So last week we got the chance to have an interesting chat with Kaykay such an amazing, creative and free spirited individual, as you know Kaykay Onyeobi is a visual artist,photographer, youtuber and a blogger she started her career back in 2013.
Q: At what point did you decide that photography, design, art was going to be your career part?
Ans: I’ve always had a special love for visual arts since I was young but I was more focused on the fashion aspect back then, and became more in love with photography, design and art in 2013. That was when I became a 100% sure that this was the right path for me. There’s just so much to explore in the art world, with no limitations and restrictions and that’s why I feel its the best path for me. It gives me the freedom to create whatever I want and that’s amazing!
Q: How do you decide what content to create?
Ans: I usually just go with my gut, I create what I love and a lot of times the things around me and the issues that go on around the world inspire me to create. My work is my voice, so if I’m trying to pass a message across, I do it visually because that’s the best way I know how to do it. Also, when it comes to creating content for my blog, I love to share my knowledge and things I feel others will find helpful too.
Q: What are your aspirations in life?
Ans: My aspirations in life are to change the world in any way I can and be happy and content while doing it. I have a lot of things I want to get done and can’t wait to achieve them all!
Q: If you had an opportunity to go anywhere in the world right now where will it be and why?
Ans: I’d definitely go to Mexico, I’ve always wanted to go there, I LOVE Spanish, the culture, the food and this might sound stupid lol but I became more interested in the country because I love watching movies that have to do with drug lords and mafias and a lot of times in movies it’s associated with Mexicans.
Q: How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?
Ans: I watch a lot of youtube tutorials, photography blogs, I read books, follow a lot of photography accounts and I am also currently taking a course in Digital Photography, and also a lot of practice and experimenting has made me learn things on my own too.
Q: Among your works, which one is your favorite? why?
Ans: At the moment, my favorite is this one https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdko2y7ltcK/?taken-by=kaykayonyeobi . I tried to capture masculinity in a softer way and that’s what that series is about (a lot of unreleased photos). I think a lot of people have this idea that masculinity is determined by how manly a guy looks, or how strong he is, how well he knows how to hide his emotions, I feel like not enough room is given to men to just be human beings. Society has created this whole idea that the softer a man is, looks or behaves, the more likely he is to be gay or isn’t just man enough. The standards and ideologies created for what men should be like is really sickening to me and what I’m aiming to do is to use my voice to say, or rather show that that’s not what being a man is, that’s not what masculinity is all about. I want to show a different side to masculinity and I can’t wait to share that project with the world.
Q: Whose work has influenced you most?
Ans: I don’t think I can pick just one person as my main influencer. A lot of the people I follow and whose work I love have influenced and inspired me in different ways. There are fashion photographers, portrait and art photographers and so I have different people who influence my style in these different aspects. I really love Jessica Kobeissi, David Uzochukwu, Margaret Zhang, Rachel Gulotta, Haris Nukem and many others but I’d say these are my top 5 who majorly influence my style.
Q: What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started your career?
Ans: I wish I knew what I wanted my photography style to be and I how to edit my pictures properly. There was a lot of trial and error but I guess it’s all part of the learning process. I’m also trying to learn how to get exposure and clients for my work.
Q: Where there days you felt like giving up? what kept you going?
Ans: Yes of course, on days when I couldn’t figure anything out and didn’t know how to go about it. I’d want to give up but then remember that this is literally a huge source of joy for me and if I give up doing what I love then what’s next? Just the thought of not being happy doing whatever I’m doing gets me on my feet. I also have loved ones and even people I don’t know who really support and encourage me and that really keeps me going!
Q: What would you advice any upcoming creatives out there?
Ans: My advice to upcoming creatives out there is to follow your own voice, your own path! Don’t be afraid to stand alone and create what you love. Don’t just follow the regular creative road, think outside the box and explore for yourself. Try to be original and don’t copy. Be inspired by others but don’t copy! And when times get hard, when you can’t figure out what to do or don’t know what to create, don’t be scared to take a break. Take a break and rediscover yourself, take a break to breathe and take care of your creative mind, don’t be pressured into creating just because others are putting out new work. Take as much time as you need working on the best things so you can be proud of your work at the end. And remember to take it easy on yourself, a lot is expected from creatives but don’t be hard on yourself, believe in your craft and always try to learn new things about it. The more you know, the better you become, but also don’t cage yourself in a box. Keep an open mind, be free, ask God or whatever you believe in for guidance and remember you got this!
CHECK OUT SOME OF KAYKAY’S WORK BELOW
want to work with kaykay?
reach her via instagram @kaykayonyeobi
or email her Kanwuliablog@gmail.com
youtube: KanwuliaaTV
website/blog: kanwuliaa.com
0 comments :
Post a Comment