State House call set me on the big stage

Artist Collins Okello draws US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha with their two dogs. TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• The highest office in the land wanted him to draw a portrait of the most powerful man in the world — American President Barack Obama.
• And how did Okello’s contacts found his way to the hallowed grounds of State House? In October last year, Okello made headlines when he drew the portrait of President Kenyatta in military fatigues.
• When he joined Kenyatta University for his Commerce degree, a desire to craft a business out of his artistic prowess began to take root. Eventually the dream turned into reality.
• Okello has employed three artists and has started an arts school at his home in Nyawita slums. The school has 15 students.

By PATRICK LANGAT
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It is not every day that an artist receives a call from State House. But Mr Collins Okello did in May.

The highest office in the land wanted him to draw a portrait of the most powerful man in the world — American President Barack Obama.

Mr Obama was scheduled to visit Kenya for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit and President Uhuru Kenyatta wanted to make a lasting impression on his American counterpart who has deep roots in Kenya.

Mr Obama would also be the first serving president of the most powerful nation on earth to visit Kenya. Mr Kenyatta, therefore, wanted a gift that would aptly capture the significance of the moment. And who better to actualise that seemingly tall order than the prodigiously talented Mr Okello?

And how did Okello’s contacts found his way to the hallowed grounds of State House? In October last year, Okello made headlines when he drew the portrait of President Kenyatta in military fatigues. The piece of art was soon the hottest thing on social media. This earned him a phone call from State House. His task? To present his drawing to President Kenyatta during his 53rd birthday.

GRAND ENTRY

That ‘powerful’ call set Okello on an epic journey that would lead him to spend two days with Kenya’s chief executive. Mr Okello had made a grand entry to the sanctum of power and brushed shoulders with the high and mighty in the neatly manicured lawns of State House.

“He (President Kenyatta) asked his aides to stay away so as to make me feel comfortable and at home. He would leave me as he went about his daily work and then spend the evenings having tea as he chatted with me,” Okello recalls.

His fascinating rise to stardom is the stuff of a fairy tale. He sold a drawing at Sh20 back in 1998 when he was an eight-year old pupil at Arya Primary School.

Even at that tender age, Okello had known that he wanted to be an artist although how that would pan out going forward was still hazy on his mind.

When he joined Kenyatta University for his Commerce degree, a desire to craft a business out of his artistic prowess began to take root. Eventually the dream turned into reality.

Back to Mr Obama portraits. The drawings included one of the US President, his wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha with their two dogs.

In another piece, Okello has drawn a passport-sized portrait of the US leader smiling. The third depicts President Obama eating roasted maize at Kogelo with his step grandmother, Mama Sarah.

“I decided to use my passion for art to draw a man I consider a cousin. I draw a lot of inspiration from him and it was an honour to draw him,” Okello said at his workshop at Nyawita in Kisumu City. He took seven days to complete the artworks.

Before hogging the social media limelight courtesy of President Kenyatta’s portrait, Okello used to sell his work for between Sh4,000 and Sh15,000 apiece depending on the size, complexity and material used. Mr Okello now no longer puts a price on his drawings. Reason?

“After seeing the drawing I did of the President on TV, people want to pay higher rates. I no longer quote any price.
I just let the customer give what he thinks my artwork costs,” he says.

Because he no longer quotes prices for his artwork after the instant State House fame, Mr Okello says he cannot estimate what he earns monthly.
“My art pays my bills. I can support myself and I do not regret. I am living off my hard work,” he says.

Okello has employed three artists and has started an arts school at his home in Nyawita slums. The school has 15 students.

“I understand where these people come from and I have learnt to use my talent to mentor them because I also came from there and I am now a personal friend of the President,” he says.

Mr Okello does not charge his students a regular fee. He encourages them to be the best in what they do so that people pay them top dollar.

“They are like my employees, my helpers. I am teaching them to depend on themselves by giving them a commission for their work,” he said.

His main marketing stage is his Facebook page and his website, www.jaduongartworks.com.

“Everything I do now, I want it to be a masterpiece. I want to be the next big thing in artistry and paintings and I believe I am on the right track,” he says.