By Pascal Mwandambo
When Voi painter Andrew Omenda Were, or Madolla as he is known, was asked by a traffic police officer to travel with him to Malindi to make paintings for the officer’s bar there, little did he know that a window of opportunities was about to open for him.
“At first I was hesitant about the deal. But the officer was persistent. He had seen some of my paintings in Voi and was impressed. Anyway, I accompanied him to Malindi”.
The painter says he made impressive artwork of different wildlife on the walls of the bar and each time tourists and locals came to the bar, they were wowed by his creativity.
“Tourists liked my paintings of wildlife, which they said were lifelike and attractive. While there, my artwork opened more opportunities for me in Malindi. I had to stay longer than I had planned.”
Some tourists asked him to make them wildlife and landscapes oil paintings.
“I was lucky. At that time an Italian investor, Angelo, loved my artwork and provided me with free art materials, including oil paints, solvents, and canvas. I set out to make canvas paintings of different wildlife species especially the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. In total I made 25 canvas paintings and sold them all instantly.”
Madolla says the paintings earned Sh125,000 with each painting going for Sh5,000.
“That might sound little to some established painters but for me who was making a fresh start, this was quite an achievement.”
Since then there was no looking back for Madolla, 40.
On returning to Voi he decided to take art more seriously.
“The value of art lies in the eyes of the beholder. It is all about the feelings it arouses in the art lover.
One can pay handsomely if he or she appreciates its sentimental value,” he says.
He says his painting target what art lovers appreciate. “I meet many art lovers who want various forms of art and I listen to them keenly to understand what they want before I paint it,” says Madolla.
He says he is careful not to impose his taste on customers.
Examining Madolla’s paintings shows a keen mastery of colour mixing techniques, which enables him to produce artwork rich in texture and mood.
The artist stands out in his ability to produce paintings, which evoke a somber and intense atmosphere.
His painting of a storm-tossed sailboat on high seas portrays this. The mixture of deep green and azure blue to reinforce the colour of tempestuous waters brings out the mood of the painting strongly.
His unique works are commendable and more so for an artist who has never been into a fine art class!
He was inspired to draw landscape paintings from an early age. When he was a pupil at Mukuyu Primary School in Kitale where Cherangani Hills, popularly known as the ‘Rolling Hills’ formed the backdrop for his artwork.
But in those years he mainly experimented with crude paints made from flower extracts and some types of soil which he ground to fine powder and mixed with water.
Voi’s picturesque Taita Hills and the Tsavo wildlife inspired his works later on.
He says art pays well and it has enabled him to bring up his family.