Inner Sanctum: Artists' Studios

Inner Sanctum: Artists' Studios _______________________ ARTISTS approached

1. Jackie Hinkson.

2. LeRoy Clarke

3. Shastri Maharaj

4. Shalini Seereeram

5. Dean Arlin

6. Carlisle Harris

7. Anthony Timothy

8. Karen Sylvester

9. Kenwyn Chrichlow

10. Tessa Alexander Sloane Seale

11. Makemba Kunle

*G A Gardner

12. Irene Shaw

13. Lisa O'Connor

14. Christopher Cozier

15. Eddie Bowen

16. Che Lovelace

17. Peter Sheppard

18. Dermott Louison

19. Ramon Navarro

20. Martin Superville ..............................................……..

ALL Artists are to be interviewed on their technical processes

1. Jackie Hinkson

Photography - R J Acosta

Preamble on the Artists:

Mr. Hinkson is arguably the ONLY Artist working today who has a command of all techniques used for documenting the Caribbean Landscape over the last fifty years.

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Photography - R J Acosta

2. LeRoy Clarke Is known as one of the First Trinidad and Tobago Artists to crack the million dollar mark for the sale of a painting. Arguably the most important Artist working in Trinidad and Tobago today, Mr.Clarke is also the most controversial, as his immense, detailed canvases are filled with themes of Orisha and unknown magical myth making and personal story telling. Mr.Clarke was named a chief on a visit of the state kind in Africa a decade ago, adding to his title of Elder.

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Photography - R J Acosta

3. Shastri Maharaj considers himself the predominant HINDU Indian Artist of his time in Trinidad and Tobago

Photography - R J Acosta

4. Shalini Seereeram Is one of the most financially successful female, Indo-Trinbagonian Artists.

Photography - R J Acosta

5. Dean Arlin Mr.Arlin is a Sculptor and Artist whose work expands on the European Aesthetic of DaDa,Neo DaDaism and Pop Art.

Photography - R J Acosta

6. Carlisle Harris The paintings of Carlisle Harris are filled with decorative spirals and painterly techniques that engage the viewer. His body of work formally present people of color in fields of textures and a riot of tones and tints.

Photography - R J Acosta

7. Anthony Timothy Predominantly a Watercolorist, Mr.Timothy is the only other Artist from Trinidad and Tobago painting our Architectural history, second only to Jackie Hinkson who paints the wider Caribbean.

Photography - R J Acosta

8. Karen Sylvester The most financially successful female painter working today, Ms. Sylvester's photo realistic scenes are coveted by Caribbean buyers the world over.

Photography - R J Acosta

9. Kenwyn Chrichlow A Colorist in skill, Mr.Chrichlow is the soon to be retired head of the Department of Creative and Festival Arts. His Abstract works are large in scale and dramatic to observe.

Photography - R J Acosta

10. Tessa Alexander Sloane Seale Another Artist who enjoys working in Watercolor but also works in Acrylic and Oil on occasion is Ms. Alexander Sloane-Seale. She has travelled to both Africa and India, and as a Trinbagonian of both races, her work takes on a unique bend of cultures.

*G A Gardner is a Trinbagonian Artist working in the United States. Mr. Gardner is a Collage Artist with a gallery supporting his wide array of socially conscious pieces.

Photography - R J Acosta

11. Irene Shaw One of our most prolific female Artists working today. Ms. Shaw is a guiding force for young female Artists in training at Holy Name Convent, Port-of-Spain. She is the only Artist to paint herself in the nude, using her form as Madonna figure.

12. Lisa O'Connor Working in Oil and Acrylic,the work of Ms.O'Connor produced great excitement in its technical prowess. Her canvases raise off the surface in the vein of Post Impressionist, Vincent Van Gogh.

13. Christopher Cozier Few Artists transcend the Caribbean Aesthetic quite like Christopher Cozier. His work has been fraught with angst filled concepts of the Creole as outsider in his own land. His works are interesting to markets beyond the islands and he shows almost exclusively abroad today.

Photography - R J Acosta

14. Eddie Bowen One of the most important and prolific painters becide LeRoy Clarke is Edward Bowen. Mr.Bowen represents the generation behind Clarke who paints every single day. He also creates dense drawings filled with his personal mythology.

