NFT Showroom Artist Spotlight: @yanga

over 3 years ago

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself!

I'm a self-taught digital artist from Nigeria. I wouldn't say that though, because I learnt everything I knew about digital art from Youtube videos, and just merely looking at other artists pieces, and I tend to replicate them during practices. So, I would say they were my tutors and teachers. But before becoming a digital artist, I was first a graphic designer, which makes the transition quite easy for me. I'm also an Optometrists, a part of me I hardly share. I got married two months ago to this beautiful black diva @psychic-yanga, and she has been one of the best things that has happened to my life.

Q: What is your art background?

I've been doing art since when I was a child. I was really good with art when I was in high school, but since I wanted to become a Medical Doctor, I dropped it and switched to sciences. It was not until after graduation from the University, that I went back to doing art again. Photoshop is my canvas with the help of an Huion tablet.

Also, I try as much as possible to make my pieces look traditional, so, I use a lot of texture and hard brushes to give them that feel. My artworks represent Afrofuturism and Africanism, and that's mostly where my themes are based on.

Q: How long have you been in cryptoart/ NFTs, how did you discover them and what has been your experience so far?

As long as @nftshowroom exists. I started cryptoart last year, when I was looking for where to sell my artworks. After the lockdown, It was pretty much hard on me financially. So, art was my sole savior. It was during that trying time that I stumbled on @nftshowroom, and since that time, It has been a beautiful ride all the way.

I minted my genesis piece on nftshowroom on 20th July 2021, and my first collecter was @aggroed, my joy knew no bounds that day. I later try out some other platforms like @rarible and @opensea.

Sales have been pretty slow this year, I guess other artists have come in so, there is more competition now. I can't wait to go back to making sales again, and I missed that part of cryptoart.

Q: Any new art or upcoming projects you would like to tease?

Yes, I'm working on a project called "The Himba Boys". This project will be showcasing the unique and intricately decorated hairstyle of the Himba tribe found within the borders of Northern Namibia and Southern Angola. Hairstyles play a major role within the Himba community and ruminate their marital status, wealth, age, and rank within the community. Since, they're mostly pastoralists, I want to believe that this unique hairstyle was inspired by their cattle and goat horns, because both the horn and the tail of their hair seem to have a striking resemblance. It's just my curiosity though.

Q: What are your top three favorite pieces of art you have tokenized on NFT Showroom?

There is a long list of artworks to choose from. But, I will go with these three because they tell my story and what I want to achieve with art quite well.