Voyeur with Permission

The Biggest Family in the World - a new children's book based on the life of Charles Mulli, planned for publication in 2014. This is a blog chronicling the book's creation from the perspective of the artist.

It's a strange feeling as I paint the details of someone else's life. It's almost like I am a voyeur, observing and studying personal photos in an attempt to bring Charles Mulli's story to life on "canvas". I have the help of Paul Boge, the writer of Charles' biography, Father to the Fatherless, and of course Paul's own stories of his intimate relationship and visits with the Mulli family in Kenya.

The adapted version that I am working on is also very broad and generalized in scope, so that there is a lot of freedom to "fill in" the visual gaps as I need to. One of the more amusing scenarios is as I work on young Charles' new business ventures, where he purchases a matatu (truck for local transport), and starts taxiing loads of people around Eldoret. I have an original photo of Charles in his matatu, and as I sketched it today, I started filling it with people in amusing situations. There were no limits to the number of people you could cram into those vehicles! They would be literally hanging out the sides or on the back bumper.

Very rough sketch of Charles Mulli's first matatu.

As I write this, three of the paintings are complete, and two are almost done, and two more are in sketch phase. I really look forward to each day that I have set aside to sketch and paint. Each scene has so much going on to give the future book reader a lot to absorb. For example, when Charles is forced to beg for food for the first time, he is surrounded by neighbourhood children who observe the embarrassed boy. As each child watches, they have individual reactions to his situation - one makes fun of  him, one is compassionate, another is looking down on him, and so on.

Miracle Moments: I recall often, how I felt after my first husband, Werner Kliewer died in 2002. It felt like I was literally being "carried" through the grief process - each day was supported by many prayers of family and friends. I have the same feeling as I paint this story. Your prayers are providing inspiration, energy and ideas as I work, and I thank you so very much! Please keep praying, as this year-long process will be very much like one of Arvid Loewen's cycling marathons! I expect to encounter mountains, valleys, headwinds and of course lots of smooth sailing... :)