We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ezra Oulanyah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ezra below.

Hi Ezra, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I can confidently say that the only reason I’m as into art as I am, and chose to study it in a professional capacity, is because of my dad’s unwavering support. Since childhood, I’ve always been artistically inclined, from drawing on walls to making really bad books out of printer paper for my drawings. I remember this one time I showed him a painting of a tree I’d done, and he was so happy about it that he framed it and put it up on the wall where it’s stayed ever since. When it came time to choose what I wanted to study in college he said “Whatever you chose, I am going to support you.” He believed in me and encouraged me to do what I love.

Ezra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello! I’m Ezra Oulanyah, I am an illustrator and concept artist from Kampala, Uganda. My reason for entering the artistic space comes from watching fun and interesting cartoons and seeing the amazing worlds my favorite characters exist in, and wanting to play a role in the creation of these worlds for more people to experience.

As a concept artist My role is to work alongside the client to create a blueprint consisting of ideate and create characters, props, environments and convey a cohesive style and feel across the project. Which will then go through different aspects of the preproduction process.

An aspect of my work I’m the most proud of is the more environmental work that I’ve been doing recently, because compared to my older work I feel like I’ve deepened my understanding of environments and leveled up as an artist. The pride I get from looking back and seeing the improvement is something I’ll never stop chasing.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

By far, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is showing other people my work, particularly when it’s a piece I’ve poured a lot time and effort into, and I’m genuinely proud of how it turned out. It’s incredibly gratifying when different people like the work as much as I do. That, to me, is the peak of a rewarding feeling.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

It’s not so much that I wish I had known about it earlier; rather, I regret not taking full advantage of the major based clubs in collage. They’re not just valuable for networking, although its very important. They also provide access to knowledgeable peers who can offer informed feedback and critique. As you progress out of school, such opportunities become more limited.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ezraoulanyah.wixstudio.io/portfolio
• Instagram: ziira_i_am
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-oulanyah-971b15208/
• Twitter: ziira_i_am