DONNA, The Artist! Pt. 2

You are probably like me! You have seen some amazing art work on the Queen’s park oval and don’t know some of the artist, or any! You have seen and known Donna for a period of time, but never knew that was her work exhibited on the Queen’s park oval wall!

I am privileged to have had the opportunity to interview, collaborate and call Donna a Colleague.

“Creativity is about you. Who you are as an individual and how you choose to express it depends on your medium”. These are the words of Donna Mae Clarke, in an interview for Creative Diversity of Trinidad and Tobago. To Donna, her skills as an artist is natural (born with). She believes that while she was born with such a great talent, it was important for her skills to be molded. As a teacher she see’s how talent can also be taught, but the advantage are to those that are born with the talent rather than nurtured into it, because the natural learns faster. However the molding of anyone’s talent is important because it allows them to express themselves even better.

Donna’s art practicing started at a very young age. She was encouraged and supported in her creativity from both of her parents. In donna’s family, being a creative wasn’t an alien hobby for the young woman’s family. It was a very popular career and hobby from both sides of her parents. Each generation of Donna’s family had artist and designers.

One of Donna’s Piece that is displayed on the Queen’s Park Oval wall, Tragrete road, Trinidad.

There are times in life when we all face obstacles, and want to quit from what we are pursuing. Donna Mae Clarke is no different, she is human, and she faces obstacles in her career as an artist, and a teacher like every one else does. There are times she feel like quitting, but  Donna’s parents, siblings, husband and children, are the people that have been there to support her and encourage her to never give up and to pursue her career as an artist over the years.

Three Pools River

“I paint in a  realistic/ impressionist style. However, maturity has brought more variation in subject matter rather than style. I am not afraid to fail so the world is my canvas”.

Donna tells me, that seeing stark white canvas makes her head giddy, so she smears paint on it in order to have her creativity flow. Stark white canvas looks too perfect, but smearing paint on the canvas have always solve her problem.

I have seen some of Donna’s work and it is amazing. I wanted to know how does she produce such great work! In her response, Donna said that she plays around with ideas in her head for a while. Then she may take photographs and do some sketches until she gets the correct composition she wants. When all of that is done, she then applies paint to canvas and work on the piece until she is finished. It is one of her pet peeve’s leaving an unfinished art and then having to return to complete it. When she starts a piece, be certain that she will finish that piece on that same day.

Another Two pieces of Donna master pieces!

Tropical Temptation

Fire Devil

I asked Donna if she had a chance to change anything or any piece of art work she did in the past, which would it be and why! Her response, ” I have a policy, in that anything I was asked to do, I did it because it meant I learnt something new. Thus I have worked on many very diverse projects that are out of the box. Painting a Queens hall backdrop that was 50×20 ft, to the walls of Mt. Hope Hospital. Each experience (most with no monetary gain), adds to the creative skills I have acquired”.

Every year, Donna exhibit her work at the Trinidad and Tobago Art Society. This year the exhibition starts on friday 7th November, 2014. Donna will be exhibiting two pieces of her work at the exhibition. Her two pieces will be based upon Balandra and Gran Rivere Trinidad. Donna explained that she is not a fan of the hustle and bustle, and her get aways are always out of the city. Therefore, for her as an artist it is important to base her work on her getaways.

Bamboo Meditation

Thank you for reading as per usual. Please continue to follow Creative Diversity of Trinidad and Tobago for more updates on Donna Mae Clarke.

To see more of Donna Mae Clarke Work, Please follow her blog at http://www.00053549.blogspot.com, or visit the Trinidad and Tobago Art Society exhibition.

Do look out for my next featured post coming soon. Please like, follow and share Creative Diversity with your friends and family across the globe. Art is important and we all need to support the art! Near or far!

Leston Paul

Please continue to follow Creative Diversity of Trinidad and Tobago for more updates on Donna Mae Clarke.