Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "The Father of Caribbean Impressionism: Part II" Story

Thursday, May 9, 2013

The "The Father of Caribbean Impressionism: Part II" Story

Sir Roland Richardson - Artist and nice guy

It was an ordinary day. Just walked through the front door of Sir Roland Richardson's Gallery at #6 rue de la Republique in the town of Marigot, St. Martin. Sir Roland, knighted in 2007 by the court of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, was the founding Editor-In-Chief of the popular island magazine, Discover St. Martin/St. Maarten and for 14 years researched and documented the many aspects of the island's history. The building Carol and I are standing in was built in the 1840s and the dark, wide, wooden floor planks, deep recessed shelves and window wells, louvered doors and white ceiling beams make you realize that you are standing in an historical era that is part of St. Martin's heritage. The light filters through the open louvers and illuminates the oil paintings that grace the walls of the gallery. Sir Roland's oil paintings capture St. Martin's flamboyant trees and hibiscus flowers from Baie Longue to Grand Case and beyond. The two-story building has been in the family for three centuries. Then, all of a sudden, Sir Roland appears from an adjoining room. "Has to be him," I tell Carol. "I'd recognize the signature straw hat and long white beard anywhere. And the pants ...... only an artist could get away with wearing something like that," I continue. He walked over to us, greeted us and welcomed us into his gallery. We had arrived in hopes of watching him paint, but this may be something more than that. I question him about the mediums that he uses. "Now I work primarily in oils, but I have worked in watercolor, charcoal and pencil in the past." I ask if he has ever used acrylics and he told me that plastic is not really something that he would consider. I wander off to view his paintings as Carol continues her conversation with him. I can hear him telling her about light and it's many qualities. He motions between the two of them and tells her that light is the source of all life. Everything depends on it. Yet, it is invisible as the light between them. Carol listens to him try and explain the accessibility of light as it reveals itself as color. His hands continue to move as he speaks; his pleasant smile never leaving his face. He then guides us to his second floor and I help him open the shutters allowing the light to enter and display his work on that floor. We get a chance to look out the rear of the gallery into the beautiful garden courtyard. He tells us that his uncle is the caretaker of the garden. "When he gets started on thinning it out, people wonder if he is destroying the flowers, but it always looks more beautitful when he has thinned out the dead shrubs," he tells us. He tells me about the seasons on the island and how they differ so much. Tough for me to tell the difference, but to him it is always changing. "Change is good, because it forces artists to search within themselves," he responds to me. He points out the difference in his painting, showing us the season changes in the colors he uses. As he talks you can just tell he is something very special to the island. The island comes alive through his paintings. He tells us he paints "en plein air", in the field or from a living subject. I just stare at him as he talks with Carol, realizing we share the same birth year and wonder if I have lived half of what he has lived. I suppose I have, but in a much different way. Work our way back down the stairs into the garden and then into the gallery to look at the prints he has for sale. Carol selects one and he seems pleased that she has chosen the one that she has. It is a reproduction on canvas of an oil that he did on location some time ago. The print is signed and numbered but I ask if he will still sign it again on the canvas below the image. As he signs his name, I take a photo which I will place on the rear of the work after I have matted and framed it. Our visit with the Caribbean's foremost Impressionist has come to an end. But ....... we will return in the future to talk more about his painting and naturally, light. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from our visit with Sir Roland follow ......