One of the best things that ever happened to me was being sent St. Lucia in 1999. I had been living in New York City working as a computer artist for Sesame Street while trying to squeeze in my own art on evenings and weekends. I think even if I had more time, what I was lacking most was inspiration.
Feeling the need to expand my horizons beyond New York, make a contribution, and take on a new challenge, I applied to be a volunteer in the Peace Corps and had the great fortune to be sent to the island of St. Lucia in July of 1999. Serving as a woodwork instructor in the beautiful southern coastal village of Laborie, I found there an unending supply of rich subject matter in the faces and postures of the uniformed schoolchildren, the people going about their daily lives, and the traditional cultural aspects that make St. Lucia such a wonderful and distinctive place. The pride in heritage and Kwéyòl culture combined with a sense of community and responsibility toward one another deeply impressed me and gave direction to my work. So with all these elements set in front of a landscape of vibrant greens, stunning blues, and warm browns, and illuminated by a quality of light I had never experienced before, I had found in St. Lucia what artists have always traveled far and near to find - true inspiration.
Although I had been painting for years in a cubist style, I felt that realism was best suited to communicate in paint the feelings and ideas that I wanted to share. It is my desire to tell a story in details, whether it’s about the warmth and spirit of the people of the Caribbean or something as simple as the way the reflected light colors the edge of a child’s face. While most inspired by what I see around me every day, I also find inspiration in the work of old masters like Jan Vermeer, Thomas Eakins, and John Singer Sargent as well as illustrator Norman Rockwell and contemporary realist painters Stephen Scott Young, Mian Situ, Scott Burdick, and Richard Schmid.
What I thought would be a two-year interuption in my life has now turned into seventeen and counting . And rather than an interuption it’s been pivotal for me both as a person and an artist.. It is my hope that I can convey the beauty of the Caribbean and its people and do my part in preserving what is so special about this part of the world and sharing that with others.
Three Children on Beach 2012
Cleaning Boat 2012
Laughter 2013
Oil on Canvas 41" x 22"
Masquerade 2013
Oil on Canvas 24" x 18
Anbakoko 3 2013
Best Friends 2013
Wash Day 2013
Willia Large Portrat 2013
Mommy 2013
Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"
2013
Pitons #21
2013
Oil on Canvas
20" x 8.5"
Ti Bouk
2013
Oil on Canvas
24" x 12"
At the Beach
2013
Mala
2014
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"
Eugene's Record Den
2014
30" x 24"
Pet-Blue Shirt 1
2014
Oil on Canvas
24" x 25"
Centerville River 2
2014
Teacher Malika 3
2014
Oil on Canvas
24" x 18"
1856 Country Store
2014
Oil on Canvas
40" x 30
Star Bright 2
2014
Oil on Canvas
24" x 10"
Cap Flamboyant
2014
Oil on Linen
30" x 19"
Labatwi Cricket 3
2014
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"
Soufriere Dusk
2014
Oil on Canvas
20" x 16"
Unloading Catch 1
2014
Oil on Canvas Board
10" x 8"
Clothesline
2014
Oil on Canvas Board
10" x 8"
Sugar Beach Resort
2015
Oil on Canvas
14" x 11"
Sunset with St. Vincent
2015
Oil on Canvas
14" x 11"
Sunday Morning
2015
Oil on Canvas
Wenia with Fanhat 1
2015
Oil on Canvas
20" x 28"
The Seamstress
2015
Oil on Canvas
20" x 16"
Pet Beach 1
2015
Oil on Canvas
36" x 58"
Miss Helen's Shop #3
2015
Oil on Canvas
28" x 22"
Avon with Gofan
2015
Oil on Canvas
36" x 36"
Base of Petit Piton with Gommier Boat
2015
Oil on Canvas
46" x 23"
Avon Tessa
2015
Oil on Canvas
24" x 24"
2015
Jounen Kwéyòl 2
2016
Oil on Canvas
36" c 24"
Learning Braille
2016
Oil on Canvas
32" x 24"
Pay Banann
2016
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"
Dennery Coast
2016
Oil on Canvas
18" x 9"
Carnival Orange
2016
Oil on Canvas
21" x 12"
Smartphones 2
2016
Oil on Canvas
15" x 12.5"
Carnival Flag Bearer
2016
Oil on Canvas
11" x 21"
Old House
2016
Oil on Canvas
14" x 11"
Carnival Yellow
2016
Oil on Canvas
11" x 12"
Choiseul 2
2016
Oil on Board
12" x 7.5"
Up the Road
2017
Oil on Canvas
Running Children with Boat
2017
Oil on Canvas
14" x 11"
Christine
2017
Oil on Canvas 8" x 17"
River Fishing 3
2017
Oil on Canvas 24" x 14"
Soufriere Sunrise
2017
Oil on Canvas 21" x 9"
Kendra 2017
Oil on Canvas
Gladding displays artistic prowess - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bmDCi7cK5w
12 feb 2013 - Caricato da HTS St. Lucia
Paintings created by artist Jonathan Guy-Gladding (JAG) are currently being exhibited at the Inner ...
1.052 visualizzazioni6 anni fa
A Girl Like Me, by Loverly Sheridan- Introduction
2.393 visualizzazioni5 anni fa
portrait slideshow
637 visualizzazioni5 anni fa
...a suivre...
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento