Kenya: How youth have redefined art

By Benard Omondi

He may be in his mid 20s, but going by what Charlton Odiwuor has done over the years, he could be ranked among the geniuses of this world.

An artist in his own right, Odiwuor has the flair to mirror your picture on paper through his classical drawings.

He, however, says what he does is not magic but sheer creativity and dedication.

Odiwuor dates back his passion in drawing to 2010 after sitting his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

“After sitting my final paper, I was desperately looking for a job to occupy meduring my free time. That’s when I bumped into a friend who introduced me to Kisumu’s Art Centre which opened up an opportunity I had never imagined,” chuckles the 23-year-old.

The Art Centre mentors artists while creating a platform where they can develop their skills. The friend, whom he refers to as Kevin, coached him and helped him hone his skills during the month-long stint.

Five years later, he has done over 200 drawings and many more are work in progress.

He says art is more than a walk in the park. He spends an average 80 hours on an image and works five days a week depending on the workload.

“If you intend to satisfy a client and attract more, you must work hard. This entails working smart and fast to meet client deadlines while producing quality work,” he explains, adding that he is occasionally forced to fine-tune his pieces late into the night.

Armed with H-series pencils, erasure, ruler, tissue paper and cutters, Odiwuor says he has produced work that has given him contacts in the top echelons of society.

For instance, he is finalizing a portrait of celebrated Kenyan songbird Wahu Kagwi, which he says will boost his portfolio.

“Signing deals with celebrities and high profile personalities boosts artists. They can always link you up with their peers,” he says.

He discloses that he charges between Sh10,000(US$97) and Sh50,000(US$487) depending on the complexity of the image, client’s social status and size of the picture.

To ensure commitment, he charges a 50 per cent down-payment and collects the remainder on completing the drawing.

The photorealist’s cabinet is crammed with drawings ranging from portraits of people, objects and buildings, some still in sketches, others on course while a couple are framed and await collection.

Copies of artworks in his cabinet include a portrait of renowned writer Chinua Achebe, Citizen TV anchor Anne Kiguta, KTN talk show host Jeff Koinange, key politicians and other celebrity personalities.

He believes marketing his work through social media is the best way to reach out to a mass audience.

“The surest way to attract clients is through social media. Most people have opened up pages on social sites and this facilitates virtual connection which reduces wastage of resources. I meet clients through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest,” states the artist, who also gets his inspiration from visitors’ comments on his social media pages.

He credits his clients, friends and Pawa 254- a Nairobi centre that markets artists’ work and offers them a platform to nurture their talents — for his venture’s growth.

“I have friends in Kenya and from countries like Ghana and Nigeria. We meet on social media and share ideas on financial and knowledge development. Pawa 254 has also given me an opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds, including professionals,” says the diploma holder in design technology from the Technical University of Kenya.

He says 2012 was one of his lowest moments in life when his most valuable piece at the time, a portrait of American actress, model and singer Maryline Monroe, was stolen.

Even though he faces challenges like inconsistent sales, competition and unpredictable finances, Charlton believes the dynamic design technology industry will always have a place for creativity, innovativeness and determination.

Going forward, he plans to set up a regional gallery. He is also working on a children’s book contracted to him by a national publishing firm.

He advises budding artists to conceive, nurture ideas and be determined to realise their dreams.