Welcome to the vibrant and colourful world of Kenyan artist Wanjira Kinyua!
Wanjira (Wan-jee-ra) Kinyua is a freelance illustrator residing in Nairobi. She finds joy in infusing her illustrations with a sense of vibrancy and loves exploring a diverse array of themes and subjects. Wanjira talks to us about her creative process and where she finds inspiration, from her fascination of birds and insects – and her passion about their protection – to her love of colourful sneakers.
What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?
My best piece would have to be a portrait of a mother and child that I did for AMREF UK. I love working on portraits but what set this apart is that I was able to include cultural jewellery from various tribes of Kenya. I'm always striving to be better and improve my work, so being able to challenge myself to draw intricate beadwork was a really good exercise.
Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?
I love being in nature and observing the birds, insects and leaves. I've recently started going to Nairobi National Museum and galleries such as NCAI to seethe exhibits and get inspiration from the various artists' works on display. But most importantly I like being present in whatever environment I am, as inspiration can come from the most mundane places, and from people.
Is there anything you're a particular advocate for?
Probably environmental issues and in particular insects and spiders. They play a very important role in our ecosystems but are often overlooked. I love learning about them. I would probably advocate for their life, where justifiable, if someone wanted to kill one.
What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you
I have a wide range of interests and am continually inspired by my surroundings. This inspiration is often reflected in my artwork, allowing me to effectively depict a diversity of themes. As a result, I've attracted clients who seek an artist capable of working on similar or related subjects.
If you have done any paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say is something that gets your clients to return to you (up to now)?
Clients have consistently noted my reliability in meeting deadlines, the high quality of my work, the seamless experience I provide, and my prompt and professional responses to their feedback. While my style relies on photo references, I ensure that each artwork is unique by incorporating my own creative touch and tailoring it to meet the specific needs of my clients.
How would you describe your style?
Vibrant, playful, serene, cultured, detailed.
What is an ideal project or scenario for you? Something that would mean the world and connect to something meaningful to you, if you were offered it?
I have long admired artists who create murals for sneaker stores, and it has been a personal aspiration of mine to do the same. If not a mural, I would love the opportunity to illustrate an ad campaign for sneakers. I am particularly passionate about colourful sneakers, and creating artwork that features them would be a dream project for me
Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?
I am currently working on a poster showcasing various neighbourhood birds I have spotted. There are so many; I am progressing slowly and thoroughly enjoying the process. This project allows me to experiment with my technique for illustrating birds, and I am pleased with how they are turning out.
Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would you choose?
Sir David Attenborough. The documentaries that he has been part of made me interested in nature. He has also brought awareness to what is going on in our environment and is just someone I highly admire.
If you’d like more info, please contact: [email protected]
At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.