For seasoned science teacher, paint brush has replaced the chalk

By Harold Ayodo

The veteran science teacher shocked many by becoming an artist after retiring after 30years in the classroom.

For the three decades Mr Robert Ang’wech taught at Kisii and Kisumu Boys high schools but after retiring as a principal four years ago, he now supplements his pension by painting landscapes.

Among the prominent people he taught are High Court Judge Justice Nicholas Ombija, Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka and former Kisumu Town West MP Ken Nyagudi.

Retired teacher Robert Ang’wech with one of his masterpieces. [PHOTO: JAMES KEYI/STANDARD]

But today if you are looking for Ang’wech you are likely to find him in his sitting room with a brush, paint, canvass and palette. "It takes a day to complete a landscape or painting of wild animals," says Ang’wech.

But isn’t science and art on opposite ends of spectrum? "There is no conflict between the science and art…talent is in born and rarely taught in the classroom," he says.

He favours water paints. "I ensure my art works have fine details just as I impressed on my science students to be diligent," he says.

Ang’wech, who displays his complete works at The Art House at Mosque Estate in the lakeside town, says his talent keeps him busy. "I wondered what I would do as retirement drew closer," he says.

Inspired by nature, he did not take long before he decided on his next move — to become an artist. His passion for wildlife started when he was a student at Nyang’ori High School in the 1960s. "Canadian teachers at the school encouraged me to pursue my talent in art," he says. But he shelved his dreams after he excelled in sciences in ‘O’ level and went on to take Chemistry and Biology at Maseno School. "I also passed fine arts with a credit but did better in the sciences," he says.

Art became a hobby when he was studying Botany and Zoology at University of Nairobi and later as he pursued Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the same institution. "I put it aside when I became a teacher at Kisii High School in 1973," he says.

Over the years he taught sciences to students who went on to become judges, lawyers, doctors, architects, engineers and MPs.

He is proud that his former students have made it in life – the hope and wish of any teacher worth his or her salt. "I loved teaching and that was why I held the chalk for 30 years," Ang’wech says.

He rose through the ranks from a subject teacher at Kisii for seven years to head the biology department at Kisumu Boys. He was later promoted to a deputy then principal. "I won several awards following the exemplary performance of my students in national examinations," he says proudly.

Ang’wech prefers painting during the day because natural light allows him to produce fine details that are reminiscent of photographs.

Clearly ,he is retired by name only for when he is not creating beautiful art he spends time on his farm in Kodiaga, Kisumu.

 

 

Read all about: The Art House Mosque Estate artist Kisumu

 

 

---