The "Art and Artists of the Caribbean" Story

It was an ordinary day. We had just hung our latest artwork on the wall above our fireplace. When we went to St. Martin this year for vacation, we purchased an original acrylic canvas painting from Lisa who is a local artist who paints palm fronds as well as acrylic and oil paintings. A few years ago we purchased a frond from her and enjoyed the vibrant colors she used. We went again this year to visit her stand in the Marigot market and in the entrance she had a very large acrylic painting across the front of her store. Just what we wanted, we told her, with the exception that it was three times the size we wanted. She agreed to paint a smaller print with a similar scene. We wanted a pair of orange beachchairs and a yellow umbrella added to the scene. We agreed on a price, gave her a deposit and after a few days returned for the painting. Was beautiful! After returning to our villa we realized that the chairs and umbrella were missing. Called her cell number and returned a few days later and she added them as we wandered the market. The 38"x26" canvas with the Caribbean scene fits perfectly in our home. One of many we have purchased from Caribbean artists over the years. A few years ago we bought a Batik print from Henderson Reece who has a studio in Barbados. A batik is a wax resist dying technique done on fabric. Interesting to watch how it's done. Time consuming procedure. The print is about 24"x30" and hangs in our family room. Another of our favorite Caribbean artists is Antoine Chapon. Antoine has a very elusive and unusual personality. When I got to meet him at his home gallery, he had just enough time to sign a print and have a photo taken. I turned to look at something else and he was gone. His watercolors of the sea and beach scenes all share the same aqua pastel colors. We have two of his watercolors hanging in our house. One of Carol's favorite Caribbean artists is Patricia Ramsami. Her work is very thick oil on canvas. She displays her work in her husband Dany's Le Saint-Geran Art Gallery in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. We have two of her small paintings in our house. Our favorite Caribbean artist is Paul Elliott Thuleau who paints with oil on canvas. Paul is a landscape painter who paints the sea, tropical light and mostly facades of creole houses. We purchased a 20"x28" giclee print from his gallery in Grand Case, St. Martin. When we went to pay for the print we used our Master Card. It wouldn't go through so we tried our American Express card. Same thing. Found out we charged our car rental on the MC and they were questioning if the charge was legitimate and wouldn't allow any more charges on it until I gave then the OK. The Am. Xpress company I forgot to call and they wouldn't allow any foreign charges. Luckily Paul was patient and we got our print. I must admit our house is full of prints and sculptures from many islands, but it seems every time we go to visit, we come home with another "favorite." It was another extraordinary day inthe life of anordinary guy. PS - Photos from the top are : Lisa and a photo of the acrylic she painted for us, Henderson Reece holding the batik that we purchased from him, Antoine Chapon and me with one of the watercolors we have, Carol and Dany in his Gallery where we purchased a few of his wife's oils and Paul Thuleau holding his giclee print with Carol and me.