Digitised Art By Oscar Muyambo

Visual art is one of the oldest forms of expression by human beings. From informative prehistoric rock paintings to imaginative creations across mass media in the modern world.

With traditional forms found in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculptures and ceramic art to latter-day developments such as photography, video, film-making and applied arts such as graphic, fashion and interior design, visual art has always served to amuse, educate and reflect society.

With the development of the digital age, the era of digital art was born.

This encompasses work that applies digital technology as part of the creative process and falls under the umbrella of new media art.

Digital artist Oscar Muyambo dabbles in this form of craftsmanship and is shaping the way art will look in the world to come.

The 29-year-old creative was born in Russia, grew up in Zimbabwe and moved to Namibia at the age of 10, where he was raised in a family of five. After studying law, Muyambo followed his passions transitioning to personal development in business, media, graphics and art.

“At the age of five, my mother took me to an art school/day care centre and that was my first brush with art,” he reminisces, mentioning they were taught how to draw, paint and make ceramics.

“I guess that was the rudimental foundation for my love for art. After that one-year encounter, the rest was self-taught.”

Pulled to creative and artistic endeavours from adolescence, Muyambo was constantly doodling and sketching comic book characters in class, which later developed into him taking on music and graphic design.

“I started helping my mom’s business by being in charge of designing and creating marketing campaigns that became profitable. That was when I experienced first-hand the power of art and design and how it can be highly valuable for businesses. As a person who loves challenge and growth, my graphic designing slowly evolved into digital art in order to create more unique concepts,” he divulges.

Muyambo currently manages his brand Oscar’s Designs and under that, his arts persona Oscar’s Art.

The growing digital designer mentions he has always been fascinated by tapping into personal growth and reaching his true potential. After reading ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill in 2013, Muyambo had an epiphany and pursued his creative passions on a full-time basis, shortly after obtaining his law degree. Apart from creating artwork, he is also a marketing manager, school administrator and freelance graphic designer.

The arts, although rosy from the outside, isn’t an easy world to navigate in.

“Currently I feel that most artists and their works are undervalued, thus it is difficult for most artists (regardless how talented) to make a decent consistent living let alone become financially free from art alone,” he says, highlighting some of the stumbling blocks.

“There needs to be a proper commercial platform that encourages creativity in a more consistent and mutually beneficial way. I would like to challenge large corporations and advertising agencies to start incorporating more artists in their marketing and advertising campaigns, in order to create employment while improving their financial objectives at the same time.”

Following in the footsteps of Jean-Michel Basquiat, who introduced street-inspired artwork to the mainstream media, Muyambo says he is a student of life.

“My primary purpose is to achieve mastery in three main areas of my life: health, wealth and relationships. I am constantly trying to push my former limits and use my creativity to achieve those goals. In turn, I hope I also get to inspire others to do the same.”

While on lockdown, Muyambo urges other artists to improve on their social media skills to wholly benefit off these platforms.

Major dreams that he hopes will be acknowledged by the end of this year for Namibian visual arts are to inspire interactive cultural movements between artists and the public, and that ad companies will incorporate more artwork into their commercials.

“Finally I want to inspire aspiring artists to become commercial as soon as possible and to always aim high.”

Follow Oscar’s Art on social media or visit www.oscarsdesigns.com.

– JonathanSasha on social media.

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