TEACHERS IS HOBY

Henry Oreng holds two carvings, one depicting an elderly woman smoking a pipe and the other, an octogenarian holding his chin, in deep thought. His pose is that of a content artist, for he is proud of his creativity.
There are many other carvings, portraying different aspects of Kenyan life — a dreadlocked man in sunglasses, a beaded Turkana woman and a basket full of different fruits. There is also a painting depicting two cocks fighting.
Human feelings

SO ARTISTIC: Henry Oreng displays some of his finished products and shows how he creates at his workshop. He hopes to one day have his work displayed at international galleries. [PHOTOS: JAMES KEYI/STANDARD]

Through his works of art, Oreng has been able to capture various human feelings and different cultures.
Besides enjoying his work as an artist, Oreng, 44, is happy with the returns from the pieces he moulds. In fact, proceeds from the sales have greatly supplemented his income from teaching.
"I am a graduate teacher of fine art. I find this practival aspect of my work rewarding," says Oreng who teaches fine art at Lions High School, Kisumu.
He has turned one room of his main house in Kombewa Village into a workshop, and the facility is filled with finished products and others in various stages of completion.
Oreng confesses that returns from his art business has enabled him put up a storey building in Kisumu town. He has also built three beautiful permanent houses at his home.
"I have also improved my farming on my three acre-piece of land and paid for my wife’s education at a Ugandan university," says Oreng.
His farm teems with vegetables and fruits, which he sells in Kisumu town, some 25km away. He started taking art as a business venture after mentorship from a Ugandan friend, Peter Kanyonde, 25 years ago.
Good money"Peter made me realise that I can make good money from art, in addition to my teaching job." says the father of two. Apart from paintings, there are carvings that include key holders and other mementos.