Meet Fisola, a visual artist and a medical doctor. It’s not every day you find someone balancing two intensely demanding paths, but she does it with quiet ease. Think about it: over five years in medical school, the long hours, the mental stretch and somehow, there’s still room for art. Two very different worlds, yet Fisola continues to move between them seamlessly. In this Creator Spotlight, we dive into her background, her challenges, and most importantly, how she manages to keep both passions alive.
Q: What name do you like being called? And how are you feeling currently?
Hi, I’d like to be called Fisola. Currently, I’m feeling okay—Lagos is hot, but I’m okay.
Q: Let’s get to know you. What’s your background like?
I am a Lagos girl! I grew up here, was born here, and have lived all my life here.
Primary school: Lagos.
Secondary school: Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.
University: University of Lagos.
So yeah, all my life—Lagos.
Q: Why do you draw, and what inspires your work?
In the past, I mostly drew portraits and was inspired by things around me. These days, I’m inspired by personal experiences and interactions with people and places. My work revolves around drawing parts of my body—expressing my thoughts and feelings.
Q: At what point did you realise this was your path?
Ehm, I think when I was fifteen. Like I said, I’ve been making art all my life, as far back as I can remember. But I think it was when I was fifteen that I really decided I wanted to take it seriously. I wanted to improve and upscale, so I started meeting artists—and a lot of artists have helped me along the way. So yeah, just after secondary school.
Q: I know you’re a medical doctor. How do you combine both crafts? And what are your personal goals as an artist?
To combine medicine and art, I create time. On my days off, I allocate time for reading medical books and painting. On workdays, I sketch ideas. Balance is key.
My personal goal as an artist is to be 80 and still creating meaningful art—being skillful, talented, and inspired.
Q: What’s your usual creative process like?
My creative process involves seeing, watching, or hearing something—taking it in, processing it, sketching it, and gathering materials to create the art. Sometimes, things change between the idea, sketch, and execution, depending on materials and how I feel they’ll work for the final piece.
Q: In the face of a creative block, how do you get back on track?
It’s different every time it happens, right?
I’ve had times where I get back on track by meeting other artists, interacting with them and their work, and just realizing—okay, I need to create something, or I want to create something.
Other times, it’s been just focusing on medicine—sometimes medicine can be very inspiring for art.
And other times, I just leave it alone, give myself time away from art, and come back whenever I feel inspired. So, it really depends.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge as an artist?
My biggest challenge has been meeting art collectors or other artists and having them say things like, “Oh, this isn’t serious for you. This is just a hobby. You’re not really an artist—it’s just a side quest for you.”
Because while I didn’t get any formal training in art, I do not believe it’s just a hobby. I think it’s something that is a part of me and has always been.
So no, it’s not a joke. It’s not a lack of seriousness. If it was, I would have given up sometime in medical school. This is me expressing myself, and that has never been a joke. That’s been my biggest challenge.
Q: What is the most rewarding thing about being an artist?
I think the most rewarding thing is having people connect with my art—even finding their own meanings in my work.
I really don’t like to tell people, “This is what it means.” I like to ask them, “What does it mean to you?”
That’s when I feel like someone has really connected with it. And it’s easier for me to let an artwork go to someone when I feel like they have a connection to it. So yeah, that’s the most rewarding thing for me.
Q: What’s the highest price you’ve sold a piece of art for?
The highest price I’ve sold a piece for is a little embarrassing, but it was a lot of money back in 2019—equivalent to my salary as a doctor now.
Q: You were the first artist Greencamp ever showcased in 2017. I think we broke a glass on one of your artworks then, lol. How do you cope with losses like that?
I was the first artist to showcase at Greencamp in 2017? I appreciate the opportunity!
To cope with loss, it depends on the severity. I’ve had artworks damaged and I’ve either touched them up or kept them as part of my personal collection.
Sometimes, someone sees the damage and still wants to buy the piece.
Q: What would you say to your fellow artists?
Don’t give up. People are very inspiring and amazing, and every time you create, it inspires me.
It helps me when times are hard, and it also helps me see the possibilities of what I can do in my own art.
I’ve known a lot of artists for over ten years now, and I’ve seen how much growth and change they’ve experienced—how their work has changed their lives and others’ lives, just by creating and sharing it with the world.
So, I’d like to encourage everybody to continue on that path. Just keep at it.
Q: What do you think about Greencamp?
Greencamp is amazing—for creatives, artists, musicians and people who enjoy the creative process.
Q: Is there any more information you’d like to share?
I’d like to share that I’m trying a new style and experimenting with new things.
So, it’s very possible I’ll start sharing a different type of art very soon—maybe by the end of the year.
But yeah, that’s what I can say. We’re still working on it, we’re still sharpening our tools—so we’ll see how it goes.
It’s always inspiring to see someone stay true to their art while navigating the demands of life. Fisola’s story is gentle, honest and full of quiet strength and we’re so glad she shared a bit of it with us.
We’d love to hear your thoughts, did anything in her journey resonate with you? What would you love to see from Fisola next?
Drop a comment below and let’s keep the conversation going.
See you in the next Creator Spotlight.
