Creating as my Authentic Self
An Interview with Andre Oshea
Have you always aspired to create art, or did you discover your calling later in life?
I've been an artist for as long as I can remember. Being an artist has always been an important part of my journey, however, I had no idea I would become a 3D animator. When I look back at my childhood, it looked so obvious based on my interests – video games, animated movies, special FX & surreal art.
Did you study art as a student or are you self-taught?
I spent most of my education in art school. I'm lucky to have gotten that experience. By the time I left college, I had foundational skills as an artist to expand my mediums & interests as an artist. Even though I didn't formally study 3D art in school, I do feel like I had a lot of teachers, from YouTube tutorials, to paid courses, to forums & friends.
What artist or artists informed your development? And what artists do you look to now for inspiration?
The creators who shaped me as an artist would probably be Travis Davids, David Ariew, EJ from Eyedesign, Chad White, & Bob Walmsley. These artists have made learning 3D accessible. The creators I'm looking to now for inspiration actually aren't 3D artists; Daniel Arsham, Rothko, Aaron Ricketts, Hideo Kojima, Neil Druckman & Patrick Beverley.
Credit: Top: David Ariew - Excision Concert Visuals - Feeling Something / Bottom: Daniel Arsham - Static Mythologies and Travis Davids - The Fauna Collection
What was a pivotal moment in the evolution of your work?
Creating NFTs was probably the most significant evolution of my work. Before creating NFTs, I was a full-time freelancer of 5 years & all of the work I was creating, even personal work, was created through the lens of someone looking to attract clients. Last February, when I decided to mint my early pieces, I was fortunate enough to learn that I needed to create from my authentic self – not someone looking to pay the bills. I feel completely transformed as an artist; it's given me the opportunity to live as my authentic self in other areas of my life as well.
Tell us about your process. Do you begin with an image or a concept?
I usually begin with a concept I want to try – it could be the type of lighting I want to try, the subject matter, a new material, or animated effects. Once I have a grasp of the ideas I want to execute, I start to build a story that supports those concepts. After that, it's all about refining the details.
What informs your work? As a visual artist, are you inspired by music, film, science, literature or other art forms?
For the past year or so, I've been particularly inspired by video game design. I feel like the way you can tell a story via gameplay has always amazed me. Interacting with the media provides a new range of emotions when viewing the works. That's something that I would love to try soon.
Credit: Rara Avis – Johnny "KMNDZ" Rodriguez
What was the most challenging project that you worked on?
I would say this project, AXIS, was my most challenging project. There were places inside myself that I hadn't been in over a decade, some places I never knew existed. Aside from the personal confrontation, the creative aspect of AXIS was very challenging as well.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I feel the most at home, when it's late at night, my music is playing (with rain sounds in the background) and I'm locked in and focused on adjusting the little details of a piece. Feeling like I found the right balance between color & light is probably what I enjoy most about the work I do.
How do you think NFTs will change the future for artists?
Opportunity. That's it. NFTs offer possibilities for artists to run wild with their imagination. Let's take advantage of that opportunity.
Credit: 5th Element [Side A and Side B], courtesy of Andre Oshea
Andre Oshea
Andre Oshea is a 29 year old 3D generalist and animator living in Atlanta Georgia. They have worked on many kinds of projects with a wide range of clients including Adult Swim, Snapchat, Tidal, Vogue, Netflix, and John Legend. Andre has recently begun to explore more of their personal creative interests via NFTs, which has been a powerful creative release. Oshea's art explores themes related to the future, spirituality, journeys, and beauty. They also enjoy creating new worlds and realities that make people think about what is possible instead of what is impossible. He has described his art as "inspired by aesthetic beauty, luxury, storytelling, the future and the feeling of limitless moments."
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