Here it comes! Here is my year end review of 2014!
I know I joked on facebook that I spent my entire NYE arguing with someone who claimed Final Fantasy IX was a horrible game, but 2014 was too important of a year to simply ignore it. There was a ton of growth as an artist, but even more personal growth and dedication to living my life authentically and taking responsibility for my /story/. #lifeisnotarehearsal
So here is my stream of conscious celebration for some of the finer moments of 2014.
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• I had my first published illustration with Lightspeed Magazine, for my piece Shango's Hammer. I also had an Artist Showcase with them which helped me solidify my artist statement/my own thoughts on diversity in SFF.
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/104094760029/lightspeed
•I had my first piece in a gallery, with Gallery 1988's Crazy4Cult Show (celebrating cult classic films). My film of choice was Pan's Labyrinth!
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/103814948299/panslabyrinth
• I completed my redesigns of the cast of Sailor Moon! Which was picked up by Buzzfeed, Gree News, Rocket24 news, BlackgirlNerds, etc. It's so exciting that these character designs really resonated with so many people. I'm currently watching Crystal, and I'm tempted to do a group illustration or at least sketch out some Queen Beryl designs.
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/86621681143/sailorsenshi
• chungsun and I gave birth to FEM4FEM. He got me pregnant with inspiration and I delivered the baby. The feedback has been amazing! People are excited to read these made up articles, AND TRUST ME I AM EXCITED TO READ THEM TOO. But right now I am just letting the ideas incubate and deciding how the ideas will take form next.
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/88135203819/fem4fem01
• I created a painting for Solange! And I managed to give it to her at her concert at the Bowery. I did the same thing a year earlier, but this time was extra special. I've also done the same with Beyonce and others because I have a strange luck with musicians/artists I really love and respect, and it *may* be leading to some super exciting things in that realm!
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/85647947339/odera-okay-im-a-bit-late-posting-this-but-i
• This On the Run tour painting was a commission I did for one of my friends. I enjoy it for certain visual qualities. But mostly it marks the beginning of a new chapter where I am actively doing commissioned art work. It's definitely a journey and is really teaching me about the business of illustration.
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/104717914869/ontherun
And check out this portion of my website (www.odera-igbokwe.com/commissions.html) if you are interested in commissioning me for a piece of artwork
• I started to do designs based on classic RPG job classes. Pictured here are The Squire and The Wizard. I love these pieces because they are really stretching me in new directions and forcing me to explore new styles and techniques. I am learning that everything doesn't need to be a labored painting. Images can be simplified. Contrary to what I always thought, ink is my friend!
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/99056862491/squire
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/99060277594/witch
• The next two pieces are from another personal project where I am doing illustrations based on every song from Utada Hikaru's album Exodus. Thus far I have Opening, and Devil Inside. I find that these two images are definitely influenced by the quicker pen and ink drawings I have been doing. And an itch to really push my work more in the realms of illustrators whose work I adore. For the longest time I have been painting in a very specific way, because that's just what my brain naturally tells me to do. In school I never had a style or visual identity crisis. However, the easiest solution isn't always the best.
So I have been making a conscious effort to find my voice outside of the layered and labored paintings. I look at illustrators like Rebbecca Guay, Yoshitaka Amano, Zsidslaw Beksinksi, Sergio Toppi, etc and think of how their work makes my heart sing. The most magcal part is that they truly /create/ a suspension of belief, and even if things aren't realistic or "correct" you are truly in their world when you enter their images. So I hope to have more of those sensibilities influence my own work.
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/91414135699/opening
http://odera.tumblr.com/post/95128719594/devil-inside-02-everybody-wants-me-to-be
This exodus project is quite fitting because I think that's what 2014 has been for me. A year of transformation and nothing short of a journey. Shortly after graduating in 2012, I felt like my entire life was on pause (because of family/not living in a supportive environment). But I feel like every setback I had was simply preparing me~~ like that super cheesy but accurate quote:
/An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great./
And right now I am ready. I am shooting through targets and propelling myself through the fire.
2015 is going to be an important year. 15 is my /birth/ number and has constantly guided me. I will also be 25.
15, 25, and 2015.
I am sure this has some significance in numerology.
I think if I do enough long division, the sun (my ruling astrological/celestial body) will align with my eyelashes and I will release a cover album of Beyonce's 4.
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My main goal is to be SO much more productive. I am talking Beyoncé levels of hyperfocus and empire building.
It was difficult to create in my previous /home/ when toxicity and confinement were at the foundation of...well everything. But now I am in a place that truly nurtures creativity and I am SO excited to complete older projects and start new ones. I have a ton of specific goals, but you all don't need to hear about how I want to make a multimedia r&b zine where Anita Baker and Azealia Banks are Knights of the Round Table.
Really, I just want to continue to live a full life. Visit museums. Fill myself with all the inspiration Brooklyn/New York has to offer. Dance more. Laugh more. Sweat more. Reconnect with my spiritual center. Draw from life and draw from life experiences more.
Make art.
Breathe art.
Be art.
(also...learn to braid my own hair. lol.)
