In early February, I was fortunate to be in St. Kitts with 5 wonderful artists for a week long painting retreat. Everyday, we got up early, ate breakfast and then packed up our easels and paints to paint in a different location on the island. Sometimes we painted in two locations a day…exploring and creating works that remind us all of the fun and inspiration we experienced.
Plein aire painting is not easy. You arrive at a destination with gear in tow, scout a vantage point and place that you want to paint, find a comfortable spot in the shade, set up and go. For me, the pressure of deciding what to paint quickly was diminished by the beauty before our eyes, the island breezes and the comraderie amongst the artists. Some painted with acrylic, some oils and one, watercolor artist. We painted in Rosey Cameron’s art gallery in the capital square of Bassaterre, the Christophe Harbour Marina, at a private home on the beach in Turtle Bay, at a old salt mill turned into a hip resturant, at a world famous artist’s (Kate Spencer) home and studio on the northern end of the island. We took a boat to the sister island, Nevis to paint at Golden Rock, a hotel with beautiful arboretum and gardens. The group was dedicated to being productive as we were invited to show our results at a show at the end of the week at Dale Art Gallery at the marina. Dale had a lovely gallery opening for us on our last evening.
Not only being inspired by the beauty of this friendly island, I find that my work improves by painting what I see, the other artists way of working, the laughter and love between everyone in the group, and working quickly. Even when I get home, I find that my creativity has improved and new discoveries implemented. Unfortunately, this year, I got the dreaded flu when I returned, so was very ill for nearly 3 weeks.
This painting of the popular hot spot and resturant, Salt Plage sold at the gallery opening.
24×12″ painted at Turtle Bay
Painting in the courtyard at Golden Rock in Nevis.
The marina where we painted and also had the art show on our last evening.
Some of the other paintings completed on the days painting at the marina, the capital and Kate’s studio:
This commission took a lot more time in the studio because of the size and also the client’s directives. Originally, they wanted an “Abstract Expression” of their favorite place in the Abacos, Hopetown. They sent various photos of the famous lighthouse and their navy blue yacht and instructed me to use lots of texture and bright colors. Abstract is an odd term and I had to explain to them that if they wanted the lighthouse and boat and all the elements of a LANDSCAPE, it would be far less “abstract”. My brush strokes were quite loose and bold, mixing palette knife and large brushes, mixing custom colors to go with their rug in the room that they will hang this painting in, adding more texture and complimentary colors, enhancing the sunrise…etc. I finally went with my style of expressionistic painting to complete the landscape.
