Artcow Emmanuel Apraku / Ray Styles / Penciled Celebrities Inc. / Ray Styles Studios - Wacky social critic who runs a graphic design firm, high budget ghanaian ugojesse

[Sparky Lurker]

Meet Emmanuel Apraku, more commonly known as Ray Styles:

Emmanuel Apraku is a 28 year old Ghanaian artist that specializes in animation and video production, receiving an education from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The Ray Styles' nickname was inspired by his idol Usher Raymond.

He is making a living selling some of his work to clients in the UK, Nigeria, Ghana, and US – including one unnamed American celebrity.

It is because of this that he is able to live off him craft in Accra and does not feel it is always necessary to leave. His repertoire includes hand-drawn life portraits, under the Ray Styles brand, digital caricatures he draws under the sub-brand ‘Penciled Celebrities’ emoji apps available from the Apple store and graffiti-style pieces. He believes that having a foundation in pencil art has allowed him to make the most of his digital skills.

His art pieces range from;

a social criticism of the ongoing deaths of African-Americans at the hands of US police inspired an image of six black men against a US flag background with bullets flying towards their heads and to a pre-presidential Donald Trump emoji where Trump says: ‘Let’s make America great again’ and then vomits.

He also likes to explore the complex relationship between man and woman and touches on emotive issues such as breast cancer awareness.

In other art pieces, he tries to educate people about Africa:

To mark Queen Elizabeth’s birthday in June 2016, he clothed her in Ghanaian Kente. “In order for people to accept our art, we have to incorporate outside influences,” he said. “So, for example, I am not sure if the Queen has ever worn Kente in her life but I believe this image will encourage people who do not know anything about Africa to start asking questions. That’s how you will be able to educate them about the continent. “

He is planning a similar educative project where he depicts Ghana’s presidents in modern-day clothing. “I want to make it cool with Dr Kwame Nkrumah wearing a Kanye West outfit – for example. The generation today in Ghana does not know who he is. By linking this important figure to modern-day popular culture, I hope it will start more of a conversation about what he did for Ghana.”

Apraku’s ultimate goal is to establish a graphic design company that taps into the wealth of talented artists and graphic designers in Ghana.

From an article about him:
https://www.ghanastar.com/featured/...tist-bucking-the-trend-and-following-his-art/ (http://archive.md/qdBuv)

How he describes his branding according to his website:

WHO WE ARE?

Ray Styles Studios is a graphic design and illustration firm that provides creative and inspiring designs, capable of changing lives of our valued clients, which open up new door of opportunities for businesses and growing individuals.

Our digital services not only include graphic design and concept development but we also extend our service portfolio to pencil drawings, printing, framing, web design/coding and execute a complete brand building processes for our customers. We take along our clients to a joyful graphical ride where they experience a new glamorous digital world.

COMPANY STRUCTURE:

Ray Styles Studios runs as a joint venture between Penciled Celebrities Inc. (NYC) and Ray Styles (Accra, Ghana). We have in house and offshore teams serving our valued customers.

https://www.facebook.com/raystylesstudios/about (http://archive.md/adMC7)

His social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raystylesstudios/ (http://archive.md/t3KZP)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penciledcelebrities/
Tumblr: http://penciledcelebrities.tumblr.com (http://archive.md/hGiE8)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/penciledcelebs (http://archive.md/mTBIB)
Twitter (personal): https://twitter.com/RaYStyles_GH (http://archive.md/nMDIF)
Website: https://raystylesstudios.com

 

[Null]

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[Desire Lines]

Here's some more weird pics from his Instagram and website:

Spoiler: a ton of pictures

 

[ChemicalCastration]

Correction: Penciled Blacks.

 

[repentance]

I find his style and themes quite interesting, tbh.

 

[jenffer a jay]

nice i likle his art keep up the good work kid

 

[SJ 485]

The way he draws faces is a little uncanny valley to me, it's like he drew everything else and then just copied a photo onto where the face should go, it looks disconnected from the rest of the head somehow.
At the same time though, I feel like I'm criticising this at the wrong level of analysis

 

[NumberingYourState]

Artists like this read biographies of Henry Darger, finished them all, and all of the sudden think they're hot shit artists because of all the big boy words. I can't unsee this autistic shit.

 

[Save the Loli]

He also planned a similar educative project where he depicts Ghana’s presidents in modern-day clothing. “I want to make it cool with Dr Kwame Nkrumah wearing a Kanye West outfit – for example. The generation today in Ghana does not know who he is. By linking this important figure to modern-day popular culture, I hope it will start more of a conversation about what he did for Ghana.”

Does he have some Rule 34 of Kwame Nkrumah or Jerry Rawlings?

 

[Lez]

I really want him and ugojesse to do an art trade.

Slightly concerned about

It looks like she's either giving birth or drowning her baby...

 

[The Man With No Name]

The UgoJesse comparison is clearly apt, but UgoJesse is way more wholesome and has better morals than this guy.

 

[Maiden-TieJuan]

What is his fascination with women who are preggers?