Abstract Four

Advanced Cityscape,Acrylics on canvas,20" x 16".

This is the last abstract I executed in Mondrian's style.The blue background stands for the city skyline,dark blue marks for tarmacked roads.Yellow marks for lights during nighttime.The other colours and marks stand for people and buildings.

Abstract Three

Advanced village scape,Acrylics on paper,64cm x 45cm.

When I was doing this painting I was thinking about Piet Mondrian and his De Stijl movement.It's a bit Cubist in style and uses the line as a means of passing the message.
The red background stands for the rural/soil landscape.The brown marks for village homesteads.Orange Yellow marks for footpaths,thick dark blue for the tarmac road.Grey marks for shopping centers.

Abstract Two

Abstract Landscape,Acrylics on paper,64cm x 45cm.

This can be undeveloped land,full of wild vegetation and flowing streams of water.Against a backdrop of encroaching city expansion.

Abstract One

Old house,Acrylics on paper,64cm x 45cm.

This piece is of an old building left in ruins.It also shows the contrast that exists between modern day building design and the older style of designing.Like a classic building in the middle of the city.

The Rooftops

A friend of mine who works as a freelance photographer snapped this pic as he was testing his gadget.Amazingly,it caught everything nicely from a birds' eye view.

Colour Factory

Painting is like a journey of many miles where the body,mind and soul slowly merge into one whole unit.It awakes your inner being and expands your sixth sense.It's more like evolving from a low being to a more superior being.

What you didn't know

In the first posting of this site,I had mentioned my background as a matatu designer.What I forgot to inform you as the reader was that, I had designed a vehicle together with a friend which got featured in an advertisement.
My pal is known locally as Raphael but currently he specializes in writing signs.
This, to me was the pinnacle of my short career.On top, I also acquired respect from fellow designers and boosted my portfolio.

Freedom and Justice

I did this piece on cardboard using oils as a reaction to the post election violence that rocked my country.It's symbolic in style.
If you look at it closely,one sees on the right the PNU side while on the left is the ODM side.In the middle is a ballot box from which two monsters emerge.These creatures are engaged in a duel type of battle.
In the background are eyes from which tears of blood are flowing,this symbolizes the mourning and bloodshed that took place.
During this time,many artists reacted differently.Some donated their works to help the affected people.

"Last canvas"

City crossroads,Acrylics on canvas,20"x16".


This piece is my last of the African street series.Over the time I've developed other genres of painting.Particularly the Abstract Expressionism school of painting.
I hope that I'll be able to capture peoples' minds and inspire them.

Busy day

Days such as these have been really stressful.The reason being having to work under direct heat and light from the sun.Eventually however,the end product i.e. the painting tends to kind of lift once spirit.
I started off painting on a table but now am using a professional easel.Talk of development and growth.

Photo translation

Translating interesting photos such as this one of a busy Nairobi street,has been great.Being able to alter different times using colours really works my creative juices.A photo can be taken at night then translate it to either midday,evening or vice versa. 

Personal collection

These paintings show the various directions I took when trying to find my way as an artist.All of them are done on paper and have recently been mounted in frames.They look great!

Words and Pictures in Nairobi

This movement is one of the first in Kenya to have a strong following among the youth.It showcases both oral and visual art forms.

Foreign missions such as the British Council should be commended due to their constant support of such initiatives.

The only problem I have with the organizers of this underground society is that,they tend to focus more on the stage performances than on the visual works.

I recently attended one of their monthly events and managed to snap a few samples which I think looked interesting.

Third canvas

City Hall,Acrylics on canvas,20"x16".




'Buildings should breathe like we do.Give sight like our eyes do.They should look beautiful.How else can we be happy in them?'


-Africa Guide,1980.


Love for architecture is what drove me to paint this historic building.The design work looks similar to that of the New York Stock Exchange( click the Archives button on the right bar to view).

Second canvas

Untitled,Acrylics on canvas,20"x16".

Unlike the previous piece,this one tried to capture the feeling experienced in the morning hours.Notice the long shadow of the building on the right.

First canvas

Lonely street in Nairobi,Acrylics on canvas,20"x16".

