The first time I witnessed Baah The Artist doing a live painting, I marveled. It was one Friday at the Accra International conference Centre during the Young African Leaders Summit 2019. He asked the delegates to count up to 100. Once the delegates started counting, he started drawing. We didn’t know what to expect but he pulled a great masterpiece of Ghana’s founder, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. You can watch that video via this LINK.
After the summit, I decided to get closer to him to listen to his story; how he started and how he got to where he is now.
Derrick Baah goes by the stage name Baah The Artist, a young man who is very passionate about art. Derrick was Born and raised in Accra, Ghana but he comes from Aprirede in the Eastern region. He currently stays at Sprintex in Ghana’s capital.
He does graffiti, pencil, oil, and acrylic arts. Baah realized his talent at an early age.
“I actually saw myself become a great artist when I realized in primary 6 (that) lot of my friends in class, brought their art assignments to me to draw for them”, he said.
This lead him to pursuing Arts at the senior high school and also at the Technical University. Derrick remembers he had to do free works at the onset.
“…sleepless nights and sacrifices to make sure we meet standard. Doing free works for people was normal”, he narrated.
“It hurt but my focus was to sharpen my skill and when I knew that I have grown with time, decided to make money with my talent”, he revealed.
Derrick Baah believes that art has given him the platform to show the world what he does even though there’s more to achieve in life.
When asked of where he sees himself in the next five years, this is what he said;
“I see myself owing a school and building my own gallery, holding exhibitions both in Ghana and at the international level”, he said.
Derrick has done live paintings at events and concerts. Some of his works include;
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A painting for Oheneyere Gifty Anti at Women in Worship concert at Trinity Baptist Church.
- Live painting with Micheal Stuckey (U.S gospel singer )
- Portrait for Joe Mettle
- Graffiti painting of US president Donald Trump at Chale Wote Art Festival in August 2019.
- Portrait of Bishop T.D Jakes
- Live painting on Citi Tv
- Performed at Young African Leaders Summit 2019.
Baah The Artist wants to use his talent to teach other young people that, they can also make money with their God-given talents when done with the right attitude. He added that, art is worth pursuing and one must be bold when making the decision to become an artist.
Baah advises other young people to come to the realization that, “nobody owes them” and “with this mindset they will be able to achieve more.”
“Secondly they should always be ready to sacrifice for what they believe in and it will be as they desire.”
One can contact Baah The Artist through his email and social media pages.
@baahtheartist on all social media.
Email Theartist2525@gmail.com
Call: 0571121825/ 054887410
