‍Known for his dynamic artistic style and passion for gaming, Neon shares how this mural came to be, his creative process, and what drives his unique art.

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Known as Neon, the Nigerian gamer shares his creative journey and passion for gaming in his latest mural, which he dedicated to Carry1st - in light of Africa’s biggest Call of Duty: Mobile tournament, the Carry1st Africa Cup.

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We chatted to him about his passion for gaming and art and how the viral video came about. 

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How did you get into gaming, and why do you continue with it as your passion?

Gaming is something I’ve always loved. It’s a stress reliever, something I just enjoy. I’ve played for a long time, not always professionally, but it’s a constant. It’s more than just fun; it’s a way to improve, to get better, with consistency and practice. That’s part of the experience for me.

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Where did your passion for art come from? Have you always been into sketching and creating?

I’ve always loved to draw, even from a young age, but I only started taking it seriously around 2017. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work on different projects for various brands. It gave me the motivation to merge my two passions—gaming and art.

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How did this mural for Carry1st come about?

My team reached out, and they wanted something that combined both of my worlds: art and gaming. The idea clicked. I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring gaming characters into this large-scale format. It was important for me to fuse my personal style into it, to make the characters come alive.

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What was your process for creating the mural?

I usually start by sketching out the character poses and then bring the piece to life with layers of paint. For this mural, I used acrylic paint on canvas and finished it with a protective lacquer to seal everything. It was a mix of planning and spontaneity, but the result was a 4x4 meter mural.

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Did you add your signature to the mural?

Definitely. It’s important for me to sign my work—it’s a mark of authenticity. When people see it, I want them to know it’s my art, my style.

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What do you hope people will take away from this mural?

I want people to see the connection between art and gaming, to understand that these characters can transcend the screen and become larger-than-life. It’s something that hasn’t been done much, and I hope it inspires others to see gaming in a new light.

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Neon’s mural for Carry1st is a powerful testament to the work the Carry1st community is doing. He says, it's the fusion of art and gaming, capturing the energy and creativity that both worlds represent. His passion for both disciplines shines through in every brushstroke, bringing gaming characters to life in a new way. As Neon continues to evolve as an artist, he notes that this mural stands as a significant milestone in his journey—one that both gamers and art lovers alike will appreciate.

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To explore more about Carry1st and check out their latest offerings, visit the Carry1st Shop.

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Catch the Carry1st Africa Cup

The Carry1st Africa Cup Grand Finals will be live-streamed on Carry1st’s YouTube and TikTok, as well as soon to be announced broadcasters. This makes it easy for fans to join the action from anywhere. 

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The Grand Finals will take place on Saturday, 23 November and Sunday 24, November 2024. Streaming starts at 2 p.m. Eastern African Time (EAT) daily. Fans can follow Carry1st on these platforms to be notified and ensure they don’t miss any moment of the competition.

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Find out more here.

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