Charles Chavannes holds exhibit

While the Bliss Institute, Image Factory or the Belize/Mexico Cultural Institute can be counted on to provide frequent art exhibits, a Belize City coffee shop, El Cafe is currently featuring the work of one of Belize’s most renown artists: Charles Chavannes. Chavannes, who established a name for himself as a cartoonist, has spent the past three years traveling in a new direction, one inspired by the scenes of Belize.

Charles Chavannes, Artist

“I paint in watercolor, the medium that I use. The type of painting, I don’t know what you’d call it, I guess you could refer to it as a type of impressionist work.

I paint all the time so I’m always looking for something to paint. I paint scenes. I’ve been inspired by Belize; I’d have to say that. It’s hard to explain the inspiration. You just wake up one day and have this strong need, and if you don’t do it it disturbs you for the rest of the day.”

Chavannes studied at the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale and in 1996 Barclays Bank commissioned 17 paintings from him. He held his first public show in 1997 at the Bliss. Besides the watercolors at El Cafe, Chavannes has several works on display at the Framing Shop. El Cafe is located on Eve Street.