As a child, all Wale ever did was draw: it was his favourite thing to do. It got to the point where he didn’t even have to write his name on any homework, due to the little drawings he would make all over the paper. Wale’s style is unique, candid and honest – we caught up with him to chat about his process and motivations.
How would you describe your illustration style?
I like simple, crisp, vector-based but hand-drawn looking designs that are easy to ‘read’ and recollect. I like to think I produce thick black lines that work as vehicles for colour.
What is your go to medium? Why?
I enjoy working digitally using Adobe Illustrator but I try hard not to have that define my style. I like that my images have a very sketchy and hand-drawn feel and look like they were made quickly. There’s a sort of personal and candid sentiment that I want my images to evoke, so my technique is a result of that.
You frequently use text in your illustrations, what’s the idea behind these?
My texts are a record of my emotions, thoughts and experiences, and are the only personal aspect of my work. Sometimes the texts have meanings and contexts that affect what is seen in the drawing. Sometimes the texts have meanings that conflict and alter any engagement with the drawing. Regardless, they make my work much more relatable because plenty of what I say turns out to be what other people think as well.
Who do you base your illustrations on?
My current illustration series “paper studies” are based on the people I see every day from my second-storey corner office. I have the luxury, and sometimes the inconvenience, of working in a building overlooking an outdoor shopping mall. Which means plenty of the time I should be working, I am instead gazing outside my window, taking mental pictures of the people and styles that fascinate me and later inform my work.
Who is your idol?
My idols are the very successful living artists such as Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramovic, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Shepard Fairey, etc… but not because of the money and fame they wield, but of their influence.
What motivates you?
Friends and family play an important role in my life. Without them, my life would not be the same. I wake up motivated to go to work and see my friends and come back home motivated to see my family.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
The quote 'This, too, shall pass' has helped me get through some really tough times. It also helps me appreciate the happy times because they, too, will pass.
If you could hang your work anywhere where would it be?
A high school hallway because some of the most influential images I remember were captured during those 4 years.
What could you not live without?
The internet.
What’s your worst habit?
Spending too much time on the internet.
If you could be a Disney character what would it be and why?
I’d be Pumbaa from The Lion King because I’d like to think I’m a loving, open-hearted, jovial, and loyal character with a little bit of childlike naivety and innocence.
