I will be the best

By ANJELLAH OWINO

GENERATION NEXT: Describe yourself.

BRIAN WAITHAKA: I am laid-back, passionate lover of art.

 GN: How did the passion for painting come about?

BW: I believe the seed for my passion was planted when I was 14 years old. I would watch my elder brother draw and the art rubbed off  on me. My favourite drawings then were cartoons, buildings, and just any other thing that I drew from both sight and imagination.

GN: What are you doing presently?

BW: I completed high school this past year and I’m on course to pursue an Interior Design course.

GN: Do you also intend to do a course on Fine Art?

BW: Not really. I initially wanted to, but later decided that there really was no urgency for that considering I have been painting and drawing even without going to a special school. Art is about observation and stretching your creativity. I, however, hope to study Art in the future if and when the opportunity arises.

GN: Don’t you think that art education is crucial for an artist to enhance skill so that you pass a creative message in your work?

BW: I do my own unique work. That’s all I will say on the subject.

GN: How then do you ensure your works is as good as the one who studied art?

BW: I believe that people view artworks from different angles. You might, for instance, find a million-dollar worth artwork that another person would never buy for a thousand shillings. In my case, I ensure that I exercise patience when working on my pieces for detailed pieces.

GN: Do you have a specific time that you like to dedicate your time to art?

BW: My mood dictates my drawing and painting pattern. I, however, prefer solitude making working at night ideal. At this time, no one stares at me working, which can be unsettling.

GN: Has your art brought you any financial gain?

BW: Getting clients is an uphill task. So far, I have only been able to sell off two pieces. All work has expenses and expected returns to cover them as well as profit the doer. Most Kenyans, however, do not appreciate this fact when it comes to art. Many I have encountered will bargain so low that I more often than not opt to gift them with my work as long as they promise to frame and cherish them.

GN: What other challenges are you facing?

BW: I have never painted on canvas. I only work with paint, pastels and pencil because of lack of finance. Those who support me, however, encourage me to continue working with the materials I can afford as I work towards better.

GN: Despite all that you go through as a young artist, what keeps you going?

BW: When I sit down and I look at all that I have been doing, I cannot help but smile proudly knowing that it is not all for nothing. I take painting as a hobby and a source of pleasure.

GN: If you could have your way, what would you want to have for yourself?

BW: A gallery without a doubt, to display all my works, would be priceless.

GN: What mentality about art would you want to change?

BW: I hope more people begin viewing art as a way of passing a message across, not just the face of it. There is always an intention to an artist’s work. Some do not take time to appreciate that and ignorantly assume art is for eccentrics.

GN: How does your family take your interest in Art?

BW: Although my brother no longer draws, he is very supportive of me. My mother buys me art materials and my father recently became more appreciative after I drew a portrait for him.

GN: Which artist inspires you?

BW: Leonardo Da Vinci. His paintings are priceless to say the least.

GN: What do you do for fun apart from painting?

BW: I enjoy listening to music, watching movies, and swimming.

GN: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

BW: I intend to be the second person in the country, after Adrian Nduma, to sell their painting for over one million shillings.