The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE walls of the Judson Family home were scattered with over one hundred portraits. Art enthusiasts enjoyed each piece as they viewed the “Judson Picot Eneas Art Exhibit” last week. Fruits, conch shells, ancestral homes, cigars and wine bottle portraits greeted art enthusiasts at every corner, stairwell and room available in the house

Speaking with Tribune Entertainment, Mr Eneas said even though he has been in the art business for some time, this particular exhibit was his first major one. He said the portraits on display were a collection of various paintings done over a period of 11 years. He has done a few minor exhibits in the United States, specifically Washington, DC in 2006.

Specialising in portrait art, the prolific painter began his formal training in art at the age of ten in San Francisco, California. He was educated at Hampton University where he graduated with honours with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art. He also holds a Master’s Degree from Howard University.

He said the basic inspiration for the show was “composition and form”.

“To be more specific, whenever I draw or paint anything I try to create the illusion of reality out of unreality. You know when you look at a painting of a still life, you think you are looking at a real object but what you are really looking at is paint on a flat surface,” said Mr Eneas.

Mr Eneas said he has always been fascinated with taking a pencil, a paint brush, some paint and creating something “out of nothingness.”

At age fourteen, Mr Eneas was trained by internationally known artist Maxwell Taylor, taking part in the production of a mural that is now displayed at the Central Bank of The Bahamas. His talent was quickly recognised in Annapolis, Maryland where he was inducted into the National Arts Honour Society at age 17.

“Before I moved here years ago, the artist that I found out about was Eddie Minnis. My parents had some of his paintings in our house in San Francisco. When I moved here I got acquainted with other artists like Stanley Burnside, John Beadle, Simmie Knox and Antonius Roberts,” said Mr Eneas.

He said his short term goal is to establish himself as a portrait artist and his long term goal is to create a new style of modern art that no one has ever seen before.

“I have the vision in my head of what it looks like, but I don’t want to speak on it as yet. What I am trying to do is advertise myself as a portrait artist. I go to the homes of clients, take various photographs of a subject, find out what photo they like and then I go home and paint it for them after discussing the size of the painting,” said Mr Eneas.

While he does not have a favourite, Mr Eneas said he thought the “camera” painted portraits were the most interesting because they were challenging to create.

“They are not organic and painting a live camera is not easy work as you are dealing with angles,” he said.

When asked if it is easier to paint from a photograph or a real life object, Mr Eneas said it is easier to paint from a photograph, but he prefers painting from real life because it is more challenging.

“You are painting a live model where you have to worry about them moving, and you have to constantly take breaks and when they sit back down you have to make sure that their hands are right back where they were. I enjoy painting people most because it is hard and challenging and I like challenging things,” said Mr Eneas.

He said depending on the success of the exhibit, he is looking forward to his next show to be more modern. This will be held sometime next year, he said.