Photography - R J Acosta

15. Che Lovelace The son of one of our best Writers, Earl Lovelace, Che, as his name attests, is a force onto himself as an Artist. His work has also gone international as the Actor, Will Smith has purchased one of his paintings. Mr.Lovelace enjoys exploring multiple media in his painting techniques. He explores subjects as diverse as his favorite sport, surfing, to Old Mas Carnival characters and personal moments in his life.

Photography - R J Acosta

16. Makemba Kunle The Artist Makemba Kunle is considered a disciple of LeRoy Clarke, however, on his own, his work is greatly valued for its attention to detail. His interest in the paintings of the Italian Futurists from the turn of the last century is largely at the basis of his painting style. He began Studio 66 to promote the work of young Artists and has single handedly achieved this without government sponsorship.

Photography - R J Acosta

17. Peter Sheppard A lover of the past, Mr. Sheppard's work harks back to our first known Painter of renown, Jean Michel Cazabon. Mr. Sheppard's very detailed paintings of the Trinbagonian environment finds room amidst Ms.Sylevster's Photo Realism as a reminder to gentler times.

Photography - R J Acosta

18. Dermott Louison One of the oldest Artists working in Trinidad and Tobago, Louison provides the footprint and the shadow to painting today. A book was recently printed on his life by the gallery Horizon. His quirky painting style has an almost charicaturish distinction of his way of seeing the Caribbean person in their world.

Photography - R J Acosta

19. Ramon Navarro Much like Lisa O'Connor, Ramon Navarro's painting style shows the excellent proficiency of the Artists of the Impressionist style. The light coming out of his pieces are also akin to greats like Van Gogh and De Zubaran but put to the Caribbean, giving his pieces a unique eye.

20. Martin Superville Another Artists who paints with a deep passion for light is Martin Superville who lives and works in Tobago. He also has a Gallery space there where he sells his work and the work of other Artist. ............................................................ QUESTIONS FOR ARTISTS :A Guide

1. Jackie Hinkson

A. You have used watercolor and oil to capture places in other Caribbean islands over the decades. So you have seen a lot of change. Tell us of one such change that was particularly memorable and impacted what you do as a Painter.

B. You have worked in wood, your sculptures are quite totemic in nature. Where have you considered this work going?

C. Your work seems to be getting more and more prolific in nature. You for example wanted to have a group show on politics and governance. What are some themes that interest you now?

D. Your work for the Coup of 1991 is important historically to Trinidad and Tobago. Will you show them again. ............................................................

2. LeRoy Clarke

A. Can you tell us about the million dollar work that the then National Television company ' TTT' bought?

B. Your poetry sometimes goes hand in hand with your paintings, tell us about that process.

C. Your technique has changed over the years, tell us about your more 'dream-like' pieces.

D. Wifredo Lam is one of your idols of sorts, tell us about your early career.

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3. Shastri Maharaj

A. I first saw your work at the National Museum in the early 90's. You did a really gritty work about your mothers' washing machine on her patio. Do you remember that?

B.When did you start focusing on your present body of work that seems to be your signature now?

C.Do you see yourself apart from other 'Indo-Trinbagonean painters?

D.What do you want the public to know about your painting processes and other works, like you do, do sculpture? ............................................................

4. Shalini Seereeram

A. I remember when you came to me and said that you wanted to be a Professional Artist. Can you remember that?

B. The work in Barbados on found windows was a moment wasn't it?

C. When did you start including wooden filigree and why did you chose to do that?

D.You are an overall creator, presently doing some gorgeous bags, tell us about your other projects and how you feel about young Artists making Art their profession today.

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5. Dean Arlin

A. You make very beautiful wrought iron sculptures that dot your garden , tel us about them.

B. You have some wonderful journals, walk us through your journalling process.

C. What advice would you give to young Artists wanting to become professional?

D. What are you working on now, tell us about your typical day.

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6. Carlisle Harris

A. You ar always working, tell us about your process?

B. You have dabbled in Jewelry to chair design, how has that informed your painting if at all?

C.You and Kenwyn Chrichlow are great friends, tell us about working with him.

D. Who in the local Art world's work are you looking at now?

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7. Anthony Timothy

A. You are a Watercolor painter who believes in the commercial aspect of selling work, tell us about that way of selling?

