In celebration of Heritage Month, artist Vernon Clarke has painted a series of paintings from old Bermuda photographs and portraits for an art exhibit which opens tonight.

He is the winner of this year's Charman Prize, from the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art and is exhibiting in the Bacardi Biennial, which is currently open at the Bermuda National Gallery.

Mr. Clarke's exhibit "Face-to-Face" is the second show to open with Select Palette Art in Common Ground, which is in Chancery Lane.

Both Mr. Clarke and Select Palette Art director Sue Pearson spoke to The Royal Gazette about the upcoming show.

Mr. Clarke has described "Face to Face" as a show that features portraiture with an intuitive and varied narrative that suits each situation.

"Some of them are of older photographs, as is required for painting busy people and building narrative type compositions," he said.

"A few draw inspiration from some of the old Bermuda photos that have been making the rounds on the Internet lately. You will have to take up the rest with old Caravaggio at some point, it was he who put the thought into my head many years ago and it hasn't left me – thank God!"

Describing some of the works, he said they were "reflections of life in a 'not so old Bermuda'.

"Looking back in order to move ahead sort of metaphor. What have we lost? What shall we gain? How do we each define sustainability and the romance that we all have for the old ways?

"It's questions on that line of thought."

Ms Pearson added: "Vernon's current collection observes a slice of Bermuda's honourable heritage.

"Vernon's art is a joy to experience; it entices you to stop, linger and let your thoughts go to the moment he's created on canvas."

Asked how his work has grown for this show, Mr. Clarke replied: "Better research skills, a more organised and focused work schedule, which is night and day, instead of day and night.

"Although the launch date was less than two months away, I took it on as a challenge to make the deadline and to establish a personal work commitment for the rest of the year.

"I think I have met the challenge I set myself as some of the work is quite stunning to me on viewing them the next day. I worked well into the night which is another discipline I set myself; sometimes reading and researching, other times painting and repainting until I get the work to say what I want to say with each piece.

"It's a tough process, but one that has yielded some personally satisfying work. I am now going through a judging out process as we speak aiming for 14 pieces, in order to strengthen the whole show, so some may be seen later at another venue."

The medium is oils, and they are completed on the artist's own self-prepared canvas panels and stretchers.

He added: "Some are also charcoal on paper along with homemade frames.

"I don't want to lose any of my craft's skills – you know that 'use it or lose it syndrome'."

Of the venue, Mr. Clarke, who is renowned for his portraits, said: "I took this space on at the invitation of Common Ground Café, through an introduction by Sue Pearson of SPArt.

"They and other businesses around the Island are filling up the void that the private galleries used to before their closure – a very important initiative!

"I hope that Mayor (of Hamilton) Sutherland Madeiros and the rest of the Corporation of Hamilton are taking note of this."

"Face-to-Face" opens is tonight, from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at Common Ground Café, 11 Chancery Lane, Hamilton.

Opening hours are from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and during Harbour Nights the Café is open until 9 p.m.

The show remains up until July 3. For more information contact 505-4290 or SPArt@logic.bm.