Patrick Chuka

Patrick Chuck, the cover artist for ART MAKER Issue 1, tells us about his artistic practice in the magazine:

ART MAKER: What is the central theme or concept that drives your current body of work?

PATRICK CHUKA: Art has always been my anchor, a language I learned before I had the words to describe my place in the world. Born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000, I began drawing with pen and pencil as a child, and these tools have remained central to my self-taught practice. At 17, I left Nigeria alone for the United States, driven by a vision to make art not only my voice, but my future. The journey has been turbulent, marked by displacement and resilience, but creation has been my constant — a sanctuary and a means of spiritual clarity.

My work draws from ancestral knowledge, diasporic longing, and personal mythologies. I use blue, black, and red ballpoint pens on paper to construct intricate, symbolic compositions that explore identity, spiritual power, and emotional memory. The color blue, which dominates my work, represents both serenity and the infinite — a metaphysical space where transformation occurs. The precision required by the ballpoint medium demands presence and intention; it is a ritual, not a technique.

ART MAKER: Can you describe your process, from the initial idea to the finished piece?

PATRICK CHUKA: My creative process is layered and often complex, weaving together multiple disciplines to bring each piece to life. It always begins with an idea, often spontaneous, sometimes quietly evolving — which I quickly capture in a sketchbook to preserve its raw essence. From there, I refine the concept, exploring structure, composition, and color palettes.

The next stage involves photography. I photograph models to help translate the initial vision into something tangible, breathing life into the concept. Depending on the intricacy of the idea, I take those images into Photoshop to build the foundation of the composition. My process frequently incorporates a library of floral photographs I’ve captured over time, which I juxtapose into the imagery, adding layers of symbolism and texture.

Once the composition feels resolved, I transition to the drawing phase. I typically work from a reference photo, but I allow myself the freedom to make intentional tweaks and artistic deviations throughout the process. This balance between structure and improvisation results in work that is both precise and entirely original.

Every finished piece is scanned upon completion, preserving its details and allowing it to exist both as a physical drawing and a digital artifact.

Read more about Patrick's work here --> ART MAKER Issue 1


Patrick Chuka, Patience, 2025, ballpoint pen on paper, 36 in x 24 in. Image courtesy of the artist.