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The Orphan Boy |
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The Orphan Boy |
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The Orphan Boy written by Tololwa Mollel and illustrated by Paul Morin, is a traditional Maasai tale about the origins of the morning and evening-star. In this story, a lonely old man takes in a young orphan named Kileken. The man quickly realizes Kileken is no ordinary child. The boy is able to mysteriously do all his chores even before his adopted father awakes. He is also able to walk the two-day trip to the water hole in much less time. Without explanation he is able to nurse the man's cattle through a drought. Every day the cattle return to the old man, well fed in spite of the scarcity of suitable pastures. Kileken keeps his secret and refuses to reveal how he is able to do all these things. He pleads with the old man not to pry. However, the man's curiosity is insatiable, and encouraged by a shadowy inner voice, he seeks out the boy's secret. One morning, the old man feigns sleep in order to follow the unsuspecting Kileken. Hidden a safe distance from Kileken, the old man watches as the boy magically transforms the desert sand into an oasis. Unable to contain his surprise, the man lets out a cry of wonder, which alerts Kileken of his presence. In that instant their bond of trust is broken and the child takes on his true form as the morning/evening-star known to the Maasai as Kileken, the orphan boy.
Paul Morin's illustrations depict the immense scope of the traditional mythology of an ancient people. Morin travelled extensively through Africa, researching The Orphan Boy. Morin uses a realistic style combining oil paint, bits of sand, pebbles and wood, all of which he collected while staying with the Maasai people. Morin's style is expressive and realistic. He captures facial expressions, body language and landscapes with accuracy and emotion.
Paul Morin's use of colour is evocative and majestic. He captures a calm starry night in cool shades of dark blues. Entire backgrounds are painted in a multitude of blue shades. The bushes and the sandy earth are all shaded in blues in order to brighten up the moon light landscape. Morin separates the shadowy figures of Kileken and the old man by highlighting their clothing with a single beam of moonlight. His nightscapes evoke midnight in a quiet place. Morin also turns his talents to showing the reader the lush fertility of the rainy season on the African plains. The dusty earth is transformed by Kileken's presents and Morin's skilled brushstrokes into a vibrant green oasis. As the man and boy dance in this resurrected paradise, dark blue clouds, laden with much needed rain loom heavily in the sky. Pale beams of light mystically peak through the clouds lending a sense of spiritual joy to the painting. Contrasting colours give the scene a lively feel, as the eye travels from bright green patches of grass to the blue sky to the tiny red and gold draped figures.
Following a sharp turn in the story, Morin contrasts the beautiful scene of the magical rainy season with a drought scene. Morin has effectively captured the dry despair of drought with images almost entirely composed of shades of ochre. This illustrations evoke the sensation of an infinite expanse of barren desert baked by an oppressive sun. A single barren tree reminds the reader of the lost vegetation. Morin's magically use of colour convincingly depicts an African drought.
Paul Morin's characters are unique individuals with boundless personalities. The facial expressions and body language in these illustrations are expressive and emotional. Kileken's devilish grin conveys youthful mischief, yet his gentle face and bright eyes radiate boyish charm. The boy is often depicted alone against the barren desert or standing with a comforting hand on the man's knee. Kileken's posture communicates his profound yet mysterious wisdom. Morin captures the old man's loneliness with a deeply shadowed face and pursed lips. The old man's frustration with the drought is depicted through his hunched body posture, slumped shoulders and clenched fists. In later illustrations his crumpled form is a powerful expression of his profound sense of loss. The man's red cloak is a sharp contrast to his sun bleached surroundings. The boy's golden tunic draws the reader's eye to his image, focusing all attention on his enigmatic figure. Paul Morin has created two unique characters that visually complement Mollel's mystical folk tale.
Click here to view Paul's bibliography and a list of other awards he has won.
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