 A very good Tuesday morning to you. You are watching Why in the Morning and it is Entertainment Worship Tuesday. My name is Hilda Wadibi and this is the day when we let you see how young people out here are making, you know, ends meet and also making a few miracles happen for themselves. And speaking of miracles, today we're going to be talking about Pencil Royalty. You know something very interesting. We have one Paul Moon guy here. He's a pencil artist. His work is all over the place here by the outset so you can be able to see it. And we're just going to talk to him and find out how he fell in love with this pencil. Oh, the amazing accomplishments he has gotten out of this. So make sure you do keep it here at Y254 channel on Twitter. Hashtag Why in the Morning. Hashtag Get Your Penmanship Tuesday. On Facebook we are Y254. On Instagram we are Y254 underscore channel. So do make sure you do stay tuned. Obviously we are channel 376, sat times 824. No, sat times 54, signet 824. So yes, do keep it here. Anyway, it's about time we meet the entrepreneur himself, Paul Moon guy. Yes. Yes, hello everyone. Yes, I can see amazing, amazing human fingers here. But before we get to your particular human fingers who we're going to talk about in detail, when did you fall in love with the pencil and why did you pick this form of art history? Since I was young, I've been drawing when I was in primary school, when I went to high school. Did you do art? No, I didn't know how to draw art. So what did you decide you wanted to draw pictures of human beings? It is interesting doing a drawing, you know, when I'm doing human, then other portraits like landscapes. So he named a son. It's the best for me. It's the best, but can you still do the others? What were you drawing when you were still training yourself? You were drawing trees. Sometimes I could draw even my teachers. Your teachers? Yes, that's when I was in primary school, high school. I'd like to see your first pictures of your teachers. I do have them at home, but next time I think I'll come with them. No, you'll come with them so you can see the growth, you know? Yes. Because I can imagine by the time you achieve this kind of perfection. Tell me about the first portrait that you did that came out almost literally like exactly how you wanted it to be and who was it you had drew it? I did one for Deputy President in 2015. It was good and when I gave it to him, he was very happy. So that's the one that I can remember. That is your best one. That is the peak of yours. And it was in 2015. So you've been drawing for how many years? Some people don't think that it's automatic. I think for seven years now. Seven years and you become this good? Yes, that's what I do. This is now your full-time work? Yes, I do pay my bills through art. You pay your bills through art? Yes. How sustainable is it? I know now you have climbed the ladder because, you know, Deputy President has bought not once but twice for this gentleman in the studio. Please tell us how sustainable it is and how much do these things go for? Anyone tell me about the first one you sold and how much you sold it. Okay, it depends on the size, details. So the price varies depending on the size and details. And also depending on who. You know, sometimes there are some people who come to me. They want parties, they don't have money. But I have to do them because I want to market my job. So you do give pro bonos? Yes, at that time I can charge maybe even at $500. Wow, so you want to do it? I want to put it like that one. Let me ask you, I can see some variety here. I can see some of them are majorly in black and white and some of them are colored. So when do you decide, how do you choose which ones to color and which ones to leave black and white? You know, when you come to me and maybe you want a portrait, you can tell me maybe you want a black and white, a piece of work. Also this is a card, you can see it. I use paints. So if you want a pencil work, I give it to you. I do it for you. If you want paints, I do also. You do all of them. Which one is your favorite? Do you like coloring or do you like black and white? No, for pencil work. You like black and white? Black and white. For me it's the best. Why black and white? I don't know, but when I'm doing a pencil work, it is very interesting. Although it takes a lot of time. Like that one, I took like three days. Three days? Yeah. So how long did this one take? This one, it took five days. Seven? Five days. So it takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of work. I can see that you mostly are drawing politicians. So I want you to just talk about what your work aims to say. What's the message when you draw when you sit down? What do you want people to see? What message do you want us to receive when you have these figures here? You want to know, there is one I do. Yes, the politicians. I can see Matiagi. You see like this one. He's not a politician. Also you don't have any bias. No. It's only that today I came with this one. For Moguerian, I did two for William Luther. So I do politicians for politicians and other students. So you are cut across basically. Your message is just human. You just want to draw. You just want to bring us to life through your pencil. So now this Deputy President's story keeps on coming up. So let's talk about that. Let's talk about your first experience. How did you put yourself out there? How did you market yourself to that point where you got the Deputy President? I do market myself through Facebook, Twitter. Social media. So someone saw my work and he made an effort. Then when he met, then he told me that Deputy President wants to put it. And I had to do it. I had to do one for him. How did you feel? I was very happy. I never expected that. But I thank God so far so good. I can say I have done a few things throughout. Although marketing, I think that's one challenge that I have of marketing. Wow, but I think you're doing well. If you got a second buy, a second run, that's it. That is amazing. So tell me about the second time he came for the victory. The second time, we had an event and he came. That time I prepared a good portrait for him. He was very happy for the second time. Also to receive a portrait done by me. He was very shy. I want you to hear his comments. What did he say? What did he tell you? He was like, my friend? He appreciated it. At least he gave me some money. Wow, that was quite a boost. Okay, let's talk about other pencil artists. Is there any artist in particular that you admire who has inspired your work? Or is it just, I don't know, it just came out of nowhere? Or was there anybody in particular you were looking up to? Yes, I have, I think, you know, Gadol. Yes. The cartoonist? Yes, the cartoonist. I also do cartoons. So you also do animations. That's how you diversify them too. Wow, so we are going to see some cartoons soon. What was your favorite cartoon? You were great. Babu, it was