No matter which road you travel in life, they all serve to prepare you for your destiny. The experiences you have along the way lead you to the thing you are meant to do.

This is what Safori believes, and he should. His life as a thriving artist today is the culmination of the many stepping stones that has brought him to this point.

The Silver Spring, Md., artist creates close to 300 original paintings a year, which he shows and sells out of his gallery called House of Safori. He is mostly inspired by music, especially jazz.

“I have no particular niche,” said Safori, who goes by his last name only. “Early in the mornings I sketch up my visions and transfer it to a canvas later.” He works in different mediums – oils, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, graphite and crayon – and has sold his work to collectors from all over the world for nine years.

This is extraordinary for someone who has never studied art.

Safori came to the United States from Ghana in 1990 to study architecture at Howard University in Washington, D.C. His travels took him to New York, then to San Francisco, where he worked as a sales associate for an upscale retail chain.

His first stepping stone came one day when he visited a friend’s home and saw beautiful paintings. “I can do that,” he recalls telling his friends. “They busted out laughing,” recalls Safori, who started to paint the next day. “I took it as a challenge when they laughed,” he said.

His first artwork was of a jazz theme, which he painted with a very small brush.

The second stepping stone came when he took a piece to his job at the store. His manager was impressed and asked him to showcase his paintings. “There was a tremendous response from the public,” said Safori. “Within two weeks I sold 15 pieces. After that, I resigned to pursue my dream.”

A few months later he decided to take an art class. “There were about 20 students in the class,” he said. As they were working on portraits, the instructor came to his table. Afterward, he called him into his office. “Do you know how to paint?” he asked. “No,” Safori replied. “Honestly, I cannot teach you how to paint and do not let others teach you. Go home and paint,” he said. So he did.

His next stepping stone came when one of the students in the class, Ginger Rogers, offered him her home as his first studio so he could paint. She and her husband, Dewey, bought him art supplies and encouraged him to use his talents.

“Art is something that comes out of me,” said Safori. “Everything that has happened to me at this point has made me know this is what I am destined to do. All the images pop out of my head just like that and turn out to be beautiful when I finish creating them.”

In 2001, Safori went back to Ghana and decided to learn how to carve human figures on mahogany wood. He created 23 pieces, which he brought back to the United States to add a new line to his craft.

About six years ago, he opened House of Safori as a studio and gallery in Silver Spring, Md., where he continues to create and showcase his artwork as he marvels at the journey he takes daily with his Maker.

“I do not know exactly where I’m going, but I know I’ll get there through faith and working very hard.”

“It’s not about having the best artwork,” said Safori. “It’s about the journey. I do it because I cherish it; it is my passion. I love doing something that has a strong effect on people and leaving behind something that will last beyond my lifetime.”

The House of Safori is located at 1105 Spring Street, Suite E, in Silver Spring, Md. For information and to see more of his work, visit www.houseofsafori.com, or call for an appointment at 301-565-0781 or 877-723-6741.