A close talk with Robinson kimanthi and known by the art name is Roby Flames on an exclusive with Pachagazine.
Pachagazine: When did you discover your drawing talent?
Roby flamez: I started drawing since I was in class four mostly cartoons that was until 2015 when I did my first painting and the hustle kicked in.
Pachagazine: So you didn’t go to any art school.
Roby flamez: No, though Miken arts mentored me along the basics of art.
Pachagazine: And who’s Miken arts?
Roby flamez: Artist based in Nairobi.
Pachagazine: Speaking about mentoring, apart from now Miken, who else inspires you/ motivates you?
Roby flamez: I always draw my inspiration from different artist everything artistic.
Pachagazine: What are some of the challenges in this industry?
Roby flamez: The biggest challenge is the market and the fact that not many people appreciate art locally. Most customers are the high income locals and foreigners.
Pachagazine: How do you strategize your marketing for your work.
Roby flamez: Mostly I place my fine art pieces on the streets and also market them online through social media.
Pachagazine:How much did you sell your first piece and whats the most expensive you’ve ever sold.
Roby flamez: I sold my first piece at Ksh 500 and my most expensive at Ksh 15,000.
Pachagazine: Whats the value range of your products?
Roby flamez: 1,500 to 10,000.
Pachagazine: Does the government support fine art?
Roby flamez: It’s rare though last year we did mural about Corona which was a national museum project sponsored by government.
Pachagazine: And what can you add if given that chance to speak for the artist?
Roby flamez: Artists can express many things through pictures and I think the government can involve them in many ways through projects where they want the message to reach the masses like the mural about covid 19.
Pachagazine: So how long does it takes you to complete a portraits/your drawings?
Roby flamez: Some Take hours, others a day. It might even take a week. It all depends on with the details.
Pachagazine:How can people find your work on social media?
Roby flamez: @Roby flamez in all platforms.
Pachagazine: What can you tell, those who are in the same field, a word of advice.
Roby flamez: What I can tell my fellow artists to persist creating more and more work without losing hope.
Pachagazine: So what can you say is unique about your work, what makes you out-stand other artist?
Roby flamez: Creativity, though we are all gifted differently.
Pachagazine: And what do you hate most in what you do, what Do you love most.
Roby flamez: I hate it most when people try to down play my work and of course I love art my first love and my gal lynn.
Pachagazine: Is art your full time job?
Roby flamez: Its my full-time job though am a deejay too.
Pachagazine: And you have a specific piece you’ve done that really means something to you, one special one, may be the one that drives you, keeps you going?
Roby flamez: Yeah.
Pachagazine: what does it entails? Whats its story?
Roby flamez: Before always wished I could paint such a picture it always keeps me going.
Pachagazine: Another thing, how has this pandemic affected your business.
Pachagazine: One more thing, What’s your message to fellow Kenyans concerning this Covid 19 situation we are facing.
Roby flamez: Business has been good can’t complain. Stay safe wear a mask and sanitize corona is real
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