Rachael returns with new paintings

For the last decade or so she’s lived on the idyllic island of Tobago … but rather than lament Rachel Heusner’s departure we prefer to treasure her regular visits back home. Today Kendra Griffith took a sneak peak at her latest show.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
?An Exhibition of Art? is Rachel Heusner?s latest creative offering. The seventeen-piece collection of all new paintings showcases the culture and architecture of Belize and the Caribbean.

Rachael Heusner, Artist
?There?s a number of market scenes. I have been so into the market these days; there?s so much stuff happening there. I enjoy houses just because they tell so much stories about the people who live their and their lifestyle. There?s not much people in those pictures, just that they are full of foliage and just pretty flowers that make them very interesting.?

But as the region changes, so does Heusner?s work.

Rachael Heusner
?It?s getting a little twist with the Hispanic influence, because the whole culture of Belize is changing. There?s so much infiltration of people from over the borders that you can?t say that the Caribbean is all negro people. There?s a definite mix right now.

And while her works are usually infused with colour, Heusner does dabble in black and white.

Rachael Heusner
?Every so often it?s good to come off the colour and just deal with black and whites. It helps you to see dark and light. And so as much as they are interesting in their own right, that are also a kind of study and it?s training for me.?

Heusner has been honing her painting skills since her early teens and is today one of Belize?s most successful artists. However, she believes that central to her success is how one approaches the business of art.

Rachael Heusner
?In my years of working and working beside my husband; we?ve always looked at being a painter as a business. So everyday you get up, even if you don?t do a painting, you read something on the arts; you might just pull a straight line or just something. I don?t know, look at a show, just practice. Like I said, just doing black and white, or just drawing or just drawing hands and all of those things help you to develop as a painter.?

And whether you?re an artist, a patron of the arts, or you just like to look at pretty paintings, Heusner invites you to the Mexican Institute.

Rachael Heusner
?I basically want people to come an enjoy it. Again, don?t feel that you have to come and buy because the reason for the show is so that people could get?it?s called and exhibition. It?s so that people could get an eye view of the pictures. Sometimes we sell paintings and people don?t get to see them, so it?s a body of work that you could come and appreciate.?

Kendra Griffith Reporting for News Five.

Heusner’s show runs through Friday at the Mexican Cultural Institute on the Barracks. Her paintings are also available for sale at the Framing Shop on Cleghorn Street, the Image Factory and at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel.