Cherisse Moe
When people say, “Don’t quit your day job,” regarding someone’s hobby, they are not referring to Omkar Lal. Most people know him as Omi, the social media comedian whose dry humour has us in stitches. But few know that he is also an artist and is actively making money from it. His latest 16”x16” canvas, A Blue Symphony, recently sold for $2,800.
He spends his spare time painting landscapes and seascapes, often freestyling and diving into a canvas of varying hues without a fixed destination. It is a slow, methodical process. This latest piece took three weeks to complete alongside his full-time management job. “The inspiration initially was a quiet misty scene, but as I progressed, I felt like the setting almost framed the canvas for something more. I always wanted to paint a Macaw, and I felt like this was the perfect opportunity, it turned out more beautiful than I envisioned.”
His prices are set according to the scale and complexity of the work, dictated by the time and materials required for each project.
Omi’s art has even crossed borders. In 2024, he received an Instagram DM from the Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago in Miami inviting him to participate in an art exhibition there, and he submitted The Caroni Bird Sanctuary for display. “I was very humbled,” he says. While he remains close to his very first piece, titled One Full Moon Night, he simply cannot choose a favourite, as each work represents a different step in his evolution. “I am nowhere near where I hoped to be or accomplish, but I am grateful for the process and I enjoy every moment of it as I watch my skill unfold and grow simultaneously with me as a person.”
Hailing from Biche, a remote village he fondly describes as being “located behind the person standing behind God’s back”, Omi was captivated as a boy by his older cousin, Trevor, who pursued art academically and later taught at Swaha Hindu College. Watching him bring visions to life on paper and canvas opened his eyes to the possibility that he, too, could create.
In secondary school, Omi chose art at CXC level, though he tells Guardian Media, “Funny enough, I was nervous to tell my mom. Growing up in the Caribbean, we are often encouraged to choose something more ‘practical’ that would help you become a doctor or lawyer; luckily, she was supportive and encouraged me to try, as she always does with everything I pursue.”
Later, as a student at The University of the West Indies, he saw art through a more theoretical and academic lens, and as a medium to cope with the chaos life can sometimes bring.
“While simultaneously getting to convey a story and evoke emotions, I used to say it’s cheaper than therapy, but then I learnt about the price of art supplies,” he jokes.
When it comes to his influences, nature remains his primary muse. He often scouts his surroundings for “the perfect composition”, but he also draws inspiration from other creatives.
“I have great admiration for my cousin, of course, as well as the various prominent local artists I have learnt about during my studies who have contributed so much to art here in Trinidad, notably Michel Jean Cazabon, Leroy Clarke, and Boscoe Holder. Later on, I came across the work of Karen Sylvester, whom I was most taken by.”
Today, Omi still dreams of becoming a full-time artist, but he chooses to be realistic. “I feel as though it’s a bit of a gamble,” he reasons. “I sometimes doubt my abilities; that, coupled with the uncertainty of taking a chance with our domestic art market, makes me question if it’s feasible. Although it’s not just about the money, but the love for the craft, I am still uncertain that it can be sustainable as a young individual.”
For now, he is content splitting his time between his management job, comedy and art, exploring his natural talents in his own unique way. “Most of my content is structured around situations or personalities that we can all relate to on some level,” he says of his skits. “I am a bit shy as well, so they are done in controlled environments. If you know what I mean, you aren’t likely to see me rolling along the side of the highway or running through a market—but it’s a personality trait that also impacts the process.”
