Art is a means to express myself

Lynn Atieno is an illustrator and designer based in Nairobi, Kenya. The majority of her work involves stylized digital illustrations as well as other forms of art, such as animation. 

Lynn started creating art when she was about  5 years old.
She started with drawing cartoons she would see on TV. “I was a big fan of the shows I'd watch on Cartoon Network and asked my parents to buy me sketchbooks and colored pencils so I could redraw them” Lynn said.  She combined this with her very active imagination and would come up with characters and stories of her own.

There are different things that motivate Lynn to make an artwork. This ranges from the music she listens to, to the shows that she watches and the things she or the people around her experience. For her personal work this is the moment she gets down to business, when she is inspired. It is whilst she is working that she figures out the technicalities, which makes her learn a lot of new things through the process as well.

Lynn not only makes art for herself, she also works for clients.  Here the process is a bit different. Lynn says: “For client work there's a lot of back and forth discussion on how to execute the work, to figure out what they like and don't like. Then comes the drawing of rough drafts which I submit for approval before submitting the final work.”

A lot of Lynn’s work is characterized by surreal human figures that aim to tell a story. Lynn explains that, “The characters have distinct human features with a bit of stylization that distinguishes them from what would be considered a regular drawing of a person.” The abstract figures in Lynn’s work give room for interpretation. “Drawings are just a representation of real life.” This makes her work not directly related to her personal experience although personal experience does inspire her to make art. Rather, Lynn creates art to make the viewer look at things a bit deeper. She describes it as: “To look at things from more than the surface level.” But it is the viewer who needs to interpret the art. Lynn leaves her art open for them. “Art is subjective and I think it is important to allow the viewer to draw whatever experience they resonate the most with from a particular piece of art.” Lynn said.

Art plays a role in mental health awareness which can range from big to small. Lynn explains: “Art can also be used to mobilize positive change and spread mental health awareness to those in the dark about it and its challenges.” Art can have this effect by simply putting a few scribbles or doodles on paper, art can be cathartic. 
It also contributes to Lynn’s personal mental health: “Art for me is a means to express myself where words fail. I use it as a way to get lost in a reality different from the one we are accustomed to.”

As a concluding word to everyone Lynn states: “All I can say is that art in all its various forms can and should be used as a tool to rehabilitate persons with disabilities, as it can go a long way in facilitating positive mental growth and development.”