US comedian Steve Harvey gives Kenyan artist a boost after viral drawing

(CNN)Collins Omondi Okello’s mission was simple. Get his hero Steve Harvey to see the portrait he had made of him.First, the Kenyan artist posted his unfinished drawing of Harvey, shared the process on Twitter and urged his followers to retweet and tag the US entertainer.Once the drawing was complete, he posted the photo and tagged Steve Harvey, hoping he would see it.”Complete pencil drawing of @IAmSteveHarvey. Will be a real boost to my hustle if you have this in your gallery. Waiting with bated breath,” Okello wrote on Twitter.

Collins Omondi Okello@collimondi

Complete! Pencil drawing of @IAmSteveHarvey. Will be a real boost to my hustle if you have this in your gallery. Waiting with bated breath#steveharveypencil #JaduongArtWorks pic.twitter.com/MRxql0pbKh

11.9K10:38 PM – Feb 29, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy2,913 people are talking about thisHis persistence paid off and three days and thousands of retweets later, Harvey replied.”Now I’m looking for you it would be my honor to have this …. what size is it and I’ll be in Joburg and Botswana soon let’s hook up then,” Harvey said in his tweet.

Steve Harvey✔@IAmSteveHarvey

Now I’m looking for you it would be my honor to have this …. what size is it and I’ll be in Joburgh and Botswana soon let’s hook up then https://twitter.com/collimondi/status/1233959688682823680 …Collins Omondi Okello@collimondiComplete! Pencil drawing of @IAmSteveHarvey. Will be a real boost to my hustle if you have this in your gallery. Waiting with bated breath#steveharveypencil #JaduongArtWorks pic.twitter.com/MRxql0pbKh24.3K3:58 PM – Mar 1, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy6,850 people are talking about thisOkello told CNN the recognition humbled and excited him”I never expected such a thing to happen, and so soon. I’m positively blown!”

Kenyan artist, Collins Omondi OkelloH
is encounter with Harvey is not Okello’s first brush with fame. In 2014, his portrait of Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta went viral and earned him an invitation to the State House where he presented the drawing to the President.
Okello, 30, studied finance but says he taught himself how to draw and now works full time as an artist.He says being an artist does not receive as much respect as other professions.”Society doesn’t respect art that much, especially in my country. It is my mission to change that perception with my small efforts.”Nigerian pencil artist to sell portraits to Kevin HartOkello now wants to create a platform for more emerging artists in Kenya.”I’m seeking to have a gallery that should build me and other budding talents within my country and possibly have exhibitions all around the world; to give the platform I have been given,” he said.Until then, his advice for growing artists on the continent:”Use social media well and believe in yourself.”