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Fine Art Paintings

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  • 'In the Middle'<br /> 30" x 40" oil on canvas, 2009<br /> In late 2009 I listened to a radio conversation that, for me, was difficult to sit through yet painfully eye opening. The topic, "Rape and Brutality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo." As I listened the point that kept standing out the most was, that without addressing what happens to the children of the violent actions perpetrated upon women in the Congo that, it is often these children born of brutality which eventually become the soldiers that created the conditions that continue the circle of violence that brought about their existence in the first place. In the middle of this painting you may see simply a small newborn drapped in a flag or you may realize that as uncomfortable as it is to accept, you could be viewing the never ending circle of violence.
  • 'Democracy's Theif'<br /> 36"x48" oil on canvas 2008<br /> <br /> On December 27th my home country, Kenya held country wide elections that were meant to bring change and put the country on a productive and positive path. What happened in the following weeks was the furthest from anything positive or productive. In the elections greed turned into corruption and corruption created political thieves. It saddens my heart that I must include the Kenyan flag in this painting but everything that my flag represents on that day was stolen from the people that it represents so I named this painting Democracy's Thief.
  • 'Peaceful Persisence'<br /> 30"x15" oil on canvas 2008
  • Debt aid<br /> Oil on canvas<br /> 40" x 30"<br /> Recently in Kenya, I met two young girls while going through Samburo. I had just finished reading a book called Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo. The book spoke of how aid is becoming more of a problem than a solution. I thought what would these young girls say if I ask them "What is it that you feel you need from the outside world to enhance the quality of your lives?" Then I thought what right does any NGO or even an individual have to financially enslave any human to place them in such a state because of some outside perception that the quality of the girls lives is not equal to their own. In reality I saw two girls enjoying life without fear, worry or a hand out that comes disguised as aid with life long debt.
  • 'Veiled'<br /> 14" x 18" oil on canvas, 2006<br /> <br /> I find the image of veiled women very intriguing. The fact that a woman can reveal only a small part of her facial characteristics and yet show so much from that which you can see and even that which is left to the imagination under the cover of the veil. Now in a world where just the appearance of veiled woman, in the minds of the media manipulated majority, invokes fear, I just want people to see the intriguing beauty and cultural respect that the veiled woman in the painting represents
  • 'Beauty without falsness'<br /> 40"x30" oil on canvas 2003<br /> <br /> The little girl in this painting comes form a county where makeup, designer dresses, wigs and two hour makeovers could never compare to her true and natural beauty that she displays in her humble home.
  • 'Worlds apart'<br /> 14"x18" oil on canvas 2008<br /> <br /> I travel to many places around the world and often find people and images that I wished I could combine like the beauty of New Zealand with the warmth of Australia. In this painting I wanted to put the man from Senegal with the man from England just to see what the combination of the two would look like. Suddenly I realized that with painting I could take imagery from around the world and bring it together even if it literally was worlds apart.
  • 'In every corner'<br /> 30"x24" oil on canvas 2007<br /> <br /> In 2007 I traveled through Morocco and saw this older man sitting huddled in a corner. I thought that, at his age he should not have to live on the street in this way and wished that I could change his predicament. When I returned home I told my partner about this man and he simply said as harsh as it is this scene can be played out in every corner of the globe. My only rebuttal was, "Where are the governments that are supposed to provide for their citizens?"
  • 'Mirror'<br /> 60"x20" oil on canvas 2005<br /> <br /> The men in this painting transport wares across the Likoni Ferry in Mombasa Kenya. The loads are often huge and cumbersome. The men work out the physics of moving the cart that is twice the weight of the men in kilo\'s and move with a strength and grace that defies their wiry African frames. When taking the photo one of the men looked directly into the lens and made me feel as if I had looked into the mirror and I couldn\'t help but wonder did he look into the mirror of my soul at that moment.
  • 'Blinded by Oil'<br /> 30"x40" oil on canvas 2003<br /> <br /> In a world where we all see the obvious, how is it that, when it comes to oil no one sees that which is most obvious? Was it the oil that made the world blind to justice? Reflect on this image and see the world we live in.
  • 'Ladies'<br /> 36"x48" oil on canvas 2000<br /> <br /> This is a small bar in a rural part of Kenya and just like in so many rural areas there is a lot of waiting for the next interesting thing to happen or pass by. The ladies in the painting are doing just that.
  • 'Game'<br /> 24"x30" oil on canvas 2001<br /> <br /> Some gentlemen I came across playing a board game the street in Zanzibar Tanzania.
  • 'Gabriel'<br /> 24"x24" oil on canvas 2001<br /> <br /> This is in a Medicine mans hut in Zanzibar Tanzania, Gabriel is the assistant.
  • 'Ms Noel'<br /> 30"x24" oil on canvas 2002<br /> <br /> Ms Noel stands humble yet proud amongst the atmosphere that she and her family created at her family\'s restaurant The Ginger Bread House. In this painting I wanted to capture the outer beauty that is Ms Noel and still yet show yo the pride she has found in her unique way of serving you.
  • 'Paa ya paa'<br /> 48"x24" oil on canvas 2001<br /> <br /> There is a great art studio in Nairobi Kenya created by a wonderful artist named Elimu Njau, the art center is called Paa Ya paa. Unfortunately some years ago it burnt down to the ground. As we visited I wandered around and found in the corner in the ruble an artist continuing to use the studio not stopping to work just cause of the misfortune of the fire.
  • 'Wedding Day'<br /> 30"x22" oil on canvas 2001<br /> <br /> My friend was off to get married no big fan fair no huge expensive white wedding dress just her getting ready to go wed her partner and live happily every after.
  • 'Jian Fung' <br /> 23"x 12" oil on canvas 2006<br /> <br /> Jian Fung is a friend to be both interesting and handsome and asked him if I could do a painting. I also asked if he would write something in Chinese for me on the painting. This is what the story translates to in English. (Ms Yvonne paints in a warmer autumn, it makes me think and sigh. At this end of the earth, I have achieved nothing but some unrealistic dreams while time passes quickly. I do not know when I will be able to go back to Changan.)
  • 'Emerging form Darkness'<br /> 12"x10" oil on canvas 2008
  • Do you even care'<br /> 30"x22" oil on canvas 2001<br /> <br /> The look in this woman\'s eyes, when she looked at me as I took the picture, immediately made me see the title of this painting. If ever I am fortunate enough to meet this woman in the future I will tell her yes I do care because we are one and the same we are Kenyan.
  • 'Clare'<br /> 22"x30" oil on canvas 2009
  • 'Fruit of Loyalty'<br /> 48"x24" oil on canvas 2003<br /> <br /> Imagine the pain of being forced to walk across one country to another. On that journey you are denied every decency. On that journey and old Armenian woman offers you a pomegranate and here wisdom \'Eat one seed a day and you will live to see home.
  • 'Little lady'<br /> 36"x48" oil on canvas 2000<br /> <br /> Often in third world countries young children watch over even younger children this particular image is Zanzibar Tanzania.