In the past, many people looked down on skills that were not related to medicine, engineering or law. They thought those skills were not good enough or profitable. But times have changed and we see examples of how people pursue their passion and develop talent in any field.
In this interview, Daily Trust’s Aisha Abdullahi sat with Abdulwaduud, a budding artist, who got inspired by his mum’s handwriting as a secondary school Home-Economics teacher and developed this interest into something huge and draws ART for a living.
Hello Abdulwaduud, thank you for being willing to share your story.
Thank you for making me feel heard.
You’re welcome, we are glad to be doing this. Who is Abdulwaduud?
Abdulwaduud: I am an artist with an unquenchable thirst for art and storytelling, who stretches his expertise beyond the canvas, around art and the creative Industry.
Tell us a bit about your background.
Abdulwaduud: I grew up shuffling between my uncle’s house and my mother’s home, and with the constant shift of environment, I found solitude in writing, reading comics and the weekend newspapers.
Interesting, so how did you find art, what led to the you becoming an artist? Tell us about the journey.
Abdulwaduud: My mother was our home-economics teacher when I was in secondary school and I used to envy her handwriting and drawing. They were top-tier. The fascination of wanting to match her skills and calligraphy led me to drawing for my classmates, redrawing Supa Strikas and comic character which suddenly became an obsession post-secondary school. I found myself escaping to my drawing pages instead of reading for my ICAN exams. I got into university as an Economics student and drawing portraits of my friends or their girlfriends was how I fund most of my needs as a new undergraduate. At 200 level, I decided to dump Economics to finished my studies as Fine Art student of OAU but you best believe, everything I learned around Art was in practice and outside the four walls of school.
It is quite impressive you monetized it early enough, how long have you been doing art for?
Abdulwaduud: Almost a decade! In a couple of months, it will be 10 long years of giving myself to my own evolution as an artist.
That is a long time coming and I hope you give yourself your flowers. So, let’s dive into money talk. Do you believe in money or passion? How much do you make in a year from this?
Abdulwaduud: I believe in money ‘and’ passion. Who says you have to only pick one? Money is a practical necessity for all creatives and that’s what helps us sustain our passion and invest in our craft. Money helps us create impactful works. I have ideas I wish I can afford right now. Money or passion? Passionate money! I make 7 figures in a year presently.
What are some of the challenges you have experienced in the course of this?
Abdulwaduud: There are too numerous to mention but I don’t whine about challenges because it gives me room to solve a problem and potentially monetize that solution. If there’s something I really want to change in the art and design industry though, it’s having a standardized body in the country or continent that awards and rewards artists and designers for their works and creativity. Getting nominated from industries and judges that don’t even know our qualifiers is disappointing to see year in year out.
Way to go! I also believe you shouldn’t dwell much on the problem and start thinking of a solution because that’s what you have within your control. What inspires your work, take us through your creative process.
Abdulwaduud: That’s a tricky one. Love! Love inspires me. The collective love of wanting more beyond myself. The wanting of your people to win, the wanting of your colleagues to be safe. The genuine collaboration that is birthed from a love of wanting to serve people beyond yourself. That’s my inspiration to get up and it keeps me going every day.
What are some important apps you can’t do without?
Abdulwaduud: First of all, I can do without anything, God willing. I am an Artist; I will find a way! Regardless, my top apps are Procreate, CapCut, Pinterest, Behance, and my bank app.
Describe your perfect day.
Abdulwaduud: That will be every day I wake up grateful and extend that gratefulness by serving someone or simply making them feel seen or heard.
There are other artists out there, what makes you stand out?
Abdulwaduud: I am in a league of my own. You can copy my work but you can’t copy my spirit, and most importantly, I genuinely want other creatives to also win. The sky is big enough for us all to fly.
If not art, what will it be?
Abdulwaduud: Writing, teaching, exploring… so many things I can be, but you best believe I will also paint that lifestyle like an art.
Your goal in 5-10 year’s time?
Abdulwaduud: Leading a community of millions of creatives worldwide. To own an eco-system of Art and Design and have a loving family.
It was pleasant having this interview with you, your story is inspiring and we wish you success in all your endeavors.
Abdulwaduud: Thank you for having me. Cheers!
