For about twenty years now, Mr. Olufemi Modupe has derived his livelihood from being a sculptor. His journey into sculpture, an aspect of Art and Design, began from Kay Fam Art, Lagos where he learnt Art for one and half years. Before then, he had done Art as a subject in secondary school at the school certificate level.

Following his deep interest in Art and because he had realised the potentials derivable from it, he decided to pursue Art further by going to the famous Yaba College Technology where he obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) in Art with special preference for sculpture which he has practiced as a chosen career in the last 20 years.

Femi Art, as his firm is popularly known, cannot be missed by passers-by on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, as it is strategically located by the fence of the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja near Peacock Filling Station, Ile Sink Bus Stop. The location is a cynosure of the eye going by the array of works of Art on display and the landscaping of the entire surroundings.

According to Femi who is 45 and hails from Ondo town in Ondo State, he went back to Kay Fam Art having completed his HND programme at Yaba College of Technology. He worked as a staff for one year in the company before he decided to establish his own outfit. "After my HND programme, I had no money to set up my own studio. So, I decided to go and work in Kay Fam Art where I had previously learnt Art for one and half year.

"My going to work in the company was to enable me raise some money with which to set up my own outfit no matter how small so that I can build up from there. So, the moment I discovered I had raised some money after one year at Kay Fam Art, I resigned and I went to set up Femi Art which I have managed for roughly 20 years now.

"This place serves my studio. Everything you see here serves as samples of my works. I work mostly outside for my clients. People visit this place to see what I have on display and make request which we go and do wherever they want us to do such jobs for them. Apart from sculpture works, I am also into designs. for instance, L am into landscaping, fountain and water designs. Normally, people come and tell us what they want and we go and construct them at their sites whether within Lagos or outside Lagos. Yes landscaping, construction of fountains and waterfalls are part of Art course", Femi informed.

Describing the business as being lucrative, he said "there is money in the business. I don't lack requests for jobs any time from my clients. Apart from the monetary aspect of the business, I am happy to be in the business because I feel fulfilled when clients tell me they appreciate what I am doing. So, apart from the fact that I am making money from the business, I am happy that I am in the business. I really like it, and thanks to God for giving me the direction to know the right profession to go into. I will encourage anybody who wants to go into it to do so", Femi stated.

Asked if he could be counted amongst Nigerian millionaire businessmen, his response was that he is not yet in the league of the Nigerian millionaire businessmen, pointing out however that he will soon join the club of the Nigerian millionaire businessmen.

However, as viable as the business seems to be, he said there are constraints in it. According to him, such constraints include frustrations from clients. Said he: "if you don't have patience, you cannot do this business. This is because some big men you have worked for will refuse to pay you after finishing their jobs. They will toss you here and there before the money can be paid. In some cases, you will be so frustrated that you will regret doing jobs for such people. But as I said, it takes patience to remain in the business, otherwise, the attitude of some people you work for can make you pack up the business.

"But one cannot say he will not continue with the business. It is better for you to be owed than staying out of business. Some times, you use your money to do jobs for people and they will not pay on time for you to have funds to execute other projects. There is nothing as frustrating as having jobs without funds to execute them. So, you just have to have patience and be determined to remain in the business to succeed particularly for those who are just coming into the business.

"Another problem facing the business is that rainy season is not favourable to the business. Most of the jobs are done in open spaces at sites. During rainy season, there is little or nothing we can do due to the nature of the jobs and materials used. For instance, you cannot construct fountains and waterfalls in the rains. If you try it, your money and effort into such jobs will be wasted. Even in sculpture jobs, you also need sun to dry what you have sculptured. So, with rainy season, not much can be achieved in the business", Femi said.

As for the future of the business, he said it is very bright because works of art will continue to be appreciated by people who know their value, pointing out that as people with old works of art are replacing them with new and modern ones, those just moving into their private homes will need works of art to add beauty and colour to their homes.

For new entrants into the business, Femi said such new comers must have learnt Art as a course either from a school or from people in the business for not less than two years. In addition to having been trained as an artist, the new comer must have between N100,000 and N150,000 as initial take off capital which will be used to set up studio and purchase materials and basic working tools.