Overcoming Psychosis and Addiction Through Painting w/ Opake | PORTRAITS: Ep.43

We got the chance to fly out to England and hang out with our friend Opake in his studio. We talk about how painting and graffiti helped him overcome his mental illnesses of psychosis and addiction and what he does to make sure he stays on the right path.
Thanks to Arthur
itsonlyarth...
Shot and Edited by Shane Allen
lnside.out...
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Populist Magazine is a small independent arts and culture publication dedicated to documenting and interviewing interesting and creative people and artists around the world.
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[@mikegeary8056]

Making Art not only can keep you sober but it heal your brain. You can feel it reversing the damage. It’s a profound feeling.

[@madaienaa]

When I was 17 I was so deep into my pills/meds addiction I started having really terrible withdrawal. This waking up in the middle of the night sweating, hot and cold, vomiting, these hallucinations. It was clear to me I couldn’t keep going like this. I cut off everyone and everything. I was the artsy kid, but when I started doing drugs I stopped drawing. When I decided to get clean, I ordered 6 small tubes of oil paint, a can of turpentine and locked myself in my grandmas house. Cut off everyone. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, how oil paint works. But painting saved me, it healed me; well, to this day it HEALS me. Keep Going.

[@studio-tgy]

I used to serve you in the corner shop a while ago :) I remember you telling me that people thought you were going no where but now you are really enjoying our art. Now I scroll through KZbin and just by chance see you pop up on my recommended doing great! Awesome to see

[@mitcheroar]

This was one of the best videos on KZbin I have watched in awhile. Coming from a broken ADHD individual right now. I really appreciated this.

[@unit333angel]

This video was sooo cool! I wish more people talked about their experience with psychosis. I can listen to this guy talk all day! Please do a more in-depth video with him! This channel is cool af

[@MILESOFLIFE11]

Enjoyed this and i can relate alot im 7months into mental health & addiction recovery program , and its opened up my creative blockages from substance abuse! Powers to everyone doing the work on themselves & stay strong

[@nickoliwade]

I’m a caricature artists, was addicted to fentanyl and I agree with OPAKE, sometimes in the escape of Art can lead down a dark path. It also can be a route to a creative brighter path to helping others with your pain

[@Earlyterrorhead]

During my addictions,,, graff was the least thing on my mind,,having been homeless for years,,the only place i picked up a pencil was the psych ward,now that i've been 2yrs sober off meth and alcohol,,i'm back at it and loving it,,,🤘🙏

[@EvrybodySurf]

❤ thank you for the inspiration!

[@captainjimmy7626]

Really enjoyed that . Really enjoyed that . Really enjoyed that . Really enjoyed that .

[@tayzart.printuk]

Really appreciate this video and the meaning behind spreading the correct message to people . It’s crazy how many people relate to your current situation, amazing to see the connection art has with people and how similar it can be in helping in addition / mental health issues etc I’ve suffered with adhd from being young lad obviously spiralled into cannabis dependency just like you. Partying all my younger years every weekend on the packet never absorbing anything else but the session . Art has gave me that pathway to release myself from that life and create this new better me for the future !! Bigs populist & Opake amazing content 👊

[@sonnywong001]

Some of my favorite paintings! Salute, Opake!

[@eric2ill4u]

I love these. Please keep going.

[@Kera_Damo]

Real talk! Bless you, man ❤‍🩹

[@fonchokool]

'art is a guarantee of sanity,' Louise Bourgeois. inspiring video

[@infinitelyconciousness]

I saw some interesting paintings, Its awesome to have a passion and keeping it alive. I know that feeling to be a nightmare for the surrounding and hope to find my own path. Thanks for sharing this insight.

[@Flux_One]

Powerful stuff man. Respect

[@moomienameste1995]

Beautiful artwork 🍡🪷🫧🧋💕!!!!!!!

[@bluecanarinho]

Love this!! very powerful piece, super super inspirational, glad i found the channel (couple of the subtitles are off but not enough that it doesn't make sense haha - english slang and sounds can be quite strange to be fair, just putting this for anyone who may of been confused about some bits)

[@braumeisterfred6947]

Truth spoken here for real! I I think biggest thing is realizing you even have addiction and then finding wich part it has in your soul! By that it’s possible to find out which other ways there are to reach out to your soul but fucking drugs! Thanks for the video

[@scooter2163]

Great looking paintings!

[@Stu_267]

2:57 bruh! Brilliant ❤💪🎨💣

[@EatBeets]

Must be doing pretty good with an art studio like that.

[@Fas_PR]

thanks for sharing this inspiring life story, i wish you the best friend

[@pussyri0t741]

inspiring film!!!

[@user-mr1nv2dg1t]

Amazing video

[@POPULISTMAGAZINE]

[@AMEHOELA]

Very, very, cool. Like it. All or nothing.

[@illadvized-]

Fairplay to you mate!

[@duncanhewitt6557]

I have had psychosis several times and it's hard for anyone not suffering from it to understand what it is.

[@MrDBcooper77]

Sick stuff

[@user-xn2md1mo6i]

thank you^^

[@beanbeanson400]

the elf bar lmfaoooo obsessed

[@APLOSUPPLYCO]

fucking beautiful artwork...

