We were lucky to catch up with Chioma Iloegbunam recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chioma, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

Oh, definitely! Being an artist is like riding a rollercoaster of creative highs. I think there’s a preconceived notion that you make absolutely no money from being a creative, thus making it a pointless career path, but I don’t particularly find that to be true. For starters, not everyone really sits in the starved artist archetype as much as people may think. Depending on the path of art you decide to pursue, there are definitely some great profits to be made, and even stable options out there. In this climate, they’re notoriously more difficult to land, but that speaks on a much larger issue. I also believe that the value of a career isn’t always directly proportional to its monetary success, but that’s also a whole different discussion.

There’ve been moments when I wondered if choosing a different path would’ve ultimately made my life easier, both personally and professionally. But, when I look at the bigger picture, I can hardly imagine finding true fulfillment in that alternative.

Art has always been the pulse of humanity since the beginning of civilization. Whether I’m contributing to that as a career or a hobby, I’m just happy to be a part of it, you know?

Chioma, 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?

For starters—hi! I’m Chioma Iloegbunam, an Illustrator and Designer based in Glendale.

I craft everything from graphic designs to illustrations that bring joy. As such, I’ve had the wonderful privilege of working with an awesome wide range of clientele, both on a larger and smaller scale. What sets me apart? To be frank, I’m not really sure. I just try to tell stories in a way that hits home and aim to be as visually inviting as I can with that approach.

I like tackling problems, turning creative hiccups into chances to make a client’s ideas come to fruition. The best part to me is seeing a project go way beyond expectations. I tend to be my own biggest critic, but I’m always at ease when clients are happy.

Whether you’re looking for a design buddy or just curious, I’m here for a fun and fabulous creative ride. Let’s make some visual magic happen!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I mentioned before that art is the pulse of humanity, but wholeheartedly, it really is. You don’t necessarily need to be an art history buff or a critic to see that—some of the most powerful and impactful eras birthed so many amazing projects of different mediums in the creative realm: film, fine arts, fashion, music, and et cetera. This even applies to some of my work as well.

With that in toll: the single notion that artificial intelligence is “making art accessible to everyone now” has always fascinated me. Because art, objectively, has always been accessible to everyone. It’s an endless realm of possibilities, and I think that’s what makes it so special. What I think a lot of non-creatives assume is that creativity is a “prodigies-only” churning cog machine that can be turned on and off on command. In reality, it’s personal and thus unpredictable, and it’s constantly battling with the structure of the society we live in now. We live in a very “if you can’t make millions from your gift, your gift is worthless” and an even more ironic “if you make millions from your gift, your gift is also worthless” timeline.

Also, creativity is a trait that we all have, even if it exists absentmindedly. So, in a way, I try to see things from the non-creative point of view to really put why I love doing what I do into perspective. Time and failure seem to be the things people run from the most anyway, and those are two things many creatives see a lot of in our careers. To the average person, that sounds terrifying, no? I totally get that. However, that being said, the journey to really devoting your life to a creative field isn’t all that linear. It takes time, care, ambiguity, a bit of love and so many innately human things that just can’t be replicated, rushed or replaced.

So, yeah. Pouring your artsy mind and heart out to a deeply capitalistic world can be very tough, but the fun thing about art is that it’ll last forever! Even in times like these.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Ooh, I love this question! I could talk about this for eons, but I’ll keep it simple. I see you in that chair, and I won’t let you doze off. Stay AWAKE.

1. Appreciate your local art scene/events. I love going to little events downtown and buying prints or handmade goodies from people. You never really realize just how much your support means to an artist until you see their faces light up in person.

2. If you’re commissioning an artist for personal work, pay them, and pay them well. Lowballing is incredibly common in most creative fields, and many artists will even undervalue themselves.

3. Spread the word. Though it may seem minuscule, it’s a gesture that can open many doors and boost one’s confidence.

Overall, many things can be done to liven up the creative ecosystem! Recognizing the beauty of creativity beyond the dollar signs would be much more possible if we fully encouraged and supported those who share their talents with us. Myself included.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chiomailo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.iloe
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chioma-iloegbunam-565a6a16b/
• Other: behance: https://www.behance.net/chiomailo47f40

Image Credits
Credits: Me, Myself, and Patch Animation