Paintings on canvas of oils and sketches and drawings on paper with charcoal and pastels are the mediums that artist Vernon Clarke has been exercising for the last decade.

“These are very traditional materials and they fit in well with the types of subject matter that I research and paint,” said the artist of his mediums.

Like the talking drums of West Africa, Mr. Clarke waits for the final word from his paintings. So, when asked how long it takes to complete an individual piece, he said: “I don't give a piece any allotted time. Some pieces are a simple idea that is finished in no time, a matter of minutes in the case of some drawings.

“But other painted narratives can involve months of research and planning. As time is money, I have to pay strict attention to the hours that goes into a piece, however, I don't finish until the piece says - finish.”

Mr. Clarke has been making art for as long as he can remember, and he recounted one of his memorable moments from childhood.

“One of my most lasting artistic memories is of being smacked in the back of the head by Mrs. Taylor, who was my primary English teacher, after she caught me making sketches in my English exercise book during her English literature class,” he said.

“She admonished me for so doing, while despite herself, encouraging me on the quality of the drawings.”

His education has been long and varied, he said.

“From infancy I have had the primordial instinct to draw - a good start for any aspiring artist.

“My talents, as they were then, were nurtured by a very progressive art teacher during 1965-66. He applied on my behalf and I was accepted to Camberwell Art College (UK).

“At that time I did intense part-time courses amongst some of London's most promising young artists. But despite this, I took an engineering apprenticeship through the Royal Engineers from 1966 to 1973.

“I continued with my self-driven artistic development throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties until I took an early retirement and returned to the Kent Institute of Art and Design (KIAD) at Canterbury, England where I attained a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts.”

Mr. Clarke not only allows his pieces to speak, he also allows them to lead him.

“Art has always been an important part of my personality, as it has given me the means to express myself through my very acute visual senses,” he said.

“This has been important in my personal development, as I have never had to resort to violence or unsociable kinds of behaviour to express my thoughts.

“I create my paintings from life as it unfolds on a daily basis. There are some things that are as predictable as the sun, moon and stars, but other things take more research and investigation to discover.

“The subject matter therefore is ever changing and so remain an ever fresh source of ideas. I work at home, as I am mainly a studio based painter.

“I constantly find the need to make references to some of my favourite artists as to how they resolved their compositions. I also like to explore new methods and techniques, so I am constantly experimenting.

“My hours are regulated around the ideas, as and when they come in.”

He said his inspiration for his current work has been “drawn from the portrait, the narrative within my pictures, which draw upon the human condition either figuratively or through the use of symbols and metaphors.

“My themes are drawn from all kinds of inspirations and I don't like to limit myself to any one theme, as I find life itself to be a limitless source for good art.”

The painter said he became a full-time artist after making a commitment to himself ten years ago.

“I made a serious investment in time, money and effort,” he said, “And I think that the results have been extremely rewarding.”

His favourite piece in the upcoming show was painted about four years ago.

“It was painted in 2001 as a tribute to the great post-renaissance painter Michelangelo Merici da Caravaggio,” he said.

“Caravaggio's ‘Supper at Emmaus' painted in 1601 is an inspirational narrative on the life of Christ. The techniques employed in this singularly inspirational work of art has become timeless, and I think never been surpassed.

“My painting, ‘Before Departing' after Caravaggio painted in 2001 is a response to a research document I did on the original. The subject of identity and personal beliefs have always been at the heart of my work. This narrative gives life to my inner spirit.”

Mr. Clarke is planning to exhibit ten of his pieces, but he said the show differs from his previous shows for three reasons.

“This show differs in that it is a group show, it is a part of the Quincentenial celebrations, and it shows some of my paintings as they reflect my personal identity and growth.

“My last show, a one man show, featured some of my drawings that transcribed some of William Blake's poetry.”

He had an interesting view of exhibiting with other West Indian artists during Heritage Month.

Mr. Clarke said: “Being a Caribbean artist in Bermuda defines me as an outsider in my subject matter when it relates to identity, except of course when it comes to the portrait.

“That subject is purely subjective and is symbolised by the other person's identity, this is always an interesting source of research as I am forced to remove my personal notions in order to develop another's character study.

“Although, I have lived in Bermuda for over 30 years and enjoy Bermudian/British status, I still sometimes find conflict within this society when it comes to the varying definitions of identity.

“My art speaks louder than my own feeble attempts to explain in words. The company in which I find myself in this exhibition are some of the closest friends I have anywhere in the world. They are people whose work I have admired and even emulate from time to time.

“This show, under the auspices of the West Indian Association is a proud showcase for people of Caribbean descent and I am especially proud to be contributing to the Quincentennial celebrations of Bermuda's discovery.”