This photo stood out from the rest of Ojeikere's Hairstyles collection because the model's expression and demeanour resonated with me the way the Mona Lisa has with many. She looks calm, confident and ... headstrong.
In the summer of 2008 I traced a stencil, sketched an analogue-plotted grid on my living room wall and painted her al fresco. When it came time to deciding on an identity to describe my work in 2009, after receiving a certification in interior design, I really just had to turn around from my desk.
I recently completed an indepth exercise in evaluating my brand and identity. Using my own work and photography, I put together four branding strategies to help refine my approach and highight my specialties and interests.
I saw no reason to change my logo, but rather explore the idea of alter-ego using the stencil as a starting point. I had come across a quote right at the beginning of Octavia Butler's The Parable of the Sower that beautifully articulated my outlook on leading a productive, creative life:
"Prodigy is, at its essence, adaptability and persistent, positive obsession. Without persistence, what remains is an enthusiasm of the moment. Without adaptability, what remains may be channeled into destructive fanaticism. Without positive obsession, there is nothing at all."
Headstrong branding and identity creative process and exploration, 2020.
Hand-drawn in pen and pencil on tracing paper
Colour pencil and isopropyl on trace, Photoshop colour editing
Colour pencil and isopropyl on trace, Photoshop colour editing variation
Futuristic promotional posters
I designed these with a view for further development of a series of art books I've dreamt of making for as long as I can remember. Ma~'s (Matilda's) Adventures in Xanadu. I've documented the concept exploration on my blog.
