We recently connected with Naeema Bacchus and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Naeema , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Though I’ve been painting with my mom’s food coloring since I was three (as I didn’t have a paint set until I was a teen), it was when I was fifteen that I knew painting was my path. At that time, painting was one of the few things that brought me solace and peace during those challenging teenage years.
Even at fifteen, I knew that my life would be more meaningful for as long as I kept creating art and sharing it with the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Of course, I’d be happy to! I was born in the countryside of Guyana, South America. I was an only child for many years and a bit of a loner, but never lonely. My early childhood years were filled with farm activities and art. I was even “in charge” of collecting all the hens eggs everyday on my parents’ farm, which made me feel so important as a child. I loved that and would rush to finish so I could get to my drawings and collages.

In high school I learnt calligraphy and tie-dyeing, unfortunately my high school didn’t have painting classes then.
Nonetheless, my desire for art burned and so all my painting skills are self taught, something I’m very proud of, but that wasn’t always the case. There were times in the past, when I felt disappointed that I didn’t have the opportunity to go to art school. However, the accomplishments over the years changed my mind and filled me with confidence and pride in my work.
At 16, one of my first big art projects turned out to be my bedroom which I painted turquoise, then did a hand painted overlay of many inspirational quotes in a multitude of colors.
By age 17, I was teaching art to elementary students at the ISA school in Georgetown. A couple years later, I had the wonderful opportunity to work at a ceramic factory for a year where I hand painted amazing scenes on hundreds of ceramic pieces.

My artistic journey took on a new course when I left the shores of Guyana for St Martin at the age of 19. That same year, I was able to share an art gallery with another artist and sold many of my paintings on the island over the next 12 years to collectors from Guyana, Barbados, the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, and from other parts of Europe and the Caribbean.

I am inspired by many interesting things, my dreams, the Universe, even people I meet. Oftentimes a conversation with someone can spark my imagination and later I go and put that thought on canvas. I am also fascinated by the unknown and many of my paintings demonstrate this as I attempt to create an alternate world for the collector.

Art for me has been a mode through which I find and express my inner self. Though I use all mediums, I work mostly with acrylics and many of my paintings are painted with a palette knife instead of a brush or a mix of both. I have created over 700 canvas paintings so far using various techniques and mediums.
Art is very emotional for me… a spiritual experience perhaps.
My paintings are filled with flavors of every emotion. It’s an outlet for my feelings, a way to transmute even the most negative emotions into something beautiful, like an alchemical process.
I think what makes what I do successful is that people can feel the emotions of each piece and find it resonates with their own emotions and experiences.

I also love very much to inspire others to tap into their own creativity, my students over the years as well as my now teenage sons, Adam and Jawhar, who both started painting at the age of one. Even my husband started painting as a hobby after we met. I love seeing the amazement on their faces when they stare at their paintings in disbelief that they created something so lovely. I believe everyone is capable of creating art.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal driving my creative journey is my desire to keep sharing my vision with the world…to continue to inspire, to connect individuals who relate through my paintings. I’ve often overheard strangers converse while viewing my pieces, it fills me with joy that my work can be a gateway to communication and togetherness, something I believe our society needs more of.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There’s that magical feeling of fulfillment in doing something I love and being able to share that love with others through my paintings. For me, that’s quite a little miracle in itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bacchusgallery.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bacchusartistry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaeemaBacchusFineArt/