Sebastion set on making his mark

Dave Lindo, Sunday Gleaner Writer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

SEBASTION ELLIOTT, a young man journeying on a path to becoming one of Jamaica's outstanding artists, is already making his mark.

Elliot, 26, opened his gallery, La Galerie De Sebastion, in Manchester three years ago. There you can find displays of his work. He also operates an art school from that location.

"I teach CXC art classes, and we provide the opportunity for students to develop their art skills. We also help in their personal development in how to dress properly, help them to be more equipped or cognisant of the rudiments of the profession," Elliot said.

He was born and raised in the farming district of Warsop, Trelawny - the hometown of outstanding Jamaican athlete Veronica Campbell-Brown, who went to the same church as Elliott as a child.

Elliott attended Warsop Primary School before going on to Albert Town High. His calling into the artistic world was embedded from a very young age, as he explained.

Lifelong dream

"I always knew that I wanted to become an artist. As a child, I used to be fascinated by art and explored it. I used paint, crayons and pencils to record things happening in my environment. I thought it was the suitable way of expressing myself by using the language of lines and colours."

He was encouraged by his mother Brunette Marks, stepfather Simon Marks, and his father Sarrantie Elliott to pursue his dream of becoming an artist.

He enrolled at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in 2004, where he pursued an associate degree in visual arts.

At NCU, Elliott was tutored by the late Professor Gerald Wray, who passed away in 2009. Despite the passing of his tutor, he was determined to be trained by the best. This was when he decided to seek the guidance of a master painter - the world-acclaimed Barrington Watson, a former director of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

"I went to his (Barrington Watson's) gallery in Kingston and made my intention to be one of his students known," Elliott disclosed. "When I eventually met him he told me he had a class on Tuesdays at his home in St Thomas, which starts at 10 a.m. He was concerned about how I would reach on time travelling from Mandeville, but I assured him that I could."

From April 2009 to now, Elliott has been travelling every Tuesday to St Thomas to be tutored by Watson. "I leave out [home] 5 a.m. each morning, and I paint from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.," Elliott said. "It's like a quest. I see it as a journey for what is to come in the future for me as an artist."

He added: "It's an honour to be taught by him (Watson). I am being exposed to techniques and approaches that are essential in becoming a good draftsman. He is a true master."

There is no questioning the tremendous talent that Elliott possesses as a painter. Viewing his work at his gallery located at the Fayors Entertainment Complex on Ward Avenue in Mandeville, one gets the feeling of being in the midst of something really special.

Commenting on the ability of his understudy, Watson said, "He (Elliott) has the talent; he was born with that. He also has the enthusiasm and determination in becoming an artist without taking any short cut."

Elliott has won many awards in his field and has participated at many art exhibitions locally and overseas. Apart from looking forward to the birth of his son, Sebastion Elliott Jr, later this month, Elliott wants "to become a world-renowned artist who contributes to nation building through art and education".

rural@gleanerjm.com