News

Painting Bonaire

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - February 14, 2013

Above: Sail to Klein by Janice Huckaby

By Alexander Britell

BONAIRE — For more than two decades, Janice Huckaby has been chronicling Bonaire, brush stroke by brush stroke.

Across more than 700 paintings, Huckaby, who first came to the island in 1991, has created an artistic narrative of Bonaire, from the underwater seascapes for which the island is famous to its historic buildings.

It was not the first choice for Huckaby, who came to the Dutch Caribbean island from Grand Cayman in 1991.

“In the early 80s, I had come diving to Bonaire,” she says, “but would not have considered it as a place to live.”

But for Huckaby, who came to the island to work in underwater photography, a initial one-year contract begat another, and soon, after four years, she decided to stay indefinitely.

“I taught underwater photography, collected a lot of images of the island, and started to paint a little bit more,” she says. “Eventually, it led to a full-time painting career.”

Above: Janice Huckaby Baillie (CJ Photo)

Today, the result is the JanArt Gallery on Kaya Grandi in downtown Kralendijk, where Huckaby greets visitors to offer them a glimpse of Bonaire on canvas.

In 1996, she first established an art gallery and studio, first opening in Antriol. She now uses that studio for lessons and art classes.

“I try to diversify,” she says. “For a long time, I painted only underwater — then I realized that the land was pretty special, too. So I started creating the landscapes, and one day I decided I didn’t want to choose between land and underwater — I wanted to paint above and below water. So I paint both.”

According to Huckaby, the art culture in Bonaire has changed dramatically over the years.

“It’s changed quite a bit,” she says. “There are a lot of artists that have moved here from other places.”

When she first arrived on the island, few artists pained landscapes in Bonaire, she says. Much of the art was of a more religious nature.

“I decided that my goal was to paint what you see, to give the person who’s visiting a nice representation of what they saw,” she says. “I wanted to give them a good memory, a feeling that Bonaire is a special place — so they could have a visual tangent to see when they get home.”

“I started creating paintings to make sure that everybody left Bonaire with a happy feeling, something they could enjoy for the rest of their life.”

Popular Posts w punta cana

A New All-Inclusive W Hotel Is Opening This Year in Punta Cana 

The first-ever all-inclusive W Hotel in the Caribbean is opening this year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The hotel, part of a broad expansion for parent company Marriott International, is on the list of expected 2024 […]


Why Grenada Is a New Caribbean Luxury Hotspot

beach house silversands

From its world-renowned chocolate to its pristine beaches to a region-leading focus on sustainability, Grenada is as fascinating and unique as destination as you’ll find in the Caribbean.  But in the last few years, the lush Eastern Caribberan island has […]


5 Adults-Only Resorts to Visit Right Now in the Caribbean 

galley bay

Sometimes you just want that extra degree of serenity, of privacy, of seclusion. There is a reason, after all, that adults-only resorts are booming in popularity, particularly in the Caribbean: travelers want to know that when they arrive, they know […]


Related Posts buddy dive

Bonaire Tourism Is Having a Strong Fall Season 

The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire is off to a strong start this fall season, according to new data from Tourism Corporation Bonaire.  Bonaire welcomed 11,928 stayover visitors in September, representing a 19.3 percent increase compared to the same month […]


Caribbean Airline Winair Just Returned to Bonaire 

brass boer

Regional Caribbean airline Winair has officially returned to the island of Bonaire. The carrier’s relaunched service from St Maarten kicked off this weekend.  Winair has debuted new ATR aircraft, larger 48-seat planes that will allow for longer routes out of […]


The Best Boutique Hotel in the Dutch Caribbean Is In Bonaire  

a pool in the backyard

It’s hard to walk more than few steps at Bamboo Bonaire without finding a hammock. There’s one in every one of the 13 rooms, others scattered around the property, under (and even above) the palms.  If there is a symbol […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You