Jean  Blades

Born: August 3, 1950

Detail of "Lonely Road" Acrylic 20” x 24” Date:1995, Location: Barbados A country scene in Barbados. « previous image next image »

Occupation: Artist

Art Education:

College/University: Dalhousie University Date: 1962   Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

Statement

I am a Canadian-born and -trained artist presently living in Barbados. Most recently (within the last ten years), I have been a student of Jeanne Dobie (American Watercolour Society), Stephen Yau (Hong Kong Watercolor Society) and Harold Clunder (Canadian Society of Artists). My works are executed solely with palette knife. Varied media, such as acrylic, oil, watercolour, are used. I was one of five Caribbean representatives for the Worldwide Winsor and Newton Millennium Exhibit in 2000. In addition to this, I have received several local awards. Rather than rely on sketches or photographs, I call on my lifetime of stored visual, emotional and aesthetic memory. I distill all these forms, colours and patterns into visual expressions, which are in sync with the aliveness and moods of the Caribbean. My paintings are simply my world through my eyes.

Keyworks:

Wormwood, 2000, acrylic, artist's collection   Black Angel, 1999, acrylic/oil, artist's collection   Mahogany Grove, 1998, acrylic, Barbados   Bathsheba, 1998, acrylic, Barbados   Rainbow over Barbados, 1995, watercolour, Barbados   Rainbow over Barbados, 1991, oil, artist's collection   Black Palm, 1999, acrylic, Canada

Exhibitions (Group):

2000, Mall Gallery/London, World Trade Centre/Stockholm, United Nations/New York, Winsor and Newton Worldwide Millennium Exhibit, UK/Sweden/USA   1996, Contemporary Art from Barbados, USA   1995, Contemporary Art from Barbados, USA   1994, The Barbados Museum & Historical Society, Views of our Land, Barbados   1991-2000, National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, Barbados

Exhibitions (Solo):

1998, Kirby Gallery, Through My Eyes, Barbados   1996, Verandah Art Gallery, Through My Eyes, Barbados

Publications (Discussed):

Our World in the Year 2000 Date: 2000

Collections (Private):

Stanley Reid (deceased), Barbados   Michael and Allison Pile, Barbados   Peter Mills, Canada

Awards:

One of five artists chosen to represent the Caribbean, Winsor and Newton Millennium Worldwide Exhibit Date: 2000   National Independence Festival of Creative Arts Date: 1991-1992   National Parks Centennial Award Date: 1985