Today we’d like to introduce you to Roni Zulu
Hi Roni, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
At a very early age my mother knew I liked art and bought me many coloring books. One day she was cleaning out my bedroom closet and found a very large stack of coloring books untouched. She asked, “Why haven’t you colored these pictures?” I replied, “Someone already drew pictures on these pages, I want to draw my own pictures.”
From that point on she gave me reams of blank paper. I ‘ve always had a passion for creating my own art.
My 4th grade teacher showed me a book that was so big it took both of my small hands lift it.
I was mesmerized by its contents and carried it around with me everywhere; it became my bible. It was the complete works of Michelangelo. I knew I wanted to do what he did.
Two teachers were integral in my artist journey.
My Jr. High School art teacher was Mr. Steven Lingenfelter. He saw my potential. He pushed me, giving me assignments much more difficult to complete than the other students. He made the requirements to get an “A” grade much tougher for me than the others. He brought out the best in me.
My high school art teacher was Ms. Jane Denison. She believed in me when I did not. I wanted to attend The Ringling Art College, but my family was poor; college tuition was off the table. She told me if I worked hard enough I could win a scholarship. She too pushed me to do my best work. I won the scholarship.
After college I acquired various gigs as a graphic designer/illustrator. These jobs paid handsomely but did not feed my soul, as their only intent was to create images to sell a product. After being asked to draw a silly elephant juggling peanuts to sell a candy bar, I knew I could not continue down that path, it was time to seek alternative artistic means of employment.
Many of my friends asked me to design art for them to take to a shop to get tattooed. After some time my friends advised that instead of only designing tattoos, I should learn to tattoo. I did and climbed to the top ranks of my profession.
During many years of success as a tattooist I took a vacation to Paris. I was so moved by the art I saw, I decided to pursue oil painting.
I studied in the ateliers of world renowned classical painters and developed my own style.
To this day I enjoy both the crafts/careers of tattooing and oil painting.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The greatest struggle was mastering the discipline of oneself. Goals without disciplinary action are only dreams. During the ‘starving artist’ days, it was difficult to manage keeping a full time day job and afterwards come home exhausted to spend the next six hours drawing, painting and honing your craft while your friends are out partying.
Some may call that sacrificing, I call it investing in your future.
I’m happy to say that investment yielded great returns.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Each of us carries a unique narrative, often whispered only in the hidden corners of our being. My art delves into these untold stories, illuminating the shadows where they reside. It is within these concealed realms of the human psyche that I find inspiration, encouraging reflection upon the likes, dislikes, emotions, and belief systems that define us, challenge us, and sometimes confine us.
The interplay of extreme light and shadow in my work serves a dual purpose: as a technique and as a profound metaphor. It embodies the exploration of the occult—the veiled, the mysterious, and the intangible forces that shape our inner and outer worlds. Originally, my ambition was rooted in the classical tradition of portraiture, capturing the visible features of my subjects with meticulous realism. Yet, I came to realize that there is so much more to a person than what meets the eye. This realization compelled me to evolve, integrating elements of surrealism to reveal the unseen dimensions of the human spirit.
This journey led me to define my practice as “Comprehensive Portraiture,” an artistic pursuit that seeks to capture not only the physical presence of an individual but also the layers of their obscured essential world. My work stands as a mirror, reflecting both who we are and the boundless mysteries that surround us. It celebrates our shared fascination with the self and with the profound enigmas of existence, beckoning the viewer to embrace the awe-inspiring beauty waiting to be discovered in the shadows.
If you were to ask, “what are you most proud of?”, it would not be a particular moment or accomplishment. I am most proud of never giving up.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
TATTOOING
Contact me for a consultation to discuss the needs of the client. I then spend time researching sacred symbols and imagery that suits their wants/needs. It is my job to interpret what is in their head and bring it to life in a design. This process can take days, weeks, or even months to ensure the design is just right.
I have a motto. I never put a tattoo on you, I bring the tattoo out of you.
OIL PAINTING COMMISSION
The same process as tattooing, just a different canvas.
The two best ways to support an artist are…
1) Engage with them on social media, it’s very important in today’s way of conducting business. I don’t hire a media team, I spend an hour each morning answering every engagement personally. All of us are sick of hearing ” Like and Subscribe”, but those algorithms have a huge impact on supporting an artist by causing potential galleries, publications, and collectors to become aware of them and their work. It won’t cost you a dime, but it’s priceless to the artist.
2) If you find an artist you like, buy their work. That sounds like a plug but it’s just a simple fact. An artist has to pay their bills just like everyone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ronizulu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zulutheartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronizulufineartworks/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roni-zulu-fine-artworks/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ZuluTheArtist
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_VEi-hGPkssW0kJkwwanQ
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4nBcHCtrIX-zKPJKvj4dF-xfQewhj74r
