Precious Seronga is the artist and designer behind Seronga Art. Precious is a Tanzanian artist whose work includes fashion illustration. She creates maximalist prints that celebrate an aesthetic of excess for art lovers, particularly those who appreciate colourful and over the top art. Her prints focus on celebrating women of colour and the female form in a state of elegance and opulence.
We spoke with Precious about her illustrations and prints. See what she has to say below.
What attracted you to your craft?
Digital illustration provides amazing flexibility to create vibrant pieces of art in one resource (with Adobe). I combine illustration with collage, that comes out much bolder digitally than from a fine art perspective.
What does your typical day look like?
Some days I am creating content and new prints for my social media. This normally involves choosing a colour palette and theme, creating a playlist that matches the vibe I want for the print. I then research base images on Pinterest and begin the 3-hour process of designing the illustration. Another typical day, is running errands around London, collecting my prints from my printer in Borough, delivering online orders and to my stockists as well.
What is the USP (unique selling point) for your products?
I create maximalist prints, a niche that celebrates an aesthetic of excess, women of colour and the female form.
Where do you find inspiration for designs?
My focus is the female form and Haute Couture designs. I like to depict women of colour in states of high fashion and opulence.
Please can you provide a little more info on how your interest in design started and developed?
I wanted to practice illustrating digitally when first learning to use photoshop. I decided to pick a theme I’m passionate about, which was fashion and my African background. I realised the lack of Haute couture designs in the mainstream industry with African textiles. I began creating flat, 2D illustrations of High fashion gowns and collaged in African textiles. As my technical skills improved, it developed into vibrant maximalist prints with a focus on women of colour, high fashion and the female form.
Do you have any favourite items in the collection?
I have a small catalogue of nudes that I had fun creating, they are an exploration of sensual but unusual nudes in an over-the-top style.
How would you summarise your work in a few words?
Weird, excessive, and colourful.
Does your work have a social impact?
It celebrates women of colour and the female form in a different light, in a state of elegance, wealth, sensuality and opulence.
What are your hopes for the future? Where would you like to take your design career?
I hope to collaborate with other businesses, brands and clients to create commissioned prints or work on collections together, not just art prints, but textile prints in the fashion industry, an aspect I’m currently developing.