Our Daily Bread

Artwork story

Title: Our Daily Bread Artist: Anthony Ekanem (Frayo) Medium: Charcoal pencil, charcoal powder, and pastel on paper Our Daily Bread is a hyper-realistic charcoal drawing of a young girl seen from behind, carrying a bucket of sachet water and holding a bun — a reward from the day’s labor. Charcoal and pastel highlight texture and symbolism, reflecting resilience, dignity, and the meaning of “daily bread.”

Inspiration
The piece is inspired by everyday scenes of street hawking in Nigerian communities, where children often work to support their daily survival.

Themes
The artwork explores resilience, dignity, and perseverance, with the bun symbolizing the small reward earned through a day’s labor.

Process
The drawing is executed using charcoal pencil and charcoal powder to achieve rich tonal depth and realism, while pastel is used only on the bun to emphasize its symbolic importance.

Emotions
The work carries a quiet, reflective mood, inviting viewers to consider the unseen effort behind what many take for granted as daily sustenance.