B. You painted the coup, tell us about walking into that dramatic scene.

C. You have done some important work over the years for Ambassadors and others, tell us about some of these pieces.

D. You told us that watercolor was difficult for you as you are self taught. What was it like to embrace the technique and have it become a favorite way of working for you?

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8. Karen Sylvester

A. You are a very private person, but your work is extremely popular. Were you expecting such a reception for your work when you started out?

B. You told us that you used to paint under your mother's clothes line in her laundry room.

C. How large would you like to work and has there been a painting that you want to do that you have yet to do?

D. You told us about the kind of brushes and paints that suit you? Walk us through one of your painting days. ............................................................

9. Kenwyn Chrichlow

A. You have a special love for a certain type of paint, tell us about that?

B. Your work is appreciated internationally, tell us about your working abroad?

C. What are you working on now?

D. Have you ever done very dark canvases, tell us about the use of dark screens for photographing your work in your studio.

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10. Tessa Alexander Sloane Seale

A. You have travelled a lot and painted what you have experienced. Tell us about your technique and love of paper.

B. You have a fashion background, tell us about your painting reflecting in the idea of textiles.

C. Your technique shows layering and transparency, sometimes you add glitter,your mixed media work is quite exciting, tell us about your latest work. D. Tell us about some of the themes you have worked on in your many solo shows.

E. What was it like in India and in Africa, how did your work evolve from these experiences? ............................................................

11. Makemba Kunle

A. You are considered a disciple of LeRoy Clarke but you work very differently, tell us about that statements meaning to you?

B. How did you start Studio 66?

C. How do you go about getting the Studio to function as it does, and where are you going next in your career?

D. How do you feel about Art as a profession today and what advice would you give to young Artists? ............................................................

*G A Gardner

A. You have been through the United States Gallery system, tell us about that?

B. You have some controversial views about Art making today, tell us some of your thoughts?

C. Has moving back to Trinidad and Tobago been what you expected regarding our Art scene?

D. What are some of the things you have been doing as a board member of the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago? ............................................................

12. Irene Shaw

A. You teach O'Level Art at Holy Name Convent, tell us about the amazing results you have been able to get from your students?

B. How has your work evolved? What started your most controversial works?

C. What do you think about the term, 'female' Artist?

D.Lips, Sticks and Marks was an important moment in Caribbean Art, tell us about that. ............................................................

13. Lisa O'Connor

A. People can see you painting around the Savannah, you are very familiar to many, how does that make you feel as a very private person?

B. You have painted the Magnificent Seven perhaps more than any other Artist, tell us what compels this interest.

C. Your Art style is distinctive, talk about your painting and your watercolor technique.

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14. Christopher Cozier

A. Give us a history of your career, you have worked in many different ways.

B. You have used yourself as a large part of your process, talk about your techniques.

C. Your last show in Trinidad was particularly vast in scale and topics, tell us about your working process then. ............................................................

15. Eddie Bowen

A. I remember meeting you many years ago and you giving me excellent advice about being a professional. Do you remember those days?

B. What was it like to come back home after being in Europe going to school?

C. How do you feel about painting today? Tell us about the painted who inspire you?

D. Your work is sometimes reflecting your Buddhist leanings, tell us about that.

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16. Che Lovelace

A. When I think of asking you questions, I think about your first solo show, tell us about it?

B. Tell us about your first inklings that you would be an Artist.

C. Your shows talk about unusual interests, what makes you paint as you do?

D. you are teaching at UWI, tell us about the process and about the future Artists out there, what can they do to be better? ............................................................

17. Peter Sheppard

A. Years ago you had classes with me, at the time you were just beginning to show work, tell us about that revelation in your choice to be a Painter.

B. What are some of the things people tell you about your work?

C. You have started painting bigger, what is that like for you?

D. Tell us about your Art Basel experience last year?

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18. Dermott Louison

A. Your work is both prolific and iconic, did you think that your career would be this long?

B. What do you want people to know about your work that a book has not been able to capture?

C. How has the profession changed from your early days?

D. What would you like people to now about the profession? ............................................................

19. Ramon Navarro

A. Tell us about your carnival making days.

B. How did your technical skill evolve?

C. What irks you about painting and painters today?

D. What would you do differently in your career now?

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20. Martin Superville

A. You run a gallery and you paint? Tell us about that.

B. How did you learn your techniques?

C. What would you like to see happen for painting in Tobago?

D. Who are some of the local painters you like to look at?