I was being introduced on what an instructor felt was art, which to
me had no meaning or connection to what I wanted to do. I decided to find work as an artist in the Toronto area. For my first interview
I was told to bring a portfolio of my work, and after presenting I was
hired immediately . It was a display company and it was here that I
first painted silk, we created hand painted silk banners that depicted
beautiful and colourful art work. The banners had the effect of stained
glass and were used to decorate skylights, foyers and ceilings of commercial public spaces. After eight years with the company decided
to form my own business venture producing commercial art for shopping centers. In 1994 my wife and I moved back to Saint Lucia where I
started to experiment in using silk as a fine art canvas.
SL: How did you discover the shimmering light water technique?
DJ: I had been painting water scenes in a very rigid and primitive style.
One day while completing a painting for a client, my three year old
daughter was running around my work station and in her excitement
to see me, spilled a large glass of water that she was holding on to the
painting. At first it appeared to be a disaster but I decided to let it sit
for five minutes and when I looked at it, it had this bizarre light effect. I
thought “my goodness, this is really beautiful”. I decided that if I could
replicate this that I have found something special. When I had finally
found the technique, the reaction from buyers was overwhelming with
comments that it was the first time they had seen anything like it, and
how beautiful it was.
SL: This is a true lesson of no matter what happens “Keep Calm and
Carry On”!
DJ: Yes. Whatever happens to you, always arrives with a great opportunity for you to learn something, just, you need to change your point
of view to see it. I am content knowing that I am exactly where I am
supposed to be now. As a painter it is critical to be a silent witness of
life in a non-judging way.
SL: It appears that you have a preference for dipicting sea life in most
of your work. Why this subject?
DJ: Growing up in Choiseul, there was a long wooden jetty about 400
yards into t