go to school, but never said, ‘let’s work on that’. So, I pretty much spent my 20’s and my early 30’s chasing females, instead of being more attentive to my craft, my talent. It’s now been five years that I’ve been doing my art professionally - I finally took the initiative to say, ‘I’m going to do this for myself’. How many exhibits have you staged now in Eleuthera?
How would you describe your new body of artwork? With this exhibition I decided to go with watercolour, because I like to push myself. Growing up, I knew that watercolour was a difficult medium,
and its unforgiving. But as an artist I felt the need to push mysef, so I did. I did an exhibition in 2016 which included more sceneries and landscapes. However, this time I wanted to go for faces. The reason I went with “Eleuthera Cry”, is because,
This is my second solo exhibition. The first was in December of 2016. Next, I would love to do a ‘Welcome to Harbour Island’ exhibit in Harbour Island. That’s something I would really like to do. I’ve already been invited to do something there, so we’ll see how that goes. This was my part-time job, I bartendered here at Ocean Tally, but the restaurant is no longer open. So, I’m now fulltime into the art. I have to make this my life. I’ve spent the past 19 years working within the hospitality industry and I don’t think I’m going to give another year. Can you make a good livelihood, working full-time with your art? It can be a great livelihood. I’ve been able within the past few years to build a small clientele that’s growing. There are clients here now who have bought from me before, and just purchased another piece at this exhibit. So I have a small list now, and I’m looking at growth. I’m five years in, and I’m still young. As talented as I may seem to be, it’s not all about the talent. I’ve realized that it’s also about growing your personal brand, your name, who you can get to back you, and the networking also. I’m getting out more, doing the networking, because this is my job now, and this is what has to pay the bills. Who are your target market here in Eleuthera?
although when you think about coming to an island, you think of Pina coladas, Caribbean music, nice beaches and all that good stuff, I wanted to show everyday living. Not necessarily the hardships, but the everyday experience of living on the island, that visitors won’t normally see, unless you get into the communities and you really take a look. How did you get started in art? It was given to me. For as long as I’ve known myself I’ve been drawing. I began with the pencil… I was just telling someone, that I don’t think parents push their children enough when they see their talents. My mother always knew that I drew, day in and day out - while going to school, coming back from school. But, you know, you’re not pushed to pursue it. Of course, she said, you should
Good question. I love to target new homeowners in the Bahamas, and all art enthusiasts. Harbour Island is right there, and I’ve sold paintings to guests in Harbour Island that don’t even own homes there, but I’ve taken my paintings to where they are staying. However, for me it’s not so much about who, but I would love for my art to be all over the world.
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