The year is 2016, I had just completed my CSEC examinations and was looking for the next step in my journey of life. I had recently dropped out of Form 6 and at the time I decided that I wanted to be a fashion designer.

I had no background in design so I decided to join a sewing course and start art classes. In my mind joining those classes was necessary for me to become the designer I wanted to be.

This is where I met Kerron John. Kerron is an incredible talent in the realm of art whose work helped to broaden my perspective of what art can be. Art has always been a journey into the depths of human expression. From paintings, sculptures, and photography, human beings use art to convey emotions, share stories from history, capture the beautiful landscapes of planet Earth, and so much more.

As my own artistic journey unfolded, it became clear that my talents peaked with drawing stick figures and tracing out race cars. Fortunately for me, I discovered my true passion, capturing the intricacies of individuals like Kerron himself through words.

I’m grateful to be able to share a part of Kerron’s story. I hope this interview allows you to peek into the mind of Kerron and observe his brilliance from an all-new perspective. Let’s get into this interview.

Can you take us back to where it all began? How did you first get into art and when did you realise you were passionate about creating art?

Kerron: In primary school, probably second year or standard one. I was always fascinated and interested in drawing and doing anything arts and crafts related. My teacher at the time asked me what I wanted to be, and I instantly answered “I want to be an artist.”

I believe that it was because of my mother, and her background in art during school. Seeing and hearing about her artistic prowess inspired me and gave me the desire to pursue it.

Before discovering your passion for art, did you have a vision of what your adult life would look like? Were there other career paths or fields you considered pursuing, and how did the realization that art was your true calling reshape your expectations for the future?

Kerron: While in school I had several interests. I was an all-rounded student, good in academics and extracurricular activities. I had an instinct to pursue everything. At one moment I wanted to be a doctor, next, I wanted to be a lawyer or businessman, but then I realized, my true purpose and what I truly wanted to spend doing for the rest of my life was creating art and teaching people the artistic forms of creating things that have a higher meaning.

I guess being an entrepreneur came into the mix naturally, because currently being an artist I must be able to market myself and successfully handle the business/technical aspects of navigating through my art career.

I’m curious about your perspective on artistic education. Whether you’ve followed a traditional schooling path or taken a more self-taught route, how do you see the dynamics between formal education and independent learning in the realm of art?

Kerron: I would describe myself as a self-taught artist, gaining knowledge and perfecting the various skills by practicing them whenever I could. I gained certain skills in the various artistic forms through research of existing successful artists whether online or in person locally.

While in school during form 6 and studying for a bachelor’s degree in visual arts at UWI, I picked up a couple of perspectives through the traditional route of formal education in art, however, it was just the tip of the iceberg of what I currently know as an artist. I do believe traditional schooling and independent learning go hand in hand because you can only truly learn by practicing all the information or skills you have been taught in school on your own.

This is where you learn to accept failures and learn from them to create habits that are better suited to work towards being successful – and this goes for all career paths. However, I do honestly believe being an artist is a very independent career path because your work reflects yourself/ideologies, and no one can tell you what you can create or describe in words rightfully, but yourself.

What was your very first significant art piece? Do you remember the creative process behind that piece of work and how do you feel about it now?

Kerron: The first significant art piece I have created is a piece entitled, ‘I’m Unstable’. It was a piece I created for my creative project in Form 6 at Fatima College. It was my first large painting, at the size of 60” x 48” acrylic and mixed media on canvas. It spoke about the internal and external perspectives of an individual who may possess different mental disorders and how their environment affects them.

It was my first large sale at Horizon’s Art Gallery in Trinidad, where they hosted the Art at Hilton art exhibition. The buyer was one of the Ghanaian delegates that visited the country in 2019. That moment pushed me to continue to work towards creating work that speaks to people. It made me realize that I can be a successful artist once I reach the right amount and type of people. The praise and love I got were more than enough to validate the emotions and feelings I felt during the opening night of that exhibition.

Many artists have unique journeys filled with ups and downs. Can you share a bit about any challenges you faced, perhaps during your upbringing, that required determination to overcome? How have those experiences shaped you as an artist?

Kerron: Throughout my childhood, I struggled with a lot of internal battles. They still affect me to this day. One main example is the issue with my sexuality and self-confidence/esteem/ self-worth. I grew up in a very religious family, and certain moral values that have been instilled within me during my upbringing go against certain lifestyle choices. I always felt as though I was a black sheep in my family, and there was always a need for me to always overdo and achieve so that maybe I would be noticed more for who I am internally, than what I may look like externally.

I have always been compared to my siblings and always felt as though I was not doing enough. In overcoming all these I realize there is an importance in placing more focus on myself in being happy and comfortable in my skin. Art helps me do that because my work doesn’t judge me. My work is my story, an endless journey documenting my headspace at certain points in my life.

With so many creative outlets available, what drew you specifically to painting as your primary mode of expression? Are there particular benefits or qualities of paint that resonate with you and enhance the messages you aim to convey through your art?

Kerron: For me, painting is very freeing. Especially the medium that I use which is oil paint. It is so forgiving. I can manipulate the oil paints to get the desired look I want. The vibrancy and texture of the paint help to evoke several emotions and feelings due to its aesthetics that is presented on the canvas.

Can you take us on a journey from the inception of an idea to the finishing strokes on a canvas?

Answer: At the very beginning, I would randomly be sitting watching TV or daydreaming and I think of a memory or experience and ponder on that. From there my brain shifts to ways that I can describe that memory or experience visually. Words also come to mind to describe that thought – for instance, If I think about why I am feeling uncomfortable about my body now, I answer that question with words and start thinking about things that were said to me by persons that made me feel insecure. I then look for ways to talk about that visually.

