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chineme ogbuefi
From passion project to paper
Story by: Heaven Taylor-Wynn
Alinda Saintval, 21, is a senior visual arts studies student at the University of Florida. Art is not only what she does, it’s who she is. She aspires to work for herself and one day illustrate children’s books. She accepts requests for commissioned pieces through her instagram @artstrokes_. Where it started
Chineme Ogbuefi, 19, is a senior nutritional science student at the University of Florida. She founded Chiwrapz, a company selling authentic, Nigerian head wraps, back in August of 2017. She wanted to give people the chance to express themselves through their headwraps. Her products can be purchased online through her Etsy store or through her instagram account @chiwrapz.
For 21-year-old Alinda Saintval, art is quite literally life. A young woman who sometimes faces challenges making time for her personal art says there’s always a way.
people can do that?” From then her passion for art flourished. She’d developed a knack for details and drawing better than other students when the opportunity presented itself. Her cousin bought her a set of drawing pencils and a sketchbook. Fast forward two years and she’d turned to painting. It was kismet.
“There is no balance. I’m just winging it,” the visual arts studies major said. She spends almost every waking moment creating, whether it’s for her personal portfolio or assignments for class. Luckily for her, it doesn’t feel like work. “I’m always willing to lose sleep over completing a painting. It’s somewhat a therapy.” It all started back in her childhood when her cousin Andre brought home a painting of an angel baby kissing another on the cheek. She said “I remember thinking,
When it all first started she was painting for likes, molding her pieces into what she thought others wanted to see. All of this on the contrary from what the members of her Haitian household believed would warrant financial success. Her mom has since come around to the idea of her daughter working as a freelancer after witnessing what she’s able to earn from commissioned pieces thus far. Chineme Ogbuefi, on the other hand, says she’s always wanted to start a business. She visited the country of