In this painting,I wanted to bring out three aspects.The first being the semi-realism aspect;the second being the mood aspect,since I wanted to capture the feeling in relation to time and the third which brought out the African aspect through the use of browns and reds.

City statues

It's at the Jeevanjee Gardens that one finds this unique piece.Located between Moi Avenue and Muindi Mbingu St, the recreational park hosts a variety of statues.
What made me snap this one is the way the two figures join hands.It reminds one of the old kindergarten days.How kids used to play,especially girls.
Such efforts should be encouraged since they help promote art and inspire upcoming artists.
I wish every street in Nairobi had a statue or mosaic,it would boost the aesthetic appeal of the city.

Full Kipupwe

In the course of my quest to discover graffiti related artforms,I happened to come across this bold,fierce graffiti that was done on a wall of an abandoned house located just behind the Rahimtulla Towers.The place smelled of urine and garbage,but the artwork itself looked quite appealing.I don't know who did it but I think it was done by the WAPI guys.

Can't stop,won't stop!

I uploaded this real life photos of matatus so that readers from other regions can get a glimpse of what this blog is about.

Despite the frequent crackdowns by the authorities,this art form has persevered on and has continued to blossom.

This unique culture labelled "matatu culture" is a rare fusion of Kenyan urban culture and Americas' hip-hop culture.

It first of all started with rap music being played on the radio and gradually taking root firmly among the youth.

My only wish is for the government to embrace this artists and start recognising them.It can organise workshops with reputable car manufacturing companies-so as to help the artists perfect their skills.

Who knows? Maybe one day some will emerge and be like Funk Master Flex or Xzibit(Pimp my Ride).

The actual drawings

Last time I posted my article I forgot to post the actual work.I just typed and left.But due to public demand Ive managed to put up some evidence.Hope my fans like them.

My Drawings

When I started out I had a hard time,first I had to come up with a way of sketching my subjects.Since I paint from observation-I decided to buy an artist pad which was more portable.
When I see anything interesting,I come up within seconds with a sketch of what the actual painting would look like.
On the canvas, I add some details to improve the aesthetics.Although some of my paintings come from published material;I try to add a bit of originality to it.
My dream is to one day hold an exhibition in New York or Moscow.

Typical street day

One day I happened to pass by those sidewalk table hotels and got inspired by the emptiness of the place.

New York Stock Exchange

The other day I was checking out some old magazines and happened to see the NYSE before 9/11.No insults but I saw some beauty in the architecture.

Modern market

There is one place that is full of colour and activity.One place that people take for granted.

The basics

When I started out as a mathree designer,I had to learn the basic elements.These were to learn to draw an exact look alike of a vehicle body.Afterwards , one had to colour and tag it with the prefered name.
Times would be hard in some cases when one had to present the sketch to the owner of the vehicle while it was in the garage.Back then we didn't know the essence of a digital cam or a portfolio.It was all crude.

Time for Religion

Indian Temple shrine,Acrylics on paper,45cmx32cm.

People all over the world respect and love religious values but few people realise or notice the artistic beauty displayed in some of these holy sites.

Movie scene that stuck in my brain

Street from memory,Acrylics on paper,45cmx32cm.

Have you ever watched a movie and along you happened to see something that couldn't fade off?

Well, this sight really made an impression on me......

Talk about walking by a restaurant

Chinese Restaurant,Acrylics on paper,45cmx32cm.

Have you ever been to a Chinese hotel,have you noticed anything unique or artistic in terms of design and colour?

My Genesis

I was born in Nairobi,the capital city of Kenya.I grew up in Dandora estate which is in the Eastlands area.I attended Jogoo Rd primary school then proceeded to St.Teresas' Boys high school.In my life in the city,I was fascinated by matatus.Matatus are public transport vehicles which exhibit defiance by playing loud music and mostly of all having graffiti sprayed all over them.
This unique ,rough art really worked my creative juices because at one time as I can remember in primary school,my English teacher caned me severely for drawing a matatu on the classroom wall.
However, it is after finishing high school that I dedicated myself fully in this art.There I met designers like Hassan,Moha,Jeff and Jaymo.The first three are the most popular and the last was my teacher.Afterwards ,I quit and decided to go solo into a more respectable field i.e.painting.