called Babu. Babu? Gosh, I was expecting something different, but okay. So we'd like to know, okay, so why did you want to diversify into cartoon? The cartoon, what do you call it? Cartoonry? Come again? Why do you want to diversify into the cartoonry? What has picked your interest about cartoons? You know, when you are doing cartoons, you know, you, it's very also interesting doing cartoons because it is different from portraits. Now you are trying to imagine that, to create the image of that person. Yeah, so when you are trying to create that image, you also take time to be more creative. Oh, so you actually want to bring images? It is very interesting doing cartoons, actually. Yeah, I can see that from the emphasis. Then I'm looking forward to seeing some of your cartoons. You've mentioned that you take almost five to three days doing one, just one portrait. How do you keep yourself motivated? Like, to keep going. I don't even feel like drawing this person anymore. Do you get this? How do you keep yourself motivated? You know, I know by that of the day, when I do a portrait, I will get something. That's what motivates me. The money? Yeah, money. Okay, let's talk about maybe mentorship. Are you a one-man party? One-man standing? You don't have a team? I don't have a team. I don't have a team, but I have a workshop where I work from in Bika. That's where I work from. Okay, let's talk about when people are starting out their own businesses, whether it's entrepreneurship, there's always the issue of capital and getting the resources, gathering resources in order for you to get to whatever it is you want to do. Please tell me how much did it cost you to start? To get the pencils, the color pencils, the paint, the papers, the stuff. How do you get your resources? Not a lot of money, especially when you are doing a pencil work. But when you are doing a paint, they are very expensive. That's another challenge that I have. So it's kind of cost-effective? Yeah, it's very challenging sometimes because sometimes you need a lot of money to buy paints. Sometimes you can buy and I feel that they are expired. Oh, so you can buy and they've expired? Yeah, the quote is poor. But who's fault is that? Should I have checked the expiry date? Just pay. Just pay. But anyway, I'm wondering, now that you've mentioned that this equipment or these pencils and the paints is expensive, what can the government do to make your life easier as a pencil artist? Did you even express this concerns the refugee president or are you so happy you forgot to complain? No, but I think next time when we meet, I'm going to explain that to him. What are the challenges that you see in this industry that can be sorted? The government should support youth. The talented youth. That's the challenge that we have. We don't get support from government. What about galleries? I've been hearing that a lot of artists have been pulling together to have exhibitions and stuff. Have you heard of anything of that nature? I have heard, but yes, I have heard of it. Have you participated in any? I've never. Why? I'm trying to network, but I know very soon I'll join some people and we're going to do something good. I have a few friends who are doing that. I know very soon I'm going to join them. All right. But I know very soon I'm going to partner with some people. So right now you're just doing the basics? Yes, for now I'm doing it alone. Doing your social media? Yes, social media. I do marketing, I do social media. How do you keep your clients coming back? Considering like, well, now we know that the deputy president got a second round. What about your other clients? How do you keep them coming back? What is it that is so unique about you that you can say that keeps bringing people back to you? I keep posting my work on social media and Facebook. When people see what I'm doing, they do call me asking how much are you going to charge me? That's how I do interact with my customers. So posting more pictures on Facebook. It makes them want more pictures, like do some more work, do me again, because they can see the skin growing. So basically you're showing that you display your progress. That's what I do. Okay, let's talk about discouraging moments. Every entrepreneur has those moments when they feel like, oops, this and this went wrong. Have you ever drawn somebody and they told you, no, I know what this is? And how did you deal with that disappointment? Sometimes you are forced to repeat a portrait. You have to do it again. You can do something because someone comes and says, this does not look like me. So you have to go back to the drawing board and start something new. I can imagine. How do you deal with yourself? Sometimes it is very disappointing. But you have to keep going no matter what you are going through. There are so many challenges, but you have to keep moving. You have to keep moving. Okay, so what about, aside from the deputy president, tell me about your other favorite, most fulfilling moment of your career. Okay, I did this in 2016. I did a portrait for Honla Ares Wahome. Wow, so glad to hear that. She was very happy actually. How come you are very coy with the comments? I thought you just tell us what they say. You know, sometimes they don't encourage me. They also give defaults. I do more portrait. You said that I do target politicians. Also, in business, you must know your clients. You must have a target. You need money. So you must target people who you know they can pay well. I like that. So you also target your customers. Yeah, those people maybe who have money. But also, I do for people who even don't have, I do for free just to market myself. And also to grow your skill and continue shooting your progress. All right, that's amazing. At least I've learned something from you. You know, you need to target correct. Know where you are shooting your arrows. Don't just go shooting into the air and then feeling discouraged. But okay, it's about time we conclude this segment. We need to come into the next interview. So make sure you do let us know your social media handles. It's just a small word for someone at home who is thinking of assuming this. Who want to do art. Okay, art is good. It pays. So if you are an artist, you need to take seriously and do more practice. Take it seriously and continue practicing. All right. Thank you, Stana. For my Facebook account, Paul Mungai Fondi. Paul Mungai Fondi. Can I give my number? Oh yeah, please go ahead. My number is 07-04-73-5564. That's my number. Can I repeat? All right, okay. Then find your social media at Paul Mungai Fondi. Paul Mungai Fondi. All right. So I'm very much. This is coming up next, the next interview. Thank you so much for being with us in studio today. I hope one day when I become prominent, I will also buy some of your portraits. Yes, I do want for you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for hosting me. Oh, God bless you. Have a good day. All right. Peace.