COMMENTARY: Reflecting on 40 years of painting in the Caribbean

Painting of Old Market
Painting of Old Market

As an artist, my love affair with the Caribbean began in the 1970’s. In those days my studio was based in the British Virgin Islands and my subject matter focused on the way of life of the islanders. My books, Virgin Island Sketches and Caribbean Sketches attempted to capture the very essence of life as it was then lived in the islands.

As the traditional village scenes declined, my work increasingly turned towards the beauty of the people. Twenty-five years ago I began a series of paintings and sculptures titled, Daughters of the Caribbean Sun. The project is on-going and continues from my present studio at Antrim. By way of hundreds of paintings and scores of sculptures, I pay homage to the natural beauty of the Afro-Caribbean woman.

A century ago the American artist Robert Henri wrote:

There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the nude human body. It is not only among artists but among all people that a greater appreciation and respect for the human body should develop. When we respect the nude, we will no longer have any shame about it.

Sadly, we are taught to be ashamed of the beauty of the human form. Working from the figure demands passion tempered with integrity and daring tempered with restraint. Before I begin my day’s work, or when instructing students, I repeat the biblical words of advice given by a past master of the figure.

Take the shoes from off thy feet, for the ground you are about to step upon is Holy Ground.

My subjects are not professional models but real people. You will find them carrying bananas down the steep hillsides of St Vincent, bathing in the rivers or selling mangoes by the roadside. Denise, my Grenadian born wife, has been my model for twenty-three years. That is not to say that she spends her days at ease in the studio. Despite hard work and five children, her body grows more beautiful. Hence, my search for models ranges from the age of eighteen to eighty. All I ask is that they do not disguise their natural appearance in preference to a foreign concept of beauty.

In my 73rd year, I am attempting subjects that I dare not contemplate in my youth. Those who toil upon the forge of art are fortunate: as the body grows older, the spirit gets younger. It has been said that, however much skill an artist may develop in later life, it cannot result in great work if, by that time, he has settled down and discovered a measure of contentment. Regardless of a degree of success along the way, I have not arrived at that philosophical state of acceptance.

Through my work I have sought to encourage Caribbean students to take an interest in art. Given the importance of creativity and the fact that at least 30% of all children are creatively, rather than academically inclined, it beggars belief that our schools largely ignore the subject. At primary and secondary schools, we do not give art the attention it deserves. On the list of subjects on offer, art is at the very bottom. In some schools, it is not there at all. We give preference to academic subjects and dismiss art as something that students can do in their spare time.

In the 1990’s, I published a daily diary on the internet that followed my work as a painter and sculptor. Schools, colleges and individuals throughout the world accessed the site and it can lay claim to being the world’s first “blog”! I resurrected the site after establishing my studio in Dominica. You will find my current diary pages at: sculpturestudiodominica.blogspot.com

My studio is open to visitors on Sunday afternoons between 2.00 and 4.30.

Other visiting times, and interviews for those interested in modelling can be arranged by telephoning: 449 2550/225 5470/615 5010 or by emailing: [email protected]

A painting in the series Daughters of the Caribbean Sun
A painting in the series Daughters of the Caribbean Sun

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