Travels Near & Far

Bermuda Painting Retreat

I just returned from a great week of painting with friends in Bermuda. Some of the artists that study with me at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA asked me to plan a painting trip to the island. It was a great way to prepare for an upcoming workshop for May, 2015.


On the first day we set off for St. George's, where we sketched in the harbor and later painted overlooking Fort St. Catherine.
On day two we went to the opposite end of the island and painted in Somerset. On the third day we began painting at Flatt's Inlet and finished the day sketching at the Botanical Gardens.

My friends on the island own the DNA Creative Shoppe in Hamilton and they hosted me for a two hour, portrait demo on one of the evenings. It was great to meet some of the local artists and talk about the process of painting. While in Dockyard we visited the studio of local painter, Chris Grimes. Chris is a full-time artist and paints a variety of subjects from the local scenes to historic, nautical themes.

If you would like more info on the 2015 Bermuda Workshop please visit my website at www.elicedrone.com or contact the studio at artfulhand@comcast.net

Vezina Art: West Harwich Riverview

Vezina Art: West Harwich Riverview

You can go to heaven...

Me and Rolly at Achilles Bay

...I'd rather stay in Bermuda."
Mark Twain uttered these words upon his first visit to the island of Bermuda. I must say I share his sentiments. I had the pleasure to live and work here in the 1980's and return often to paint and visit friends. 

Recently I visited the island in preparation for my upcoming Bermuda Workshop taking place May 9-12, 2014.  I explored the hidden side of the island while scouting out locations with my friend Roland Skinner, a well-known, local photographer. The workshop will encompass  landscape, the figure and portrait painting. Visit my website for more info or if you'd like to join us!

In her calm look...

When I'm in Bermuda, I always make it a point to visit Woody's, a local favorite for fish sandwiches. While enjoying a "Dark n' Stormy" in the bar, I noticed an old, black & white photo of a Bermudian woman hanging on the wall. It reminded me of a line from a poem; "In her calm look how wisdom's light is shed. I was inspired to paint this portrait. Her identity remains a mystery...

Lexy & Dion

I had to extend my trip due to weather conditions in Boston (I know how awful) but I'm glad I did because I met Bermudian artist Lexy Coreia and her husband Deon, owners of the DNA Creative Shoppe. They carry a full inventory of art supplies. Lexy recently had the honor of having her work accepted into the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibit. Her painting of Déjon Simmons, who survived a horrific traffic accident in 2004 sustaining burns over 90 per cent of his body, is titled The Phoenix.

Check out this feel-good, video on youtube featuring the faces and places of Bermuda - song by Pharrell William's "Happy"

I hope you'll join me soon in Bermuda and as they say on the rock, have a Bermudaful Day!