Introduction Post

Hello guys, my name is Ajayi Oluwashogo, but I'm mostly refered to as Shogo. I am a student of the University of Benin, Nigeria.
I am a passionate artist, a writer a guitarist, a graphics designer. I also take freelance commissions on paintings, graphic designs, and pencil portraits. I am currently employed as a part time literature teacher, as literature is a part of me.

I was born and I still live in Lagos Nigeria. I started art in elementary school, I was Inspired by stories I read from books and my friends. I'd watch them draw and I was initiated, subsequently I began to yearn for a better purpose, I wanted to be the best, in spite of the fact that my peers were better than I was, my young self was resilient. I began to recreate popular childhood cartoons; superman, characters from the super striker comic book, this made me popular which in turn gave me an addiction I'm still grateful for. I saw nothing but art, I became the best student in creative arts and over the years my inspirations has spread and my purpose is now wide and broad.

It is said that art is a product of the artist's environment. Born into a family background like mine has shapened my style and motives. Also a multicultural country like Nigeria influences my art as I always have the strong urge to talk about issues related to my society.
My work is known for it's uniqueness and originality as I target my specific audiences, making them feel deeply, the emotions in which I carry when I create. My central themes includes: Culture, The female gender (of which my mother is my greatest source of inspiration) childhood and lastly, the plights of the every day people. I execute my projects using mediums such as graphite and charcoal pencils, acrylic paints and clay.

I work in solitude that is to say I love being alone, I somehow draw inspirations through reflections and solitude and being alone offers me the luxury of thinking and working effectively.
I adopted a style known as "expressive Afro realism" I see the world as it is, I see people as people and so I tend to express what I feel and see as they are with so much creativity and depth.
My purpose as an artist is to make Impact, to be able to influence my society in a way that leaves the mark of change.

My vision is to be a great, successful artist whose knowledge would be shared. I want my ideas, emotions to be successfully passed across through my works. I want my works to evoke emotions, to remind people of things they should be, do. I want my work to create nostalgia, to heal and wash of the stress of the everyday life.
I'm influenced by the works of notable contemporary artists from Nigeria and beyond, the likes of "Yusuf Grillo who's paintings are eternal, Fatola Israel, Ken Nwadiogbu, and Paul Ogunlesi"
Classical artists like Stephen Baumas has influenced my portraits, his renditions and strokes gives me a feeling of bravery and calm. I'm also influenced by Kelvin Okafor, a hyper real artist.

I heard about this platform from a friend @krucekoncept who has been a member who also told me of the platform helped him in some specific areas. This is an opportunity for me to improve on my skill as I'd meet new challenges. I look forward to meeting you.
Thank you so much for taking some moments of your time to know about me and I hope that on the long run you'll find my works relatable.
I look forward to hearing from you.