 A very good entrepreneurship Tuesday morning to you. You are watching Why in the Morning, only on Y254 channel. My name is Hilda Wadidhi and I hope you did catch that interview with Juan Barrymore and Dream Adventures. So if you do have plans this Valentine's Day, you'd like to go somewhere special, I hope you were listening in. And all right, it's about time we delve into the Artrepreneur's life. If you do want to participate in the conversation at Y254 channel, the hashtag is Why in the Morning, hashtag entrepreneurship Tuesday, partly Twitter. And on Instagram, you can find us at Y254 underscore channel, on Facebook at Y254. And on YouTube, in case you miss any of the valuable insight here at Y254 channel. Now with me in studio, I have a very interesting group under My Tribe is Art. However, Light and Shades modeling agency is also featured here and we will tell you why shortly. But it's about time I allow my guests to introduce themselves. My name is Salfa. Sayama, good morning. Good morning. Good morning Kenya. Good morning Y254. My name is Salfa Akari and yeah, I'm part of the team, My Tribe is Art. I am an artist and I'm the campaign manager. Oh, great. Yes. Good morning. My name is Jeri Kinuthia. I'm a visual artist. I'm taking fashion design and I'm part of My Tribe is Art. Great. Good morning. My name is Sidwin Arianda. I'm the CEO of Light and Shades Models Academy and agency. And I'm also part of the crew and the coordinator for My Tribe is Art events planning. So I can understand, from what I'm seeing here, Art brought you guys together. Can I understand? Where did you guys meet and why did you decide Art is what you wanted to do as a group? Edwin? Well, I'm a fan of Art. I'm an enthusiast of Art. My Tribe is Art began in 2017. It started back in Coast, Voi, where we organized our first art exhibition. And it brought together artists from different parts of the country. It was surprising because majorly it featured artists from Nairobi. That's where we first met Jeri Kinuthia among other artists. But first forward to 2018, we did different segments including Dancing Savanna. We did a cultural festival that's done at Voi. Then we're coming to 2019 whereby we're organizing another art exhibition that will be in Mombasa at Allianz Fonse. And it's dubbed Safari Asana. Safari Asana. Yes. Jeri Kinuthia, I'd like to understand from you. This is actually your artwork that we are displaying over here. And I can see you have a special interest with ladies and animals. Sorry. I'd like to understand where this intriguing interest came from. Okay. I started drawing back in 2017 after I was inspired by a friend. And I started with portraits. And I really love drawing women. I love their beauty in them. And especially with an African touch or a print or the aphrods. And here are some of my pieces but I've done so many commission works including Michelle and Talaami for Marini Naturals Re-Launching. And since then this has been my style. And I'm doing a series of paintings inspired by Kesehri Harri head wraps which are going to be exhibited in Mombasa. Head wraps. Is that why you're wearing one today? Oh yes. Yes. So that's going to be part of my series in Mombasa. And then I'm now a love jewelry. So I'm coming up doing jewelry art too like what we have here. These brass coils on canvas. So it's one of my styles that I'm doing soon. Yes. I would like to understand. This is actually a question I'm going to direct to all of you. What message is it that you'd like to give with your work? What is the aim? What is the message you'd like to give out when it comes to doing your art pieces? Because we are going to be seeing a sample of the art pieces that you've done. What is the message? Every time you sit down and you dedicate your time to draw, paint or do something. What are you imagining you'd like to send out there? Well, I am an acrylic painter. And my artworks revolve four themes in particular. I have Tell Her Dark Skin is pretty. And that comes from being inspired that... Love your melanin. Yes. Just love how you are. And then there's a cultural heritage whereby I look at different countries, Ugandan culture, Kenyan culture, Senegalese, all those people, and I see what makes them stand out. What are their cultures? And I draw maybe them doing a peace negotiation, something that is very... in particular uniquely about them. Then there's one I call Animal Paradise. I also paint animals. But in their paradise, if it's the jungle, if the lion is seen in a cave. And I do it with a lot of texture in my paint works. And the last one, which I came to learn I can do, was in 2017, whereby I am given a poem. It started out when a friend gave me a poem and told me interpret the poem into paint. So, yeah, that's what I do. I change poetry into paintings. Interesting. So you change the wording into an image. Ooh, I've never seen image poetry. I think that's what we would call it if it had a name. So you're passionate about culture, spreading the message of culture and being natural and ABCD. So for you, the aim of your work is to send that message. Interesting. Self and Yambura. Okay, Edwin, I'd like to hear from you. Your art is very different, because now you focus on actual individuals. Yeah, actually, times have changed. And most recently art was incorporated into the curriculum. Like in the past it was in the curriculum and it was scrapped off from 844 system. But you are glad it's back. We're just trying to show the world, or rather the future that art also has space, fashion has space, talent has space, and people can make a living out of their talents. They don't have to be smart in class and to be able to make a living. They don't have to be doctors, engineers, or other scientists to make a living. Also, art can pay. That's the major initiative of my Trebis art. And we are pushing so that at least artists can be able to sell their art. Yeah. Okay, okay. But