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

Oni, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I am so grateful for my parents because they were my first and biggest supporters in my life. From a young age I showed interest in the arts, and my mother seeing that made sure to encourage me. Her being an artist herself was incredibly helpful, and whenever I had a question about something, I always had someone who could offer guidance. I’m overall very happy that they didn’t try to deter me once I decided that the arts was a field I wanted to pursue. I can’t think of another path that would have been as fulfilling for me.

Oni, 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?

Hi I’m Oni, and beyond any formal titles, I am a creator at heart with a passion for bringing ideas to life. In my personal work I end up incorporating nature, which makes sense to me since growing up, I spent a majority of time outside playing in the woods or in my mother’s garden.
In the year 2022, I earned my BFA in Animation with a specialized focus on Concept and Storytelling from SCAD. Since stepping into the role of a visual development artist, I have learned how to transition between diverse responsibilities within animated projects.

Through the years I have contributed my talents to an array of team-oriented endeavors, spanning from abstract fantasy escapades to deeply personal narratives exploring the complexities of human relationships. During my schooling I desired to expand these skills in visual storytelling across diverse mediums, so my journey at SCAD was not confined to the classroom alone.

While in my academic pursuit, I took on the role of Art Director for live events at Lotus Rosery, an event platform grown from the vibrant heart of Atlanta, Georgia. Here, I delved into the art of curating immersive experiences for mass audiences, collaborating with notable sponsors such as Red Bull, Just Water, Sincethe80’s, and Comcast.

Post-graduation, my dedication to the craft of storytelling persisted as I continued to lend my creative touch to live productions, collaborating with renowned brands like Cam Kirk studios and One Music Fest. I love live action work and the process of working with people in real time. Being on set working within art department, has been eye opening for me and my future plans.

When people ask what I do or what I can do I tend take a short pause because it’s such a loaded question for me. I usually tend to ask what they’re looking for so I don’t accidentally information dump. I will always consider myself a student, and I look forward to growing older, acquiring more artistic skills, and becoming an avatar of the arts.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As someone who tends to be very detail oriented in my personal life, I find that through making artwork, I truly have to surrender to the process. The end result will always be different than what I planned. In my experience, it’s always for the better. I feel like it’s a great exercise on releasing control, and allowing myself to be a vessel for my higher self and the parts of me I am still working through in my day to day life.

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

Most definitely!

Sometimes I think about where I would I be, if I had the resources I do currently from a younger age. However, I am still grateful for the experiences I have had. Especially being older now, I feel like I can handle opportunities better at this age. But overall I do think the school systems here specifically in Georgia, could do better with providing proper resources for students who are interested in the arts. Especially if students don’t have teachers or someone in their life who can be a proper guide.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oconcepts.wixsite.com/ocul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oniofhyrule.lotus/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oniacul/
• Other: Oniacul3@gmail.com

Image Credits
My first headshot photo was taken by JSN Washington Jr.