THE DIARY GAME [01:05:2026] | I Studied Political Science, But Charcoal Paid My Bills || My Dry Media Journey as an Artist

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‎Hello Steemians, welcome to my blog. Happy New Month! I studied Economics, Political Science, and Education, yet it was charcoal dust on my fingers that finally paid the bills. People called my art a waste of time until one unexpected commission from a student union director changed everything.
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‎Once again, I’m here with another storytelling and captivating diary entry. Today is a day of reflection and inspiration as I share my journey as a professional charcoal and graphite pencil artist.

Work in progress shot of Dr. Patrick's portrait

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‎In fact, it’s not just about charcoal and graphite. I work with dry media, which means I have a deep interest in every aspect of dry art. I excel in some, and I’m still exploring others. That includes charcoal, pastels, graphite, coloured pencils, and more.
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‎That doesn’t mean I avoid wet media though. I paint as well. I do both wet and dry, but I fell in love with dry media because most of it doesn’t require drying time. With a deadline and a restless client, “waiting for paint to dry” feels like watching Steem price during a dip painful and unnecessary.

The finishing
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‎When I started drawing, painting, and crafting, it was only a hobby. Something to keep me busy with what I loved. It gave my life purpose, meaning, and flavour. Like adding crayfish to Afang soup, you don’t need it, but life is better with it. So I kept working. Daily. Weekly. Monthly.
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‎My friends and some family members didn’t like it. They never understood my why. To them, I was wasting time, money, and resources. “You studied Economics, Political Science, and Education. Why are you rubbing charcoal on paper?” Well, I never minded them. I stayed locked in because I loved my hobby for no reason. Passion doesn’t always need a business plan at first.

Painting murals for a friend
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‎After many years of practice, persistence, patience, and consistency, something shifted. People started asking me for commissioned pieces portraits of their loved ones or themselves. That was never my original idea of drawing. I literally studied Economics, Political Science, and Education. I was drawing for fun and personal collection, not for clients.
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‎But I couldn’t resist the demand. I didn’t want to appear weak or incompetent. More importantly, I realized my art could put smiles on faces and food on my table. So I started working for people. I started small, right around my environment.

Finishing of my first international commission job
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‎My first commission job was given to me by a guy named Humphrey. He was the Director of Socials in the Student Union Government at my school. He asked me to make a portrait of the then-Provost of the school, Dr. Patrick Uko.
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‎Look, I was super excited and honored. A rare opportunity and a huge sign of respect. My hands were shaking, but my pencil was steady. I poured everything I had learned into that piece. When I delivered it, the reaction was priceless. That was the spark.

Graphite pencil drawing of Rick Ross (WIP)
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‎The journey continued from there. From my school to my state. From my state to my country. And now, I’m internationally known. Thanks to Humphrey, who believed in me before I believed in myself, and thanks to social media platforms that turned the world into a global village. Technology didn’t just connect us it gave artists like me a stage without borders.

My second international commission job
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‎That first commission taught me three things:
‎1. Start where you are. You don’t need a gallery in Paris to begin. Your campus, your street, your WhatsApp status is enough.
‎2. Value your skill. If you treat it like a hobby, people will price it like one. If you treat it like a profession, they’ll respect it as one.
‎3. Say yes before you feel ready. I wasn’t sure I could deliver Dr. Uko’s portrait. But saying yes forced me to grow into the artist I needed to be.

Locked in and working as a newbie
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‎Today, dry media is still my first love. There’s something raw and immediate about charcoal. No mixing, no drying, no waiting. Just you, the paper, and the story you want to tell. Graphite gives me precision. Pastels give me emotion. Coloured pencils give me playfulness. Each medium has its own language, and I’m learning to speak them all fluently.
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‎To every young creative reading this: people may not understand your why at first. They’ll call it a waste of time. They’ll ask when you’ll get a “real job.” Keep going anyway. Consistency is louder than criticism. Your Humphrey is coming, someone who will see your work and open a door you didn’t know existed.
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Another international progress

‎But don’t wait for Humphrey. Keep practicing. Keep posting. Keep improving. The internet is your gallery, your client base, and your community all at once. Use it.
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‎I won’t bore you with too many details tonight. I’ll stop my diary story here for now. However, in my next entry, I’ll tell you about Humphrey. How we met, how he impacted my life, and how we’ve stayed friends from 2016 till date. Trust me, that story deserves its own post.
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‎Thank you for reading, for supporting, and for believing in the power of art. Let’s keep creating, one stroke at a time.
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‎Goodnight, Steemians. Stay tuned for my next diary entry.
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‎Keep your pencils sharp and your dreams sharper. ✏️
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‎Keep steeming friends 💙
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