Wendi Mutisya

I love art. I started drawing at a very young age thanks to my mother’s support. She bought me the materials I needed and encouraged me to keep at it. I went on to study art in high school and I loved every bit of it. Unfortunately, I was not able to pursue art in university. I studied about computers instead and I love this because it led me to fall in love with the way art and technology work together. I am so excited to be an Instructor at GLOMADO because I get to use technology to share my love for art and the Kenyan culture. Everything always works out in the end!

I remember creating a lion-themed painting for my big sister as her wedding gift. I could not travel to the UK for her wedding so this was my chance to pour all my love into something I made for her. She later called to thank me for the gift and it was such a lovely feeling, getting to know how happy the painting made her feel. I love the feeling I get when I gift someone with my artwork. My favourite materials to work with are coloured pens and paper because I love drawing and these items are readily available.

I want to teach this particular workshop because I love interior design that is filled with handmade items. I recently attended a traditional wedding where the women in the husband’s family were given uteos (winnowing trays) and lesos (pieces of Kenyan fabric with Swahili proverbs on them that are worn by women from the waist down) as gifts. The winnowing trays are used to carry fruit and vegetables too. These woven winnowing trays, along with the added tribal print paintings we will create together, will give any home a lovely look. I also like the fact that it will be a handmade item that has gone through the hands of a Kenyan and those of my students.

My favourite thing about living in Kenya is the sense of community we have. We are very keen on helping each other. We actively participate in what we call the Harambee philosophy, which literally means “all put together” in Swahili. We have self-help community events, such as fundraising for medical bills, school fees, and funeral arrangements, just to mention a few. We also have a saying that goes "Kidogo kidogo hujaza kibaba," meaning, “every little bit counts.” That is how people think while contributing, and eventually even the smallest amount goes a long way.