Our artwork is the hand that feeds us

Feb 10, 2009

HANDS ON<br><br>They paint with passion and display their beautifully coloured and patterned work with enthusiasm. Their work is inspiring. Godfrey Sseguja and Ibrahim Kitimbo apply their skills to create employment for themselves and to make a living.

HANDS ON

By Hope Abimanya

They paint with passion and display their beautifully coloured and patterned work with enthusiasm. Their work is inspiring. Godfrey Sseguja and Ibrahim Kitimbo apply their skills to create employment for themselves and to make a living. After years of unfruitful search for employment, they engaged in painting. The payoff was not instant but their determination stayed unwavering.

They established Forest Art Studio in Sseguja’s backyard in Buziga. The studio has since turned into a hub for beautiful hand-made art and crafts. They design household furniture, flower vessels and lamp holders, among other household items.

The artists purchase raw pieces of earthenware and acrylic painting, to add glamour to the otherwise plain looking pots. While they do not take part in the moulding process, the young artists add esthetic value to the ceramic items. Their pieces can be used as both interior and exterior décor. They also design tables, lampshades, dressing mirrors and wall hangings.

“When I look at our paintings, I feel the real art within myself,” Sseguja says with a smile.

They work on appointment and now decorate in various locations where they also distribute their items. With the support of his family, Sseguja is studying a second diploma in interior art and designing. “Our dreams have come true,” he said as we toured their showroom. A look at their display makes one see the secret beauty in art. You would gape looking at the designed table in Sseguja’s sitting room, especially the way the colours are neatly blended on the wall hangings.

Asked where they envision themselves in the next two years, Sseguja says: “I see myself in a big art gallery exhibiting my artwork, going for trade shows and getting contracts with different big companies.”

With Oscar Ntambi, their colleague, the young artists believe their paintings, flower vessels, gourds and decorations are successful and are creating an impact in the art industry. Their designs cost between sh5,000 and sh70,000 and all these can be got from their workshop in Buziga.

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