you haven't exactly told us about your individuals. You know you have an agency where you manage people. I saw even an academy for that matter. So I'd like to understand even why they name light and shades. Like what was the message behind this? Okay, they name lights and shades. It was inspired by the highs and lows of life. We go through a lot of darkness, we go through a lot of light. Yeah, so that is the origin of the name, lights and shades. How many models do you manage? Because he and Jerry actually use them as ham use in some of our art pieces. We started way back when I was in school. We started with 20 models. By then we... 20 models. Yes. Those are a lot. Wow, ambitious. And we just handpicked them. We see a lady walking, we see a gentleman walking while you are in school. Would you have picked me? Just ask him. Anyway, carry on. Well, we identify talent and we tell them, yes, you can do it. Can you join us? We started that way. Then we trained them. We at least organized shows for them. And lately we've done different shows and we are growing with the marketing, with the digital appearance. We are still growing. We have come from Mombasa. Now we are moving to Nakuru and now Nairobi. Yes. Okay, I like that. All right, Jerry. What is your message? What do you think about? What saturates your mind when you're doing your art pieces? What do you want people to know? Okay, mostly I do women. I've done a lot of women. And I'd like to pass a message that we are beautiful in all shades and all their appearances. Well, it's Afro hair, whatever you look like, you're beautiful. And that can be seen in my paintings. I used to have these bias towards Africans loving the dark skin too much and having kind of a resist attitude towards the white. But it came, I thought of changing that and I thought I could actually do a series where I can incorporate everyone. So you did not declare a war on light skin? Okay. No, I didn't. I didn't. Actually, you can see from that and another painting here. Yes. I got a collection of models and I, from the internet including some of them are not here. But I got Chinese. I got a white. I got really, really dark skin and some are still works in progress. But that's what I want to pass a message that will be my message that all shades are beautiful and you should appreciate women even in their natural hair like this lady. This girl here, Don, who was declared the most beautiful. Yes. So she inspired my painting. I love her Afro. And yeah, so instead of being biased towards Afros and the African look, I decided, well, I can do everyone. You know, you're so interesting because you're actually dressed accordingly. Your earrings even an Afro comb. Anyway, I want you to ask a question. I'm sure someone at home is curious about because it also picked my interest. In one of your art pieces here, I can see a lady and I can see some very detailed and colorful makeup. Can you do this in real life? Just ask it. Because these things are not easy. I get that a lot. My friends always ask me because when it comes to drawing, I love intricate designs and if it's makeup, I love the details. So can you do it on my face? I cannot do it on my face. Actually, I have trouble drawing my eyebrows. Mostly one will be higher or longer or thicker than the other one. But when it's me, my brushes and with my canvas, I do it so well. Okay. So I like the story and I like the fact that now the fans can understand the message behind the work that you guys are trying to do. But today is the spirit of entrepreneurship. So I'd like to understand how you guys built a career out of this and how sustainable this is. What was the plan? When you guys sat down and decided, okay, my tribe is art. We are going to do this. What was your plan? What was the strategy? Who can speak on that? Edwin? Okay. Well, as I've mentioned earlier, my tribe is art. It's just a language for the artist. We speak for the artist. We give artists a platform where they can at least showcase their talent. We have a very wonderful lady behind all these projects. Her name is Rachel. She's from Voi. She also lives in Norway. And she has been overseeing all these projects. And because of her support, at least we can be able to do some things for the artist. Some things that we will not be able to do as the youth population. What are these things we are not able to do? We would like to understand. Well, much of the things require finances. For instance, to look for money, you need to have money first. To put up that website up there, you need money. So you need someone to support you before you bring that website or rather that platform so that the artist can sell their art. To organize an event, it needs money. To bring people together, it requires money. So what is this plan? What is the strategy? Does Rachel do everything and then you bring the art? Not really. Actually, when planning an event, we try as much as possible to plan a zero-budget event. Oh, you really try to minimize the cost? Yes, because in the platform, we have a lot of talent. We have event organizers. We have photographers. We have videographers. We have every sort of talent in the platform, many of which are not here. So the people that will have been hired to bring people together to organize an event, that costs our channel to something different. The photographers, that maybe the money will suppose to channel it to doing photography or videography, we use that money to do something else. So we are minimizing the cost. Another thing, Alliance Fonsec came through for us, because suppose you are to hire a venue, it's also expensive. So we're just trying to use our talents to sell the other talents that we have, that is art. So you're actually doing a lot of lobbying with a lot of conversations and what is butter, butter trade? Yes. Okay, we'll make sure you use them. Yes. You look like you want to say something about