TT’s energy inspires art

Her passion is obvious in her newest collection of paintings on exhibit today and tomorrow at the Horizons Art Gallery located at 37, Mucurapo Road, St James.

The collection of 34 pieces includes local scenes and themes, flora and fauna, culture and people. Her sister, Susan Hale, also contributed eight pieces to the exhibit.

Jackson told Newsday she always had a love of art. It had been her main focus throughout school as she wanted to become an art teacher for adults.

Therefore, after secondary school, she went to Canada to study fine art at a college there.

“Unfortunately it was an experiment year for them and it was a major failure. It turned me off of art for many, many years,” she said.

In fact, the experience was so bad that, although she left the college after only one year, Jackson did not paint again for 14 years.

In the mean time, however, she returned to Trinidad, worked, married an expatriate, had children, travelled the world, and was generally busy with her life and family.

It was while living in Brazil that she once again picked up a paintbrush. “At that point I had a little more time on my hands so I decided to try again with watercolours, but it wasn’t anything serious. I just played around,” she said. It was after her return to Trinidad and eventual divorce that she once again began to be consumed by art.

Jackson explained that it began in January 2000 when she damaged her leg while running on a hiking trail, and was confined to bed. She had received a large watercolour set for Christmas just one month before so, with time on her hands, she pulled out the set and painted three miniatures of scenes in Trinidad.

A few months later, she heard about the annual Women in Art Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago exhibition and carried the paintings to the organisation’s founder, Fraulein Rudder.

Rudder immediately signed her up for the organisation and the exhibition and all three pieces sold.

Because Jackson worked full time, she could not produce as many pieces as she would have liked, but she continued to submit pieces to the organisation’s exhibitions However, in 2002, she held an exhibit at Horizons Art Gallery with her two sisters, Hale and Patsy Yee Foon.

“We had a ball and it was a great success. From there I did a few more joint shows, nearly every year, until it got to the stage where it was just me and one other artist. Last year, Horizons asked me if I wanted to do my first solo and so here I am,” she said.

Around the time she started to do joint exhibits, Jackson also began experimenting with acrylics. “I don’t paint like a watercolourist.

My layers were thick instead of wash-y, so I decided to try acrylic paints which ended up being perfect for me,” explained.

While she found her medium in acrylics, Jackson realised she needed a change in her life. Therefore, in 2006, she resigned from her job at an employment agency and opened an art gallery and caf? called “Full Circle Art Centre” in Woodbrook, where more unknown artists could have their art with local themes displayed.

Unfortunately, the caf? only lasted one year but Jackson said it was the best year of her life.

“I had the most amazing people working with me, I met the most amazing people - all the artists - and of course I got more involved in the arts... Oh it was fabulous!” When the caf? closed down, she had a lot of time to paint and so she did. As simple as that.

Jackson noted that Hale had attended art classes in England.

Hale gave Jackson tips and taught her some painting principles over the years.

In addition, Jackson taught and continues to teach herself new techniques as she gets bored if she does the same thing for too long.

“To be honest anytime I start any painting I have no idea how I’m going to do it and no idea how it’s going to come out. There is nothing I will not try. If I’m not 100 percent sure about the technique, I don’t worry. I will find a way around anything that’s complicated,” she said