Joel Ngoko

The following is a statement from the artist, Joel Ngoko:

“I was born in western Kenya, Kisii District of Nyanza Province in 1961, the fourth child in a family of nine children. In 1971 I joined Nyabigege primary school and left for secondary education in 1979. During all of these years in school I used to draw, carve, and mould. I started to draw at the age of ten. And I started to do sculpting at the age of 15. During artwork periods we were given some colored pencils and crayons although we had no art teachers. Art was not taken seriously as there were no trained teachers in all of these schools I joined. So I used to concentrate seriously on my own, even after school hours and holidays.

There was no competition in this subject as most of my schoolmates never took any interest in art. But most teachers encouraged me sometimes when I always come out with a new drawing. Most of my drawing were mostly of wildlife, although I had not seen any by the time I started to draw.

In 1975 I joined the scouting movement. This association gave me the opportunity to visit so many parts and see the abundant wildlife in the country sites. There were many occasions when we went on trips that I would stick my head out of the window. Through the Ngong Hills and Maasailand which were very inspirational. When I reached home I drew and colored so much during my journeys.

I have sold many of my wildlife paintings to so many parts of the world since I started my career as an artist. Although I have never held a public exhibition, but I believe my wildlife paintings are among the most attractive to many of my customers. As a specialized artist I have traveled widely in Kenya’s wildlife reserves. Art is a great challenge!”

I have known Joel since 1985 or so. The last time I saw Joel, he told me about his time with a backpack and tent, just camping in the Maasai Mara and studying animals. My immediately thought was, “How? There are lions, and leopards, and all sorts of animals that can trample you!”

Nonetheless, he was determined to be a part of the natural flow of life in the wild, and felt a certain sense of invulnerability, partially due to his understanding that he was a benevolent being doing no harm and learning from what he was observing. He came home with sketchpads filled with observations and ideas for paintings that he was looking forward to exploring. I envied his ambition, and I certainly envy his talent – but you would never catch me camping out on the plains of the Maasai Mara for weeks at a time. I mean, that’s crazy!

These days Joel Ngoko has really discovered his talents and has expanded into a completely new level. His recent paintings eclipse those of the past in many respects – but the most maturity has come in his attention to the precise detail of the animal that he is observing. These paintings represent some of the most realistic and skilled wildlife paintings on our website. They don’t cater to unnatural light or bold dynamic colors thought of as “African”. They are natural and based on the realism of his observations, which makes them so attractive and unique.

All of these paintings are painted on the finest silk-based canvases using very high quality oils. They smell of oil, and giving them a rich depth that cannot be reproduced in acrylics.

Title: Lone Tusker Dimensions: “14.5 x 12.5” Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $260	Title: Elephant and Zebras at Kilimanjaro Dimensions: 14.5″ x 12″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: Congratulations Lindsay and Ben!	Title: Relaxing Cheetahs Dimensions: 16″ x 10.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $280
Title: Lone Bull Elephant at Kilimanjaro Dimensions: 18″ x 12.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Elephant Brothers Under Kili Dimensions: 18″ x “12.5 Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Elephants Tossing About Dimensions: 18″ x 13″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300
Title: Endangered Black Rhino Dimensions: 18.5″ x 12″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Male Lion on Plains Dimensions: 18.5″ x 12″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Alert Cape Buffalo Dimensions: 18.5″ x 12.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300
Title: Tired Lion in Grass Dimensions: 18.5″ x 12.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $280	Title: Cheetah Standing Tall Dimensions: 18″ x 13″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Lion Cubs on Their Own Dimensions: 23.5″ x 12″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $420
Title: Lion Cub on Mound Dimensions: 23.5″ x 12.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $420	Title: Lion Couple Dimensions: 24″ x 11.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $440	Title: Tuskers in Grass Dimensions: 24″ x 12.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $440
Title: Mature Black Rhino Dimensions: 25.5″ x 13.5″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $460	Title: Three Elephants Perfect Day Dimensions: 27″ x 14″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $460	Title: Mother Lion Keeping Watch Dimensions: 37″ x 18″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $660
Title: Tusker Brothers Dimensions: 37″ x 19″ Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $660	Title: Cheetahs in Tall Grass Dimensions: 20″ x 11.5″ (51 x 29cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Elephants and Zebra Near Forest Dimensions: 25″ x 14.5″ (64 x 37cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $440
Title: Zebras Near Mt. Kilimanjaro Dimensions: 30.5″ x 15.5″ (78 x 40cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $540	Title: Zebras at Watering Hole Dimensions: 29″ x 17″ (74 x 43cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $480	Title: Lions in Tall Grass Dimensions: 18″ x 11.5″ (46 x 29cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $280
Title: Elephants Brothers Dimensions: 39″ x 18″ (99 x 46cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $660	Title: Lionesse on Branch Dimensions: 17″ x 10″ (43 x 25cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300	Title: Rhino Mather and Child Dimensions: 18″ x 11.5″ (46 x 29cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $300
Title: Elephants in Amboseli Dimensions: 27.25″ x 13.5″ (69 x 33cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $440	Title: Lone Kudu Dimensions: 20″ x 13″ (51 x 33cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $280	Title: Lion Cubs Dimensions: 19″ x 11″ (48 x 28cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $280
Title: Lion in Amboseli Dimensions: 21″ x 13″ (54 x 33cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $280	Title: View of Kilimanjaro Dimensions: 27.5″ x 12″ (70 x 30cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $260	Title: Zebras in Amboseli Dimensions: 19″ x 10″ (48 x 26cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $260
Title: Relaxing Lion Dimensions: 27.25″ x 16.25″ (69 x 42cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $520	Title: Kudu in Tall Grass Dimensions: 11″ x 7″ (28 x 18cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $180	Title: Elephants Finding Food Dimensions: 17″ x 11″ (44 x 28cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $240
Title: Baby Zebra Pair Dimensions: 17″ x 12″ (44 x 31cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $180	Title: Relaxing Lion Family Dimensions: 28″ x 16.5″ (72 x 42cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $480	Title: Young Kudu Dimensions: 15.5″ x 8.25″ (40 x 21cm) Medium: Oil on canvas Cost: $160

If you are interested in any of Joel Ngoko’s paintings, you can Make an Offer by using the Contact Page or by emailing me at: todd@insideafricanart.com. Or, better yet, go to the Purchasing Page to make a purchase!

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