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

Hi Uc sepia, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning the craft has been a journey. I first started when I was a little girl. My father left at the age of 8 and was always told that I was not allowed to participate in things that only boys did. I never really understood what he ment by this and wondered why. I told myself that I was going to do whatever my little heart wanted. So this is when I decided to draw and paint. I was on a journey to be an artist and not my dad or anyone one else for that matter would stop me. I am very thankful for my mother whom helped me fuel my dreams. She was the first person in my life who encouraged me to be an artist. Soon after she would supply me with paint and walls and would let me paint every room in the house. I then moved to the back yard where I painted the entire fence surrounding our house. Later on as I grew older I met a wonderful person who would help me take it to the next level in my journey to becoming my hearts dream. His name was core 2 and was involved in graffiti. He took me to a spot to paint with spray paint for the first time and told me to paint whatever I wanted. I instantly fell in love. The best part of it was that he encouraged and Challenged me to do my very best. Starting off was quite a bit of a challenge for me because not only was I a women but a Latina and a mother. Graffiti is mostly male dominated and here I was doing that very thing my father told me not to do. Now I have 3 children and one adult three of which are girls. I have taught them to follow their hearts and do whatever it is that they want to be. I believe that it is important to have like minded people in your life to help you stay on track to the things that matter most. I have started from the bottom and fought my way to the somewhat called top. In this journey I have learned it is very hard to stay afloat. You make so many choices and meet so many people that you almost lose yourself and the reason why you started. Painting for the love of it has bestowed its amazing powers upon me and have helped me get through some tough times. I have painted murals that have truly inspired people of all ages to celebrate, love, dream and be courageous. Especially young women, it is the most rewarding feeling to have them look at me as I once looked at other females doing what I do. I am here to let them know that someone who looks like them c CAN paint murals and follow her dreams just as much as anyone. I paint with the community for the community because i am the community. I’m unique and different and what to paint things that mean things to other people like love , Hope, courage, strength.As well as challenges and struggles too. Because that’s what makes us who we are. I have painted at events and been involved in some amazing experiences and surrounded by amazing people. I do believe that I will forever grow and that there will always be change and lessons to learn, I will continue to share my stories through my artwork.

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

I am a muralist/ female graffiti artist. I paint, draw make clothing and jewelry. I also work with ink drawings, watercolor, woodwork, clay sculpture and metalwork. The thing I would like people to know about me is that I have took on a new skill with metal. My life partner has taught me within the 2 years how to shape metal using metal dollies, and tools that will stretch and shrink the metal I have learned how to create new bends and folds in the metal and have also learned how to weld. I find a beaut in making metal move and change. I love the idea of fixing a crushed piece of metal and restoring it bak to the way it was. It really takes a skilled person to do that. My life partner has been doing it for 20 plus years and has become masterful at it. I also dabble in Graphic design logos design work and packaging design etc. I have also always had a love to create things with my hands. Packaging design is by far my most favorite thing aside from painting murals. I have been known to create some unique out of the box designs for clients such as business cards, logos or packaging designs. I listen to what they want and add a little bit of my design knowledge to the mix and voila!

The thing I am most proud of is teaching my daughters to become whoever they want and to express themselves and dream big. I am also proud to be a woman and an inspiration to so many young women and females. I hope to travel outside of my state and meet other amazing women all-over the world.
I also want to thank all of my followers for loving my art I appreciate you.

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

In my opinion the best thing for society is to invest and support artist like me Who are trying to make a honest living doing the things we love. Alot of hard work goes into this business. Many people hear artist and think that’s not a job… really it is. Sometimes we even have 2 or 3 other jobs as well. So the next time you want to buy someone something unique buy from your local artist’s believe me they have alot to offer and they spend hours, sweat and tears into making it.

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

I don’t think people understands what it takes to be an artist. It is very exhausting and overwhelming at times. You constantly have doubts struggles and challenges. You feel the days that are hot/cold long and emotional draining. You give yourself and your weakness to people without even realizing it. You subconsciously share your stories and artwork with stranger friends family and the community as you sit in silence while they judge you quietly. People always think artist are happy but we are people too and we go through alot of stuff that people don’t realize and see behind the process. The process is sometimes extruating that I almost feel as though I will not be able to accomplish what I have set out to do. I get depressed I don’t eat I get blinding arm numbing migraines that last hours on end. Then when all my insecurities melt away I then start to feel the medicine of painting flood in and when I’m done with my mural I feel exuberance . And then it all starts all over again each and every time I paint talk about it drives you crazy but it helps me grow each and every time so that’s a plus!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ozjuahsepia
• Facebook: @ozjuah.upperclass

Image Credits
Photographer Robert Carbajal Person in the picture Uc sepia