Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Morenike (Renike) Olusanya. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Morenike (Renike) thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am, sometimes and at other times I’m stressed out and worried because it’s like running your own company. I guess with time when you stick to it and when it gets bigger, you can employ people to make your work easier. Being a full-time artist, living in Nigeria is a huge risk. The economy is highly unstable, the standard of living is not the best, access to opportunities are limited and it can be real tough to start a business by yourself and stick to it. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy it and I think it’s a blessing that I’m able to live comfortably as a full time artist. It’s a privilege that I get to enjoy my work. To answer the question, I am happier than I was when I was working a 9-5. Working as an artist in a 9-5 puts you in a box. You’re not able to express how you like because there are rules and guidelines. Being a full-time freelance artist opens up the box. You can create how you like, whenever you like and create under guidelines when working with some clients. Its so cool, but steady monthly income with benefits is also really cool. lol
The last time I had that thought was last year. I didn’t take on as much work as I would because I was burnt out. I was happy and grateful that I was able to just not work when I felt tired and thought of how that would have been more difficult if I was working a 9-5. Thankfully, I had savings and investments, so I wasn’t broke. So yes, definitely happier, but I wish it came with more financial security.

Morenike (Renike), before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Morenike Olusanya, popularly known as Renike. I’m a visual artist and an illustrator. I studied Visual Arts in university of Lagos, Nigeria and specialised in graphic design. I create artworks about black women, our fashion, hairstyles and experiences digitally and with charcoal, watercolours and acrylics when I’m creating for myself. When I’m commissioned to create for other people and companies, I create portraits, book covers, podcast/music covers, illustrations on different topics/themes, logos and anything art/illustration related- to help them execute their creative vision. Sometimes its for aesthetic purposes, other times, it’s to sell their vision or solve a communication problem. I’m also a mentor to young artists from time to time, teaching them about the little I’ve learnt on my journey as an artist. I also sell prints of my personal artworks. Selling prints means affordable art and I’d love for people to own my art without breaking the bank. I also co-own a clothing business, when my friend and I design and produce beautiful clothes for busty women. The company is called Bawsty (shopbawsty on social media) I worked a 9-5 as a graphic artist with different companies, from my final year in uni till 2019 (about 3 years in total). I became a full time artist in 2020, during the pandemic, which is a bit wild, because while others where looking for financial security and stability, I was looking for the freedom to express myself and see how that would affect my life and it’s 2023 and I’m still a full time artist, so I guess that’s going alright. lol.
One thing I strive to achieve with the work I create for myself and for the people that commission me is excellence. I will always try my best to give you/put out the best work I can in the moment I am creating for you and I’m proud of that. The quality of work I create and put out, the theme of my artworks and my style makes me stand out from others.
I’m proud of my consistency and resilience and my ability to keep learning and keep creating. I’m also proud of the people and companies I have worked (including Penguin Random House, Hulu, Scholastic, Dark & Lovely, amongst others). I was recognised as one of the honourees on Leading Ladies Africa’s 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria in 2021. I was nominated for The Future Awards Africa Prize for Art and Literature in 2022. I won the Lord’s Achievers Awards – Special Recognition Award: A Lady Making Impact Through Art in 2022. I have also been featured on CNN Africa, Vogue, Okay Africa, Culture Custodian and so many other great platforms between 2020 and now and I’m proud of that.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience on social media by just consistently creating good work and putting it out there, all the time. It’s doesn’t have to be finished work. It can be a study or what you’re experimenting with. People always assume people aren’t watching because they aren’t interacting with your posts, especially on instagram. But people are. I literally built my career on social media and get most of my clients from social media. It’s important to drop that feelings of shame and fear and just put your stuff out there. It will connect you to people like you, people that like you and what you create and people that want you to create for them.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society should understand that creative work is also hard work. Digital art is art and it takes years and years of consistent practice to be great at it. It’s just a different type of art. I’m saying this because people usually treat and look at digital artists differently and assume that because our process and tools involve technology, then it’s easy. That’s completely false. Now I’m not referring to ai and photo editing apps. I’m referring to artists that create something out of nothing and from scratch digitally. Appreciate them more, pay them more. Also please don’t steal from artists. Don’t lift artworks off the internet and frame them. Buy prints and buy directly from artists or that their representatives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.iamrenike.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrenike/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morenike-olusanya-873b15107/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamrenike