I’m Henrietta O—a self-taught poet, artist, guitarist, and multilingual creative based in Toronto, Canada. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria,

I’ve always been drawn to the quiet places where emotion and expression meet.

I taught myself how to write poetry to give shape to what I couldn’t always say aloud. Over time, that same curiosity and inner drive led me to paint, to play guitar, and to speak in other tongues—French and Italian—each offering a different lens through which to feel and connect.

Creativity is how I’ve learned to come home to myself. My work is deeply personal, rooted in themes of healing, memory, identity, and love. Whether through words, melody, or color, I create to understand—and to be understood.

This space is a reflection of that journey. Thank you for being here.

From Tracing Lines to Telling Stories

Art wasn’t always my favourite subject, but I’ve always been drawn to the idea of creating realistic sketches. As a child, I traced most of my drawings, dreaming of the day I could bring images to life with my own hands. That journey began in earnest three years ago, when I enrolled in a beginner’s course that introduced me to pencil, pen, charcoal, pastels, coloured pencils, and watercolours. Since then, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for soft textures and subtle detail—expressed mostly through pencil, pen, pastel, and watercolour pencil work. This portfolio is a celebration of how far I’ve come, and how much more I hope to create.

I began writing poetry at age 13 as a means of creative expression and exploring the complexities of my inner world. Initially, my work wasn't well-received due to its heavy themes, but my confidence grew when my English teacher encouraged me to keep writing and submitted one of my poems for a competition at age 16. Little did I know how significant that experience would become.

My writing has been a private part of my life, with few people aware of it. I decided to compile a collection of poems from various sources,including my diary ( aka The green Book) , my phone, notes and poems written on my laptop. What started out as a private hobby of mine has exampded to something much more, with the anticipation of my first poetry book “What The Silence Gave Me” and other creative works to come

I’m a native English speaker from Nigeria, but my love for languages has taken me far beyond my roots. In 2019, I began learning French through the immersive method—what started as curiosity quickly became an obsession. I surrounded myself with the language daily: podcasts, films, series, books—you name it. Over time, immersion turned into fluency. Today, I speak French confidently and am passionate about helping others on their language journey. Feel free to reach out if you're looking for private lessons or conversation practice.

The same is true for Italian. What began as a spontaneous interest soon became a source of deep connection and joy. I now speak Italian at an advanced level and have built lasting friendships through the process. I also host an Italian conversation group, open to fellow learners looking for a space to grow and share. You can contact me using the information below—I'd love to hear from you.

Item descrLike many elementary school kids destined for greatness (or chaos), I started my music journey with the recorder at age 6. It was shrill, it was plastic, and it was the beginning.

At 9, I began piano lessons, and from there, music truly took root. I continued learning on my own for years, letting curiosity lead the way. In secondary school, I played second flute in the orchestra for four years—a time that taught me the power of collaboration and listening in harmony.

Eventually, I found my rhythm in the strings. I'm a self-taught guitarist, fluent in both acoustic and electric, and the proud owner of an 8-string Ibanez RG series that never fails to spark inspiration. These days, I’m looking to return to piano lessons and maybe even explore more instruments in the future. And while I may be a little biased, I’m convinced I have the best taste in music—just ask me.iption