When I figure that out, I start researching these words or phrases online or in books, then I seek inspiration from existing artists who may be creating work that speaks alongside my thoughts or I randomly Google search for images to see how people describe those thoughts. From there I start sketching up my interpretations and begin creating my references by having photoshoots with models and objects.

I would then create a composite sketch that consists of colours, references, words, etc. Honestly, from here intuition takes full control. Not all my paintings go like this. The idea just pops up in my head and I begin working, adjusting as I go along.

What has been your experience working collaboratively with other creatives, such as photographers or models? How do these collaborations enrich your artistic process and are there specific moments or projects that stand out in your memory as particularly impactful?

Kerron: Every time I collaborate with another creative, it fuels me with a lot of inspiration and makes the creative process way more enjoyable and insightful. I did several collaborations with my good friend Jonathan Creese, as he is a photographer and artist. In my last body of work, he has been very instrumental in getting references for my ideas together with the final product of my work. Pushing me both in the theory/concept of my work and the aesthetics. Such an intelligent young man. Aha!

In August of 2020, you hosted your very first solo exhibition. Can you tell us what the experience was like from start to finish? What was the preparation like, and were you ever overwhelmed throughout the process?

Kerron: This was an extremely important part of my life. It happened during COVID-19, so there were loads of uncertainty. I was in a very dark place, and my art was my getaway, my therapy. That body of work spoke about dealing with depression, so naturally, my work was dark. I wasn’t too sure how it would be received, especially in Trinidad and Tobago which has a market that’s ideally drawn to pretty-representational art showing flora and fauna.

I learnt how demanding it is to organize paperwork, record keeping, and documentation of your work, the financial/business aspect of being an artist, the gallery system, creating a market, etc. Fortunately, I had the help of the members of the art society who worked at the gallery at the time, Wendy, Peter Shepherd (past ASTT president), and Cadence (gallery attendant). Much love to them, because to this day I still remember all the advice they gave me, and I have implemented them in my practice currently.

In a generation where art might not always take center stage, and in a country like Trinidad and Tobago where the appreciation for artistic expression might face unique challenges, how do you stay motivated and continue to thrive as an artist? What fuels your passion, and are there particular strategies or mindsets you've adopted to overcome any hurdles posed by the cultural landscape?

Kerron: I have learnt to honestly just create. There is always a need to create because art reflects life, and my work is my life. I haven’t been painting as much as recently due to some personal issues and changes in occupations and importance. However, art and the concept of it will always be on my mind.

Most days, if not every day, I think about what paintings I can create and what would be my next big hit. With being an artist, I have been obsessed with online marketing, with the use of social media. With that, I am always exposed to great talent across the world which keeps me motivated.

I have accepted that right now in my career, my art won’t necessarily pay the bills. It’s a long hard journey to truly break through as a successful living artist, which I am more than excited to take my trip on. You just have to live life one day at a time, and always remind yourself of your purpose of having this creative gift. It is only within there that the motivation would come.

Reflecting on your own journey, what advice would you offer to young individuals aspiring to build a career in art? Can you outline specific steps they might take, drawing from both your successes and challenges?

Kerron: My only advice is to just create your best work while enduring the failures, and retaining important knowledge, skills, and information you may learn from already successful artists or inspirations. Always remember that your journey will be different from others, and you have the power to narrate and move your life in the direction you truly want it to be. Always give thanks, be humble, and stay consistent. You can’t be an artist if you don’t have a solid body of work to showcase to the world that can garner you great support and love!

Looking ahead, what aspirations do you hold for your artistic journey? How do you personally define success in your craft, and what milestones or achievements would signify that to you?

Kerron: Truly, I just want to create work highlighting key experiences or lessons I have learnt in pursuit of being not only an artist but a decent human being, learning to do the right thing. I want to take the lessons I learnt and share them with the world which may just be beneficial to anyone who may need some help. I want my work to speak for itself and always be in a constant drive of experimentation and building of knowledge.

Beyond your personal journey, what are your dreams for the artistic landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, and perhaps on a broader scale, the Caribbean? What changes or developments do you hope to witness in the regional art scene, and how do you envision your role or contributions in shaping this vision?

Kerron: I hope that soon, there’s a higher value/importance placed on art and the creative space. I feel art is still deemed as a career path that’s not comparable in terms of livelihood to being a doctor or lawyer. Artists are influencers, educators, scientists, therapists, etc. Our work can be studied and be a source of newfound knowledge and healing.

I hope the art market in Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the Caribbean grows so that more people can now find the interest and importance of investing in art. I also feel that there needs to be a greater interest placed on contemporary art that isn’t representational – the usual “Caribbeanness” that is usually associated with local Caribbean artists. There are a lot of great intelligent artists in Trinidad who are creating different fascinating work that creates important conversations that need to take place in our society which can truly help shift the mindset of our youths today.

As we conclude this captivating journey into the mind of Kerron, I hope this interview has provided you with a deeper appreciation for the artist and for art itself. Kerron is just one of the many incredibly talented individuals that exist right here in Trindad and Tobago and I’m excited to continue to share their stories with you guys in the near future.

I also want to sincerely apologise for the delay in uploading new articles. Life for the team has been incredibly hectic as we explore new jobs, new adventures and more. We appreciate everyone who has been here from the start and those who are yet to join our little family. I want to assure everyone that our regular upload schedule will be back on track sooner than you think.

Thanks for being here and stay tuned for more!