Today we’d like to introduce you to Kemi Oyebade.
Hi Kemi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve had an affinity for art. I was directly influenced by my dad. When he would read me bedtime stories, sometimes the books were void of pictures so I couldn’t visualize what he was saying. To help me, he’d draw in these books. My father is a terrible artist, lol, but the fact that he tried his best to draw what I could not see always stuck with me and carried me forward in my love of art.
Over the years, I would enter drawing contests in my school, my parents enrolled me in Art Instruction, Inc. (now defunct), and was always asked by my peers to draw for them. So it became a religious activity for me as I grew older. I loved comics, Manga, classical art, sculptures, skeletons, etc.! Anything I found aesthetic to my eyes, I wanted to replicate in drawings. Needless to say, at some point or another, I began to include animation. Animation being the ability to create life from images, became my next venture as I entered high school. I’ve always loved cartoons from all over the world and from different time periods.
I carried this desire to learn animation through college and received a Bachelor of Arts and Science with a focus in Animation from The University of Georgia in 2011 followed by a Master’s in Animation and SFX from the Academy of Art University in 2019.
In 2011, I had the pleasure of interning with a small independent studio called ARG! Animation Studio located now in Stilwell, Oklahoma. I worked closely with the owner of the studio who was also the director of many animations assigned to the studio. I loved this due to the intimacy between our members and the fact we had some say in the design process. I’m still part of this studio today. Then, I believe, in 2013 or 2014, I was selected to intern for a summer at Stargate Studios when The Walking Dead catapulted into popularity as a VFX artist doing menial tasks but sometimes working headshots. Because I was able to experience both corporate and independent studios, I realized that I wanted to build my independent studio. Thus, Vagabond Rebel Arts Studio was created by the end of 2014.
I’ve had to learn a lot by going this route as a freelance/independent studio. I’ve had to teach myself as well as communicate with past colleagues to stay up to date with industry-standard software and trends. I’ve had to incorporate elements of graphic design, front-end web development, coding, etc to stay versatile and appealing to the clients I’ve acquired. I’ve had to learn that it’s ok to have a second job to hold yourself over financially when lull periods occur because it will happen in the freelance field.
There are pros and cons to any career. There are things I probably wouldn’t have had to experience if I chose a more corporate route but I wouldn’t change my decision for the world. I’ve never felt so much freedom by being independent even if the works are smaller and less known. Being able to make artistic choices and have control over my schedule is SUPER important to me. I’ve found a nice balance and I thank God for all the wisdom and education he’s given me to thrive in this field. As of now, I’m still acquiring new clients while maintaining working relationships with older clients. I’m not sure where Vagabond Rebel Arts Studios is headed just yet, but it’s still evolving.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not smooth. But if it were a smooth road, how would I know what I was capable of or what I needed to improve on? The main struggle I’ve had to endure, like many in my freelancing field, is financial stability. I knew early on however that doing what I was doing would not yield financial security early on or consistently. I did a lot of research before I made the decision to pursue a creative career. I had to learn how to supplement my income as well as continue what I love to do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I had a professor in college who taught me not to be a specialist but a generalist. I always thought that was odd. But he explained to me that sometimes being good at one thing can limit a person versus being good at many things to open a person. That always stuck with me. So I learned 2D Traditional Animation, 2D Digital Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Coding, and Web Development. I’m most known for my animations, illustrations, and web development prowess. I’ve had to learn a lot of programs, techniques, and the works along the way and that’s something I’m most proud of.
When a client asks me, “Can you do this?” I’ll always say, “let me get back to you.” I’ll research, test, research some more, and test some more. When I’ve learned the basics and what my client is asking for, I can confidently say, “I can do this for you,” or consult on areas of concern where it may be more difficult than they thought and find another solution. The look on their face is so precious to me when they see their vision come to fruition. I don’t know what sets me apart from others in my field. I’m not sure if there is. But I don’t care about that. I care about my clients’ visions becoming visually tangible.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those starting off, be patient and kind to yourself. I can attest that the struggle is real when you want to build something from yourself. Don’t compare your work to others. Appreciate it, take elements that you like, but DON’T compare. That’s one of the fastest ways to kill one’s own self-esteem. Do your research to make sure being an independent studio is what you want. Have that conversation with yourself and weigh the pros and cons. Experiment with styles and ideas to find your own path. And lastly, give yourself enough room to allow evolution.
Contact Info:
- Website: vrartgo.com
- Instagram: @vrartgo
Image Credits
Atinuke Kemi Oyebade