[@dustinfromfever]

"Whatever one has within oneself, but does not live, grows against one." - Marie Louise Von Franz

[@icasis]

Respect

[@evanrolfs7642]

What material is that you are using to make your stencils? Also awesome work, this is still art in my book

[@emmettredmond4316]

How does he not get sued by the artists who he uses as own artwork? He ONLY paints other artists creations over and over. Making thousands of money off of Tweety Bird and Mickey Mouse is WILD to me. Some folks have zero artistic integrity if they can make a living off other artists artwork.

[@Zxzoxopeneyes]

Fr

[@joebroart]

Who cares, he's making a fine living off of his art. Cry more

[@joebroart]

Who cares he's making a fine living off of his art😂😂😂

[@salesone8615]

Aslong as you change 20% of the image you can use it and avoid copyright 👍

[@cranberrycanvas]

Copyright is absolute nonsense anyway. You really think the ARTISTS who created those characters made the lions share of the money from them? Or even owned the fucking copyright? If you really look around you’ll realize copyright law doesn’t exist to help the little guy. You have to hire a lawyer and go on a whole campaign and most small creators can’t afford to do that and just don’t have the time or resources. Copyright law exists to protect the existence of monolith legacy brands. period.

[@aaronjennings8385]

The voices.

[@armandoalmanzan8038]

Thank man for this video it's real shit I can relate addiction is a bitch it doesn't discriminate age race it's good to cee this there is hope and recovery is possible!!

[@Comeriokid]

Part of the “unoriginals’’ crew

[@lvdclxvi4916]

dope

[@AA-wc3tw]

How do I teach myself to view the process as more important/enjoyable than the outcome?

[@ETRN4LXP]

i don’t know how to help my brother anymore. I’ve tried everything in my power.

[@chootsart]

Biting the artist 'Jerkface' pretty hard. And without his brush and paint skills. But fair play on tackling addiction.

[@charlottecarter2748]

I was going to say might formula for a stencil haha and i imagine it makes lots of money

[@user-vh8gg1zh7o]

8 Days? I commented this two years ago. Loosing perspective is going to bite this culture in the. ass.

[@Zoeh2]

It was at times hard to read the subtitles. Still a good video visually.

[@WHITEGHOAT]

Its the art world equivalent of Harry Potter fan fiction. Change my mind.

[@abraxasjinx5207]

If you want to make that argument, you'd have to say Warhol was just a fan of soup.

[@WHITEGHOAT]

​@@abraxasjinx5207 Perhaps the distinction is that Warhol wasn't selling soup? Anyway, I wouldn't be using Andy as an example after the Supreme Court recently ruled that he violated another artist's copyright. :/

[@abraxasjinx5207]

@@WHITEGHOAT he was not selling soup, that's exactly my point.

[@WHITEGHOAT]

​@@abraxasjinx5207 Exactly! But this goon IS selling ART originally created by other ARTists.

[@WHITEGHOAT]

But this goon is selling ART originally created by other ARTists. It's Harry Potter fan fiction!

[@primtones]

Nature is what really heals. Got to cleanse you from city culture.

[@sullycliftona]

The huge problem seems to be the idiot on about a vinyl cutter 🤒,, we’ll have to find them one ☝️

[@flyingoxygen]

Not sure knocking about with Sickboy is gonna help your drug addiction lol

[@opiumdust.onion.]

:):):)

[@KWArtist]

Yea great video. Too bad it doesnt actually give his name anywhere.

[@tonycardona1177]

2:45 2:45 2:45 How the fuck did bombing doing throwies and graffiti turn anyone into a crack head... I know enough straight edge writers .... I've never been one but I've met plenty..

[@POPULISTMAGAZINE]

This is one person's story.

[@donpayne1040]

Mate, buy a fucking vinyl cutter.

[@cassielee1114]

It’s a funny world. Two men in a garage cut and paste famous cartoon 7:26 characters, colour them in with sharpies and talk about their “paintings”. The work looks awesome but I don’t get the rules 😅

[@POPULISTMAGAZINE]

who said anything about rules?

[@cassielee1114]

It’s a funny world. Two men in a garage cut and paste famous cartoon characters, colour them in with sharpies and talk about their “paintings”. The work looks awesome but I don’t get the rules 😅

[@charlottecarter2748]

I dont think i like it to much

[@lecurator]

“Art” - it’s comic characters created by other people? Tiered of this western copy cat art that just makes a quick buck cos it’s recognizable. It’s chaos and it has no depth. Sorry, I appreciate it’s to run away from addiction. But calling it art is a bit rich, it’s a collage remix of familiar imagery you have seen growing up? Whatever happened to mastering your own vision. Whatever happened to being original.

[@joebroart]

Cry more

[@Mr.Monster1313]

Dont call yourself a painter..when all you use is stencils..and trace and copy..and use markers..no paintbrushes. Lol 😂 nahhhhh....you didnt paint anything sorry.

[@charlottecarter2748]

painter is original word for graffiti artist i think he is obsessed with the correct lingo

[@chonklife1809]

You don't have to use a paintbrush to be a painter

[@andreapironi481]

No