’t have to be a whole room. A corner in the room will do just fine. But let them see it and let them visit it at least once a week.

Not sure what to stock for your kids just yet. We have kid- safe – watercolours, paintbrushes, washable paints and drawing books, kids art set and a host of other kids supplies that you will find very useful. Don’t forget to tag us on IG and use the hashtag #TinyArtzmanians for a feature of your child’s art.

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To Go Hardcore or Stick with MTN 94? Here’s their Differences

Artzmania August 15, 2021

Ever Wondered the Difference between the MTN 94 and Hardcore Spray Paint? Virtually every day we receive orders for spray paints, and the most common question we are asked is “what is the difference between the MTN 94 and the Hardcore spray paints?” We decided to talk about this today to make your purchases much easier.

Montana Colors MTN 94 Spray Paint

MTN 94 spray paints are our first recommendations for DIYers and beginners in spray painting. This is because of its ease of use, blending and misting. Little wonder, it is the go-to spray can for even expert muralists. Its low pressure helps you move at your pace, and its quick-drying ability ensures that you can paint another coat soon enough if you want more than one coating. It is versatile, has a high opacity and has an extensive colour range of 216 colors in total. Montana Colors keeps expanding its already wide color range of MTN 94 spray paints, giving artists more room to push their creative boundaries.

Probably its most prominent feature is its excellent coverage matte finish. MTN 94 spray cans are extremely user-friendly and easiest to control spray paints on the market. With the introduction of different MTN caps and nozzles, users are now able to control the pressure of the painting, achieve different lines, and even transfer the spray paint from the can to a preferred container, to be applied through any other medium.

Additionally, its low-pressure variable valve system makes the MTN 94 extremely easy to handle and manipulate. This can be a con for artists who are looking to do quick work, but the Fat Cap comes to the rescue here or you can just go for the Hardcore Spray paints!

Montana Colors MTN Hardcore Spray Paint

If you live by the mantra, “Go hard or go home”, the MTN Hardcore Spray Paint is the choice paint for you. Once you get a hang of spray painting, it’s great to explore the Montana Hardcore range. It is one of the best performing gloss spray paints in the market and has become a favourite for the graffiti community.

Hardcore sprays have a fast-drying, quality hardening, and longlasting feature. It can also be used for a wide range of purposes, from domestic to professional and industrial use. It’s core feature is its glossy finish and high pressure manipulation. Compared with the MTN 94, the Montana Cololrs Hardcore spray paint has 109 colors in total.

The other main differences between the MTN Hardcore and the MTN 94 are in overall finish and color range. The MTN Hardcore spray paint finishes with a nice, lustering gloss effect whereas the MTN 94 line has a matte finish that is much more muted. Additionally, while the color range is only half the size of the MTN 94 range, (109 colors total), the range of the MTN Hardcore spray paint line is focused on extremely bright and intense colors designed to seemingly pop off the wall.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Artzmania NG is the official marketer of Montana colours in Nigeria?

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Welcome to Artzmania NG Blog!

Artzmania August 15, 2021

Artzmania NG is Nigeria’s foremost Artz & Craftz supplies store. We are passionate about fine art materials and the best craft items that help you unlock your creativity quickly. We stock a vast range, catering to the unique needs of every artist.

From starting out in May 2019 with only a handful items, we now ship orders to hundreds of artists and art enthusiasts within Nigeria. Despite this growth, our ethos remains the same: we find the best products, offer them at great prices, and deliver an exceptional quality of service.

Our blog will feature your favourite artists, art supplies, and tips on how to make the best of them. Look out for our bi-weekly posts!