Island Rhythm
Here’s the first of many colour studies I completed during my trip. I chose to practice in gouache, which is between a watercolour and an acrylic paint. It proved to be a good choice with the hot sun, and it allowed me to document bold shapes in quick, decisive brushstrokes.
Tucked away among the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea lies the dominantly French island of Guadeloupe. It is only 1,896 miles from Boston, which is just about half the time it takes to fly to France. Although closer in distance, Guadeloupe feels like A WORLD APART from the streets of Paris or here in grey New England. Each day like clockwork, the rooster announces the rising and setting sun. Locals set up their shops along the street. Bright clothing, exotic spices, flavoured rhum, and neatly stacked pyramids of tropical fruits and fresh vegetables are a feast for the eyes. The smell of poulet boucané (smoked chicken) wafts through the air and makes your mouth water. Palm trees line the shore, their dark shadows outlined in sharp contrast upon the white sand, and beachgoers stretch out underneath their shade. In Guadeloupe, it’s always summer. Life slows down, and it’s easy to slip into the island rhythm.
Out of everything I experienced in Guadeloupe, my favourite time was being in the jungle. Everything was so green and larger than life. It felt like I stepped right into a fantasy, and I just knew I would have to add these elements into my future artworks.
That is exactly where I found myself these past few weeks, my traveling art supplies slung over my back and looking for inspiration to fill my sketchbooks. Being abroad is when I feel most at home, and I am not one to experience culture shock. The only shock that I get is returning to a quiet, mundane living after weeks of an adventure worthy of Indiana Jones. As always, this trip has shaped my perspective on life and approach to artmaking. I learned that the laid-back, Caribbean vibe encourages more CREATIVE FREEDOM and less rigidity and academic principles. Art should be about self-expression and selecting your own colour palette. It is a return to the untouched, imaginative mind that once roamed wild and carefree throughout childhood. Since graduating from art school in 2012, I have been painstakingly yearning and searching for a way back to that wonderful state of being where there are no rules on how to create good art. At long last, I feel that my travels to Guadeloupe have presented a doorway in that direction. The key to accessing this creative reawakening is SURRENDER.
So, what next? I will create some paintings inspired by Guadeloupe, of course. But the real influences I draw from my island experience is to live in the present moment and to not be afraid to take chances or to express myself through my work. It is time to make mistakes, make a mess, and MAKE ART with no boundaries. These lessons apply to the paintings I had started before I left for the Caribbean—my fairy tale series, my artworks about France, larger murals, writings, and other projects that have been waiting in the wings for me to be brave enough to fully pursue them. It is time to loosen up and EMBRACE THE ISLAND RHYTHM. With tan lines and a fresh outlook on my creative process, I return to the studio full time (until my next trip!) and begin what I know will be another exciting chapter in this creative life adventure.
“Stay firmly in your path and dare; be wild two hours a day!”