this. Aside from only finances, I think what he has talked about is also the fact that we have a lot of connections. What she has brought Rachel Wally is networking. And not only for, it's giving a platform for upcoming artists and also the practicing artists and also those who are high up in the ladder to be able to connect up and down the ladder so that the one who's above can be able to mentor the one who's below and the one who's below is able to see how I can make something out of this. Because it's actually a very common question about whether emerging artists should be allowed to showcase their work in a place where big, or what can I say, known artists are showcasing their work. It's actually a big question in the world of art and I can see you've already answered it. You're trying to bridge that gap when it comes to those who have made it and those who are just joining in the market. So speaking of those who have made it, before I go back to your mentor, who are your biggest influences? Sorry, like in the art world. Jerry, you've been quiet. Let's start with you. Okay, I have some mentors. When he started painting, a very good known artist in the country gave me materials to start with and really inspired me. His name is Antoni Mwangi and he really mentored me. I also have another one called Kinutia. He has also exhibited in Kenya and beyond. He's actually international and he has really helped me draw and also to expand and try other styles and my parents have really supported me when it comes to art. My dad used to draw when he was younger and they've really supported me. Honestly, art materials, they cost pretty much. But they've supported me and really encouraged me and I told them I want to do art and it's going to be part of me. They were really supportive of me and I'm so grateful to them. So, they also inspire me. Okay. At least now we know a couple of your influences. What are your influences when you're handling your models when you began your academy? Who are your biggest influencers? Well, I can say much of the influence because I do much of fashion and modeling. I can say Victoria's Secret. Victoria's Secret? Selva, why did you make that face? Are you shocked? Continue? At least other models like Adele Ball. We have great artists. We have great models. So, apart from just exporting the talent to Europe, we can also have a platform that can give our inborn or other local boner models a platform to do their thing here in Africa. We cannot really export them to the international world. Brain drain? In this sense, talent drain. There's something that is going on on the screen before I myself have our biggest influences. Whose work is this in specific? This is one of our artists. His name is Mutahi. I can see Obama. Does Obama have this many wrinkles? We have many. Yes. He'll reach there. He'll get there. I think I've seen this on your website on MyTribusArt. This is just a sample of artwork done by various artists. Selva, can you tell me who are some of your biggest influences while the audience is taking a look at the catalogue here? Okay. I've been in the painting arts industry for five years now. My first teacher back in 2013-2014 was Mrs. Mary Ogambo. She used to teach me at Go Down at Centre. She's a very well-renowned artist. She has been painting in Abu Dhabi, UAE and just to find someone who is motherly and just will give me my first canvas, my first paint, my first everything. Yes, completely. And introduced me to my first exhibition. Aside from her has been Mr. Patrick Mokabi who has been featured in many places as CNN Africa and he has been emerging as one of the painters who almost has his style in the dictionary, Mokabizi. Mokabizi? Yes. His paintings are revolving women and their beauty, their curves and it's everywhere. It's in Java, it's in JKA and what he has provided for me is the ability to just go into his studio and work with others and so I got to learn from him and even other artists, so many artists and down the road it has been also music. Oh music? Yes, I'm a music critic of jazz so when Diana Reeves came to Kenya I felt like I have just met Beyonce so I was very I was very excited. I also do music and I feel like art is so broad and music is art and people don't it's art is divergent and convergent at the same time it has a lot of spheres. Yeah. Okay, so let's talk about a bit of your work we go back into the serious things. Is there anything Jerry let me start with Jerry because now you are the least talkative in this particular scenario. Jerry, was there some work that you did or a particular portrait that you did that you felt like this one sucks or you did one and you felt like bass, this is my best one so far. Actually when he did this, those are painting before this and I actually was frustrated and had to paint it off and start this. So it happens at times you paint something and it doesn't come out as you want it happens and sometimes you paint something and you're so in love with it you don't want to sell it. That particularly happened when I was doing art talks for Marini Naturals I was in love with Michelle and Talami's painting because it was inspired by the natural hair Caroline she has and I was so in love with that painting I didn't want to part with it but I had to. It happened. How much did you sell it for considering it was your best? 25,000 Wow Yes Okay, let me slide over to what happened to the one that she didn't like or you said you repeated it. Yes it was actually here. It was painted. So you actually wrote one of your worst stroke transformed Yeah, yeah, yeah, transformed and then this one of my favourites. Okay, that's good. But upon that there's something else going on. Story. There's some journey up in there. Okay, let me find out from you. Was it a certain model that you interacted with? Was it the right of your career? Well there's this event I organised I found myself in a lot