“I wrote on my Sketch pad Okon David, the Illustrator”. Muna Kalati’s Interview with a Nigerian illustrator primarily interested in faith-based content
MK: Could you briefly introduce yourself?
D.O: My name is David Okon. I am an independent illustrator who also works with Mount Zion Comics and Studio 5:13 in Nigeria as a background artist, colourist, children’s book illustrator, and comic artist. I am also a published Illustrator whose works have been published by Straight Gate, Bulkybon Books, and Xulon Press in North America.
M.K: Could you tell us about your career background? What pushed you into illustration? When did you start? Where did you get the idea to begin illustrating books for children?
D.O: I started creating art from childhood. I had a great love for drawing. I later picked up an interest in painting when I was in High School. My Art Teacher was my Art mentor, who guided me in the art of designing traditionally, which includes drawings, sculptures, poster design, and painting. Throughout High School, I was awarded the best student in Visual Arts (both in theory and practical aspects). I was also the creative head of the Creative Art Club in high school.
After graduating in 2012 from High school, I took a short course in Desktop Publishing for six months to learn the art of computer-aided design.
In 2014, I was admitted to the University Of Benin, Nigeria to study Fine and Applied Arts. In my third year, I majored in Graphic Design. While in school, I worked with lecturers and professor to handle Graphic Design projects (traditional and digital art). I graduated in 2018.
In my final year, in my last semester, I decided to go entirely into illustration because I was already into many aspects of Graphic Design. It was during the preparation for our final-year defence that I got a commission to illustrate a children’s book for an online magazine from my client in Israel. I went as far as getting a Sketch pad on March 6th, 2019. I wrote on my Sketch pad Okon David, the Illustrator. I think that was when my career in Children’s book illustration started. What pushed me into illustrating children’s books was the desire to be a blessing and positively impact faith-based content.
M.K: What issue or problem(s) do you encounter in your career as an Illustrator? How do you overcome them?
D.O: Creative Block: I sometimes don’t know what to draw. I see illustration as spiritual because I am bringing out something from my imagination. So, I pray to God for inspiration, check other illustrators’ works, or just face the blank canvas, and right there, inspiration is found while working.
Business Side: In the early stage of my career. I will work first before getting paid. The freelancing sites are the worst experience for me. I must wait for days before getting paid. Another bad experience is working with clients directly without escrow. Some might even ghost away or refuse to pay the balance. To solve this, I first of all built credibility with my name and works. So I can boldly ask for upfront payment directly to my account and create milestone payments. So, I am paid in full before the project is complete.
M.K: What tools do you use in illustration, and what are the values of illustration in Children’s books?
D.O: For my hardware- I use Dell Inspiron 3543: Corei5, 8 GB RAM and 2 GB Nvidia Geforce Graphic Card, Gaomon PD2200 with an external keyboard.
For my Software, I use solely Clip Studio Paint Ex for my illustration in Children’s books. I love it for the Page Management features. Illustration is significant as it helps to tell the story visually.
M.K: What progress or achievements have been made to date? Has any book you illustrated won an award?
D.O.: My progress or achievement is being a Published Illustrator. It gives me great joy that my work is a blessing out there. The books I have illustrated haven’t won an award yet, but I look forward to the day it will happen.
M.K: Can children’s books exist without illustrators?
D.O: I don’t think so. Pictures created by illustrators help give life and meaning to the author’s words. It is easier to understand words with pictures, than words only, especially for kids.
M.K: What are your thoughts and opinions on the rise of AI? Does it have an impact on your career?
D.O: AI has made most illustrators angry because of its copyright infringement. One of the current deficiencies of AI is the inability to maintain consistency in Characters and Environment design. That is a big plus to the illustrator. The introduction of AI doesn’t negatively impact my career but rather positively. After generating any image, you still need an artist to correct the inconsistency in the picture.
M.K: What tips would you provide to young illustrators? Any advice to upcoming illustrators?
D.O: Look for a style of illustration that appeals to you, then try to replicate it. But don’t post them as your work. After a while, try to create an original illustration of your own. You will discover you have discovered your unique professional art style. And don’t forget to use references, especially if you are drawing the objects or things for the first time. My advice to the upcoming illustrator is not to give up if you are not a published illustrator yet. My advice is while waiting to be commissioned to illustrate a book, make your book of illustrations so that prospective authors or publishers can see if you are the best fit for their books. Also, have a portfolio site of your works like Behance, Artstation or your own personal website.
M.K: What support or assistance would you need to increase the impact of your career?
D.O: I have learnt by experience that visibility create room for impact.Therefore, more visibility of my work will increase the impact of my career.
M.K: What are your current sources of funding? Could you be described as financially self-sufficient?
D.O.: My funding comes from constant Commissions from Children’s Books, Character Design for animation, in-house projects, and outsourced work at Mount Zion Comics. Yes, I would say I am financially self-sufficient, but there can be more.
M.K: What are your plans for the next 3 to 5 years? What legacy do you want to leave?
D.O: I am currently learning 3D animation and Game Development from Del-York Creative Academy, where I am also a Star Ambassador, a programme fully funded by the Mastercard Foundation. I want to translate this knowledge that some books that I have and would illustrate into animated films and video games that kids can see, play and be blessed with.
M.K: Any last word? Anything else that hasn’t been addressed in this form? (Kindly share with us)
D.O: Yes, regarding my illustration process. For my illustration process, I start with a very rough sketch, most times without references, because I don’t want it to decide the direction of my illustration. After that, I would use references to fill in information that my imagination cannot reproduce. The next phase is refining the sketch. After that, I make a greyscale from the sketch to decide the value and light placement. The next phase is blocking the colours. The next stage is adding details.