Meet Keisha Okafor | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keisha Okafor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keisha, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Over time I’ve been learning that it there isn’t a perfect formula for a work/life balance. I did learn in the past couple of years how easy it is for me to fully focus on work and that isn’t good for my well being in the long run. Since then, I have been working on setting boundaries like, no work after 6pm unless it is absolutely necessary, and no personal art making after 8:30pm to make sure I have time to wind down and get a good night’s rest. Another thing is that even though I have rules in place, I gave myself the grace to listen to what my body needs. That could mean stopping work early, taking a nap or even working a little longer because I’m “in the zone”, haha.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Lately, I have been the most proud of how much I am willing to learn and grow as an artist. One time years ago, my friend told me that growth is my superpower and I thought it was such a lame one to have! Now I’m seeing how useful that is in my career so that I can pivot when needed and continue to improve my art. It isn’t always easy, I sometimes get frustrated that there is STILL more work to do and compare my career to others who seemingly have it easier. I have to remind myself that it is something I want to do, and I try to stop myself from comparison because I don’t know everyone’s fully story except my own.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
What a great question. Lately, my interest has been trying out different bakeries and restaurants so the trip would definitely focus around food! We would have to go to High Point, NC and get treats from Sweet Dough Bake Shop, see if we can catch the Smokiin’ Mac food truck in the Greensboro area, Nachos from Toreros Mexican Restaurant and even more treats from Burneys Sweets & More.

I would also check if there were any local festivals, markets or similar events happening and take them there as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shoutout my family and friends that encourage me to keep going and remind me of the great work I’m doing when I’m downplaying myself. It can be easy for me to get in my head and be critical, so I appreciate all of the times they have brought me back to reality through their love, encouragement and truth telling.

Website: http://www.keishaokafor.com/

Instagram: Instagram.com/keishaoak

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keishaokafor