This is a
graduate of Sociology in University of Nigeria Nsukka. Hails from Awka Anambra state. He is indeed fun to be with. His flair right from childhood lies with Art. His
first job at Giddimint was as a result of his talent. A firm that designs
prints for T shirts. He also does story boards, TV ads and presentations.
Can you
tell us more about you? I started drawing for as long as I
can recall. Art kind of runs in my family, have two elder brothers who are
artists, one took it up for a full time profession. He was my first inspiration
and encouraged me after he discovered I could draw too. His secondary school
friends who love arts made my passion for it grow as I always found myself in
their midst.
A little
issue, back then nobody valued arts, only Medicine, Accountancy and Law. You
will be seen as joke involving yourself with arts, most especially parents who
always pushed their children into the recognized courses. However I moved to
study sociology in school being the fact that my brother is in Art
already. Yet my passion for it waxed
more and more. I met other art lovers like Martin Okonkwo in university who was
instrumental to who I am today. His younger brother taught me the principles
and rules I missed as a result of not studying art, he still teaches me. He’s
my mentor in art. I later discovered I could have gone into fine art to study a
different branch of it since my brother majored in painting. I am happy today
because what I missed, I learn from great friends and brothers.
Are you
into art full time? Well the slogan is ‘never stop drawing’. I like being creative, it fulfills me.
Presently am into it full time because it fulfills me and I am still learning.
I work with Lineguage studios owned by Chris Okonkwo, it’s a safe haven for
digital artists.
How are
you working towards it? I am connecting with other artists here. I am with Chris Okonkwo, he
taught me 70% of what I know today, he never stops learning, he never stops
teaching me.
What is
your goal in relation with arts? My goal is to make my drawing walk, come to life. To do
that, I have to learn animation. I love imaginative drawing; I want to project
our folklore as stories and animated movies too. I have met people who can’t
draw but can tell stories, so my job is to bring those stories to life.
What are
your challenges?
Well for now the challenge comes mainly from the society. People think art is
all about making portraits, painting photography and sculpture. Art has evolved and graphic art which I major
goes into games and animated movies.
Another
challenge is lack of technological resources to pursue it to the extreme. There
is no certified institute dedicated to training young graphic artists unlike
the western world.
The societal
pressure to start work and get married often lead most talented young artist
and others to abandon their passion for something else.
In Nigeria,
we depend on older cartoons, games and comics. We don’t have animation schools
that give people certificates in animation. Most people depend on YouTube video
tutorial, that’s if you can afford it.
With
these challenge, how do you intend to achieve the desired?
Alongside the video tutorials, sharing ideas, we also have experienced
digital artists and my mentor is one of them.
What
exactly is digital art? It involves art done with digital tools, programmes like Photo shop,
Corel draw, adobe illustrator after effects, zbrush to name a few.
Have you
started making money from your talent? The money comes but that’s not my driving force now. If you
make it your driving force, you’ll lose the talent. I am making money already.
I am working with my talent not my certificate.
Where do
you see yourself in the next one year? Animating my drawings or getting involved in some game
production. I see myself doing better than i am now. Most things I know now, I
didn’t know them by this time last year- I am growing rapidly!
What’s
the plan as relates to Job creation? Well in line with Lineguage studios, we want to expand into
game making movie production and animation. This will offer jobs of different
kinds to youths such as Administrative, illustrators, computer programmers,
sound engineers, legal jobs etc. It is going to be a big one once we go live.
Have you
worked anywhere that is not art inclined? No, strictly
art. I started making money off art since secondary school. People come to me
to make drawings for them. In university, they ask for party poster, valentine
cards, birthday cards, etc. So why look somewhere when God has already given me
something better.
Please
what is your word of advice to youths out there? Hmm … All I can say is whatever you
have, give it all your passion. Brace the storms that will come in the guise of
criticisms. It’s all part of the hustle, once you make it, people will adore
you.
Your talent
will take you places your certificate won’t get you. It’s in the bible, ‘’ a
man’s gift maketh way for him’’. So keep
moving no matter what. People like Kelechi Amadi Obi, Don Jazzy, Phyno etc.
followed their talents and passion. These guys had it rough and yet followed
their dreams. Add value to what you do because the value you attach to it is
what people will use to add value to it. Above all, be proud of yourself and
your talent.
McFoch Gate: Thank you so much for your time Tochukwu,you have inspired alot of people. Fellow youths, we have heard it all from another talented youth. Kindly contact us if you need his services,whatsoever. It sure pays to pursue
one’s dreams as long as you are on the right path. Put your passions to work.
Work as if all depends on it. Don’t relent, don’t be discouraged. All you need
do is keep pushing.
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