Ani Art Academy Anguilla, a 100% free art school for Caribbean artists, is excited to share that two of its dedicated students have completed the charcoal drawing of the program and have moved onto oil painting. The school, led under the direction of Dean Timothy Jahn, opened in 2013 and has since assisted local Artists in developing the necessary skills to foster a highly rewarding career in the arts.
Congratulations to Ani Anguilla apprentices Gineece Gumbs and Elizardo Mojica, both of whom have completed the drawing portion of the curriculum and have since picked up their paintbrushes. The quality of work that is being created by these two dedicated artists is nothing short of amazing, a
nd we wish them luck as they continue in their creative endeavor.
When asked about this incredible opportunity, Ms. Gumbs shared, “ I was born and raised in Anguilla. I found out about the Ani Art Academy Program back in 2012 at the Careers Fair where I met Timothy Jahn in the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium.
My career choice is to be a Professional Fine Artist which made me realize that the Ani Art Program would help me reach there. I started the program in September 2013 right after I finished fifth form at the ALHCS.
“In August 2016, I graduated from the ‘ Language of Drawing Program’ and began the ‘Language of Painting Program’ right after. So far my experience at the Art Academy has been quite challenging and very difficult, but it’s only for the good. In the years I’ve attended the program, my drawing skills and observation skills have improved tremendously and have come a really long way.
I wholeheartedly thank the Ani Art Academy for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity where I can have the chance to study art for free on a very skillful level.”
Ms. Gumbs final drawing project, Mr. Hall (pictured below), “Is about the man, who is a Baker. His passion is about baking and showing others what he loves to do on a daily basis. While this piece was in progress it gave me quite a challenge. I was inspired to do this drawing because it shows people you can do what you love and still be successful. This drawing is a 20 x 24” charcoal and pastel on paper.”
When asked about his experience with the Academy, Mr. Mojica said, “ I’m originally from the Dominican Republic but spent the past 11 years on the island of Anguilla where I started and completed high school. Upon entering my last year I attended a college fair, and that’s when I first saw the presentation Ani Art Academies held, and the work they created amazed me.
“I started the Ani program in February 2012, and through these past few years I’ve gained a wide understanding of art. Having enrolled in this intense training, I was able to become a much better artist, producing works of art that were out of my imagination back when I started. Through the doors of connections to galleries and customers that the Academy has opened to us, I’ve taken advantage of sales opportunities such as shows and exhibitions at Rehs Galleries, Lovetts Gallery, Misericordia Univers
ity and others, all of which I am very pleased with.
“As a kid, art was something I always wanted to explore. Now that I have completed the drawing portion of the program, I can say that I’m on the right path. It is thanks to the Waichulis curriculum and the help of my instructor, Timothy W. Jahn, that I can look back and see the drastic progress that I’ve accomplished over these past few years. I’m looking forward to the completion of the course because that will be a splendid beginning to a desired art career!”
Elizardo’s final drawing project, First Jump (pictured below), “Is a story of how a young man jumped onto a path he wasn’t ready for, following a dream that he wanted to fulfill so badly. Many of us often take on tasks that we aren’t prepared for, but once we take them we learn and grow along the way and, while it can be scary at first, soon we learn to control those fears. While drawing this piece I often imagined myself as the one jumping out of the plane, thinking and wondering if I could be ready for what is next to come. Truth is, none of us are truly ready for our next steps because it’s our first time taking it, but as time goes by we become more and more confident in all of our first jumps.” This drawing is a 24 x 18”charcoal and pastel on paper.
Ani Art Academy Anguilla is 100% free to all students that are accepted into the program. Students that dedicate themselves to the challenging curriculum develop a set of extremely adaptable art skills that can be applied to a wide array of artistic and creative endeavors. In addition to developing technical skill sets, Ani Art Academy Anguilla works with apprentices to develop long-lasting relationships with international galleries, at which their work is sold throughout the course of the program. At this time, Ani Art Academy Anguilla has 15 scholarships available and is accepting applications to fill those spots. Please visit aniartacademies.org for more information.
Thank you to Elizardo and Gineece for sharing their incredible work with us. We wish them well as they continue upon their artistic journeys and look forward to being able to share what they create next!
– Contributed
