Philadelphia-based Yoruba illustrator Oludare Oredipe has won two major awards: Story of the Year and the Rising Star Award. His work, the self-published fantasy graphic novel Orí: Holder of the Heads – The Yam and the White Cloth, was key to this recognition in the independent comics industry.
The self-publishing process as a creative engine 🚀
Oredipe did not have the backing of a major publisher to launch Orí. The development of the work involved a hands-on approach to resource management: from creating digital pencils and inks to layout and distribution through print-on-demand platforms. This approach allowed him to maintain full control over the narrative and design, something often lost in traditional commercial circuits.
The trick is not to ask anyone for permission 💡
While others wait years for an editor to reply to their email, Oredipe got straight to the point: he drew, printed, and sold his graphic novel all by himself. Now it turns out that even the awards pay more attention to those who don't ask for permission. So you know, if your editor is ignoring you, maybe it's time to do like the Yoruba illustrator and take the plunge without a floatie.