FEATURED COMMISsiONS:
“MY SISTER PENDO”
Graphite and charcoal on archival paper.
Artwork: 18 x 14 in (23 x 19 framed)
The story:
Pendo means “love” in Swahili. This original artwork was made for Julia Zirimu. Julia is the oldest of three siblings. Their parents, poet and dramatist Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu & linguist and literary theorist Pio Zirimu commissioned two different artists to do portraits of Julia and her brother, but they never got a chance to do one of her baby sister Pendo, because of their sudden passing due to political unrest in Uganda back in 1970’s. Therefore, it has been Juila’s passion to find the right artist to draw her sister. She commissioned Karolina to take a reference photo and to do this meaningful artwork.
“BETTY JEAN”
The reference photo for this drawing was taken in 1957 McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Graphite and charcoal on archival paper.
Artwork: 18 x 14 in (23 x 19 framed)