of trouble. Why? You know, when you do events maybe the community around you might do a lot of disturbance because a lot of disturbance to the society, to the community. Was it loud music and what was the problem? Well that was the time I decided this time I'm going big. So I had the best sound system. I had the best DJ in Mombasa. I had the best MCs. I said I'm doing it this time. So unfortunately at the restaurant we organised it was surrounded by residential plots. So they complained to the police but lucky enough I had the license to do the event. So I was Licensed to do events very good Yes. So the event organiser was arrested Oh. Yes. So even despite having the Oh goodness. We are in Kenya. Okay. I was arrested but fortunately enough we were almost at the close of the event. So there was not much interference to the program. As much as I was in the police cell deep down I was happy that I had achieved whatever I wanted. Oh you had fulfilled? Yes. What was the name of this event? Because I can see some of your work running on screen right now. It was called the Red Affair. The Red Affair. The kind of danger. Maybe that was the reason. And what about your best? Is that a mixture of your best and worst? Well I can say that's my modeling career. Because I I was known because of that. My friends talked about it. A lot of people talked about that event. Blessing in disguise. Yeah sure. So it was the turn of events. Yeah. Okay. I like that. Let's hear you as now it's your turn. What was the highlight of your career or is it something that you do that you sucked? Or something that you did that you really loved. And how much did you sell it for in that event? Mine was not for selling. I actually didn't want to part with it. Oh you experienced the same issue in the journey. So there is one that was inspired by Alicia Keys song Super Woman and I painted African women going to Kuchota Magi going back home during the sunset. So what happened is that aside from art, I used to do digital marketing. And one day we had as a team from Kenyatta University we had won some google online marketing challenge that made us go to Netherlands. So from an email I was requested to you can bring your art pieces and I brought it and now it's hanging on the google offices in California and just being sent that photo was the best thing that ever happened to me and still is the lowest moment I scrape off a lot of the stuff. I can't do it anymore. You get another canvas yes it happens. I like that. It's so good for us to hear these stories because people at home when they do things things go wrong and things go right. It's good to celebrate the wins and the fails and the fails that turned into wins. So for someone at home who is interested in this line of work do you have any words as we conclude? Jerry? Oh yes, first of all a lot of times I get this question if art can be sustainable, if it can sustain you in terms of your pocket and let me tell you yes it can I was taking fashion design and marketing and I'm clearing this semester and I decided to switch to art. As much as fashion and jewelry still inspiring me I decided I'm doing art and since I started in 2017 I promise it's been such a good journey in terms of money and it's great especially if your work is quality if you try and observe quality, if quality is one of your values you'll always get clients and I'm so grateful to the clients I've had I also do a lot of commission works and yes it helps a lot So your message is it's sustainable and you can make some money so they shouldn't fear. Okay I like that Jerry and we can define you on social media real quick. On Instagram it's Jerry Artista, on Facebook Nuthya Alright Edwin let's hear your parting shot Well to that young kid, to that youth to that someone who is struggling with something whatever you're struggling with is something that gives you contentment push on with that because I personally studied industrial chemistry but I've never been passionate with this course and I did like with what I'm doing the fashion industry and something else when you're down don't feel shy to ask for help personally I've been down very many times and I'm very grateful to some of the friends I had I remember one of my friends his name is Clenses I asked him bro I want to quit point of quitting he told me bro in this show business industry you have two options go big or go home I like that so I chose to go big so where can they find you on social media we have social media handles, licensed models across all platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram okay thank you I like passion don't be afraid to ask for help go big or go home what I will say is for me I have been in the painting industry for five years it hasn't been all milk and honey hasn't been canna there are two years where I was like it's desperate I have over 60 paintings and none of them when I go to exhibition they say ah nice that's what happens and what I came to understand is that the art industry do not confine yourself in a box the best thing my canvas can do for me is sell for me, give me money your painting can do so many things it can give a statement can give a political statement it can give economic statement it might end up in the hands of someone who might connect you to another person so don't box yourself you might be doing managing of art, you might be directing art, you might be the creative in art yes you might not be the artist yourself so I enjoy the journey I like that enjoy the journey and get out of the box yes I might they find you on social media my home is curry artist that's for my paintings and then sell for curry for my jazz and soul music oh great jazz and soul music, alright I think it's about time we conclude this segment we have been talking to the art refinuers and my tribe is art my name is Hilda Wadididi please do not go anywhere but Remosis is coming up next interview