We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joseph Ogbole. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joseph below.
Joseph, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping my creativity alive is most essential for me as a young artist. This comes in ways. I constantly engage myself in a creative atmosphere, thanks to social media/spaces where one have the opportunity to interact with professionals and also seeing works of other creatives. This helps me deepen my insight as well as the opportunity to daily intensify in what I do. The constant consciousness of the path I have chosen to be a visual artist also keeps me on my toe. This also keeps me going.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Joseph Ogbole, a 24 years old Visual artist from Nigeria. I grew up in the North-Central part of Nigeria (Abuja) where I had my elementary and secondary education. I graduated from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,(South-western Nigeria) where I studied Fine & Applied Arts. My Journey into art began from my early age. It all start with my fascination for pictures and illustrations I would come across when reading through my text books. My enthusiasm for these imagery grew because they helped me relate to the fictional stories I read. As time went on, I began tracing some of these illustrations, gradually I began to draw.
As a visual artist, I major in painting and drawing. The ideology behind my works is centred on the human emotions, reflective in our relatable experiences as individuals.
These experiences are sometimes personal and are fostered by our background, disposition, thoughts, and ideas per time. I try to communicate these relatable experiences to my audience using mood, scenery, and gesture on canvas.
In my drawings, I explore graphite and charcoal as my mediums of expression which are mostly portraitures. In my paintings, I use acrylic. My up coming body of works explores the rendition of grey scale
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say, (i) essence (ii) hard work (iii) association. When I say “essence” , I refer to the “why” question; “why am I doing this, why am I in this space, am I doing this for the right passion?”
I think those questions need to come first. Knowing your essence will keep you on the track.
As a Christian, I believe in the God factor to succeed nevertheless this can only happen by being hard working. Hard-work makes the difference. One of my mentor, Mr. Pelumi Ponmile, who I respect so much once told me; “you want to do something special, Do something extra. Something extra something special!”
Lastly, association, a very key and crucial aspect to growing as far as the industry of art is concerned. Being surrounded with like minded people. This helps your growth individually and cooperately.
In the aspect of association is also mentorship. Who are you joined to that can lead you on the path you want to go. Mentorship opened me up to a lot of things. Through this I was able better my skill, constantly reproving my knowledge, getting connected to opportunities and also learning the dynamics in the business of art. Mentorship arrayed my path and I will forever be indebted to my incredible mentors; Ifeoluwa Alade, Joseph Idowu and Mr. Pelumi Ponmile.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I could right a book on this, nevertheless, let me summarise. The many impacts of my parents are undeniable and are tangible. Their impact is the result I celebrate today. The most impactful thing my parents did was to support my career from the cradle. My Dad played a key role in harnessing the creative ability in me as a child. As I aforementioned, when I started out as a child, tracing illustrations from my school books, when he noticed I was constant with this, he got me drawing books. He onward provided art materials as I developed my creativity skills gradually. When it was time to pick my course of study, they support my decision and saw me through the art school.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Joseph_Exodus
- Facebook: Joseph Ogbole
- Twitter: @FNAExodus
Image Credits
Fab studio Ifeoluwa Alade
