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

Hi Martin, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As of October 2023, I had hit a point where nothing seemed to matter anymore. I felt disconnected. I had left my home country Nigeria with my family to the UK. Being in a new country with an entirely different set of rules was a huge culture shock, and I wasn’t working. Imposter syndrome came knocking and I wasn’t ready. After much internal conflict, I decided to work on a project to help me regain my lost confidence in creating art.

I set out to illustrate 50 different species of beetles in my signature doodling style. I was able to complete this in a month. I felt fulfilled at having pulled this off. I have since then started making plans to show my work more, compile the illustrations into a coloring book, and showcase some colored versions of it in a solo exhibition currently showing at the Mike-Rowe Exhibition Gallery space in Norwich, UK (where I currently live), I am also exploring different product ideas with these illustrations.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi my name is Martin Ufuoma Avwenagha, fondly called the “Doodle overlord” or “ufosouth” in my art community. I am a Nigerian-born, self-taught artist and IT enthusiast. Art has always been my way of expression from my early childhood growing up as an only child. Now I have a kid sister and she’s the most important person to me in the world after my wife and kids.

I have worked on a range of artistic projects that involve painting and installing murals, creating children’s activity books, comic book coloring, canvas paintings, graphic design, and illustration work. I tell visual stories and interpret my client’s ideas in my unique style of art capturing the very essence of their businesses creatively and intelligently.

I am happy about my growth as an artist and how far it has brought me (and still taking me). I love to doodle a lot. And the manner in which I draw is a meditative process. It’s always about the journey/process of exploring where the lines start and where they lead me to.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’m thrilled to answer this question. My dream is for those who view my work to find a connection that is uniquely theirs, a personal resonance that speaks to them deeply. There have been moments where individuals have shared with me how my art has touched them, sometimes revealing aspects of my work that I hadn’t intended. This is a peculiar yet wonderful aspect of my art, something I hold dear and wouldn’t exchange for anything.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’ll never forget the moment I embarked on my first mural project. My parents had contrasting visions for my future, stemming from their love and genuine concern. They encouraged me to create, aiming to instill in me the joy and satisfaction that comes from doing what you love. I felt the need to demonstrate that my passion for art could also be a source of income. Despite their initial skepticism about the financial viability of art, they supported me in the ways they could.

In 2016, I began drawing daily on paper and sharing my work on Instagram. I would doodle names of my followers for their birthdays and tag them in the posts. One day, a follower messaged me, inquiring if I could paint a mural on a wall. Despite my lack of experience in mural work, I agreed. We met at the site, discussed the project’s details, and that’s how I secured my first mural job and received my first payment for my art.

Sharing this milestone with my parents brought about a significant shift in their perspective on art. Their excitement over my achievement marked a turning point in our relationship with my artistic pursuits. Since then, I’ve been on a journey that has only grown more enriching and fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ufo_south/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ufo_south