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

Chinenye, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I can confidently say that I am definitely happiest whenever I am pursuing my creative outlets. I currently have a regular 9-5 job, so I’m not a full-time creative just yet, but ultimately that is the goal. Whenever I am at work I am thinking about creating art, or being on set, since I also act and model part time. Although I enjoy what I currently do for work, there’s not a moment where I don’t feel like I should be creating instead. My art is my passion, and that is what fulfills me the most.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Chinenye Nwosu, and I’m a twenty-something California Native who creates traditional and digital art. As a child of immigrants, growing up I was always told to focus on school so that I could secure a “stable” career in either law, healthcare, or computer science/engineering. My parents never failed to emphasize the importance of education and a steady career. However, as a child, whenever I pictured my future, I always saw myself doing something creative and fun.
I started drawing when I was three years old, and I have been in love with creating traditional and digital art since then.
I do personalized commissions, I sell hats/clothing with my artwork hand-painted on them, and I sell prints and canvases of my pieces. What sets me a part from other artists is my Afro-centric art style with the use of vibrant and bold colors.
I am most proud of selling my art at a pop-up on my university’s campus. That was the first time I did a solo art exhibition, and I made a great profit.
I want potential buyers to know that I deeply value their support, and that I always do my best to guarantee customer satisfaction. When you buy one of my pieces, you are inadvertently telling my younger self that she is on the right path, and that her work means something to someone. That alone fuels my drive to keep following my dreams.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The book, “The Artist’s Way,” by Julia Cameron, was essential to my creative process. This book inspired me and motivated me to push myself to reach my full creative potential. It is a work book that helps you stay disciplined and consistent by forcing you to write out your creative thoughts and ideas every day. After I finished this book, I felt extremely enlightened and energized to attack my goals.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

It might be hard for non-creatives to understand that my journey is not linear. For example, I took a break from creating digital and traditional art for one year to pursue my other hobbies and passions, such as modeling and acting. In that one year of me modeling and acting professionally for the first time, I was able to book two major beauty campaigns for well-known brands. I was also able to book several minor roles on tv shows, principal roles in commercials, and a lead role in a music video. This all would have never been possible had I not taken that temporary break from consistently pumping out art. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I received and the experiences I had during that break, and I would encourage other creatives who are multi-faceted to do the same, and explore their other passions.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chinenyesart?igshid=NDA1YzNhOGU=
• Other: https://app.castingnetworks.com/talent/public-profile/cad9419e-35d7-11ef-8cc4-a1642301a152