Through Thy Lens

How many talented persons do you know ? What’s the difference between one artist and the next ? Aren’t they all artists ? Well if there is one thing this platform has taught us, it’s that artists are never the same. The whys and hows related to the process of creating are different for each and everyone. And that is exactly what we at Through Thy Lens aim to portray. Today as we follow Andy’s inspiring journey towards the validation of his art as a graphic designer, illustrator, editor and ARTIST ; we hope that his experience will inspire fellow artists to develop their skills and follow their dreams. 

• Who is Andy Akangah ? How would you describe yourself in a few words ? ( add country of origin , studies and goals in life )

Straight outta Benin, I’m a 19 old year graphic designer and illustrator currently studying Marketing at uOttawa. I’m passionate about art. In any way, shape or form. I marvel at movies and novels and the sense of bravado they can so greatly portray, as well as goose-bumps inducing scenes and reads. My main goal in life is to create that exhilarating feeling to my audience. I’m working towards building my own advertising/marketing firm and it being on the biggest names out there.

• On a scale from 1-10 how would you rate your interest in visual art ? 

It’s definitely a strong 10. I mean, that’s all there is to me. I couldn’t live my life any other way. In my spare time, anywhere and anyhow really, I’d be involved in art. I would doodle and sketch, paint on Photoshop, mash hundreds of pictures together on Photoshop. I make logos, I edit videos, I write poetry. Now I illustrate. And I taught myself all that because to me it was pure catharsis. These were my outlets to me being free in times of struggle. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, that’s really how it was to me. I just had to keep going, deeper and deeper in order to express myself better.

• How did you become interested in it ? 

There was a point in my life where I really screwed up in terms of my antics. I was grounded for a long, long time, and I wasn’t happy with who I was. You know, identity issues. And I kept wondering how to redeem myself of my wrongdoings.So being grounded for months, I watched more TV more than usual, and read more books that I would in the past. As such, I was exposed to a whole range of characters whose stories had gone terrible as well, like mine, and their efforts to set things right. That’s good storytelling. I identified with these people, I could relate to them. And suddenly, I didn’t feel so lonely, or weird, or different. In fact, I felt like these people’s flaws drove the story because they embraced who they were. I was taken aback by the visuals, the storytelling and how all these could convey emotions. The slight tilt of the camera, the colors, the pace, everything had an impact as a whole. And I grew up daydreaming on how it all worked, and I how, myself, I could craft something this compelling to touch other people and…what, help them? Or make their day. I still daydream to this day, it’s just.. I think I’m getting closer to my dreams being a reality.

• Would you mind sharing a particular moment when your passion for visual art has impacted your life ?

I worked really hard on my art portfolio in my senior year, because I was applying for this really amazing art school in Chicago. And my portfolio was okay, but I wanted to really have amazing pieces before I applied. And so I staged a lot of photoshoots, edited for hours. I put in my best ideas that I’ve conceived for months, and even years. It was like my wish list of Photoshop compositions. Except that I finally had it come true. And then I applied. And I actually earned a scholarship from it, which was pretty stunning. I didn’t see it coming, I was just trying to get in in the first place. And it was an incredible feeling to get recognized and acknowledged from what, professionals and true masters? Yeah, that’s when I realized that what I could do had real genuine power.

• You are the founder of AKARTS : a brand which specializes in graphic design , video editing, illustrations and logos. Tell us more about it. 

It all started in 2011 when I started using Photoshop and I quickly realized that I needed a logo. I played around with my initials Andy Kwame Akangah and came up with…AKARTS. AKARTS (eh-kay-eh-arts) or (acart-s) in French. I started going by it, and weirdly enough, I received positive reception to it. But at first, it had no real meaning, I just needed a logo. But it was cool how it would sound like Also Known As Arts, you know? But that notion didn’t really stir anything up inside me. But today, years later, more than ever, I finally caught the message It’s like I understood the punchline of my own joke. Because I believe there’s art in truly just about anything. There’s art in the way someone holds themselves, how someone goes about doing something. We can’t define art, but as long as what someone does, or says, makes YOU feel something, I think it’s art. And it became the gist of AKARTS. And that’s why I just try to do it all, I want try to master all the spectrums that art has to offers. All the billion possibilities. So I can make a billion people feel something. Because there’s art everywhere.

• You recently developed a particular interest for  illustrations. Would you mind sharing how it all started ? 

It was the next thing. To be honest, I’ve tried to learn illustrations back in 2011 when I was figuring out Photoshop. But it wasn’t the right timing, I couldn’t teach myself both at the same time, so I picked Photoshop. I’m a good place right now with Photoshop, you could say that my thirst for it has been quenched. But I’m beyond starved for illustration and that’s what I want to conquer. As a full-time student, it’s also hard to dedicate time to create compositions through Photoshop because that requires time and effort. Illustrations are more accessible, faster to do,and I’ve noticed, appeal to a bigger audience. So I think I’ll stick around in that lane for a while.

• Do you think living in Ottawa has impacted your art in any way  ?

I do think I was inspired being here, because I had the right push, the right nudge to evolve. I couldn’t ask for better friends, and their support greatly motivate me. And I think I’m starting something, and Ottawa is as good a location to do that.

• What inspires you ?

I value originality and out of the box ideas. I admire hard work and dedication. I enjoy clever use of the most common things and objects. And last but not least, I was raised by TV. And whatinspires me is Naruto Uzumaki, this anime character. He had difficulties fitting in (he harbored inside him an evil creature, but that’s not the point), and he tried all he could to grab everyone’s attention which always got him in trouble. He was so like me. But the thing with Naruto that I liked most was that, he wanted to prove himself, any chance he could get. He wanted to show how great of a person he was, if ever he was given a chance to demonstrate it. He never gave up,in the very face of adversity, he kept true to his principles. Despite being hated by many, he believed in the good nature of people. That made people believe in him eventually. And how could they not? He was full of love. And my God, he had relentless optimism. For that, he was an inspiration to me.

• What’s next for you?  any projects or ideas you would like to share ? 

Realistically? I just opened my online store with Episode 1 (featuring hip-hop artists) and Episode 2 is on its way with more hip-hop artists and pop culture icons. And I mean, I’ve beenillustrating for 7 months now, and it feels like they’re so much more I can do. So, I plan ontackling many more styles of illustrations, themes, and etc. Dig in, you know. Until my thirst isquenched. I then plan on doing animation, which I have absolutely no idea on how it’s going to work out, but that’s what I’m best at. Figuring out stuff for myself.In my vivid and childlike imagination? Writing a book. Writing the screenplay for an adaption of that book, producing it, directing it AND starring in it…But wait, there’s more. Composing music for that very same movie. Too much?

• What advice would you give my readers ? 

Failure is the best thing that can happen to you. I mean it. We all experience failure but it turns into success if we learn from it. That’s what creates hope and belief, that’s what made me grin from ear to ear when I sat every night watching Naruto. Failure is a thief and will rob you of  everything you have. Good. Great. Excellent. This will only make you go out there and fight. I didn’t let failure get the last word. In brightest day, in darkest night, fight.

Thanks Andy for  taking the time to answer our questions. 

You can follow up with his work on his instagram at @theakarts and order illustrations on his website .