Donald "Jackie" Hinkson

B. 1942

Works mainly in water-colours, but also in acrylics and oils.

"I can pay Hinkson no deeper compliment than to summon the same admiration and technical astonishment for him as I do for Winslow Homer."
So poet Derek Walcott describes the work of Jackie Hinkson.

Hinkson, born in Port of Spain in 1942, is Trinidad's leading watercolorist, an art that he has sought to perfect in an unending quest to capture the light and forms of the Caribbean. Hinkson's father was a customs officer and the family lived in Corbeaux Town, at Shine Street and later at the corner of Richmond and Charles Streets. The responsibilities of the older Hinkson required that he travel around Trinidad. On these outings his son often accompanied him. Jackie observed Trinidad's rural life and landscape, the love of which is reflected in his paintings.

Hinkson showed an interest in painting while still at Richmond Boys EC School, copying the characters from comic books. This interest was continued when he attended Queen's Royal College, where he began painting in oils. His major influences at this time were the French Impressionists, in particular Paul Cessna, and English watercolorists, whose work he saw in books that he borrowed from the library. At QRC, Hinkson met and worked with Peter Minshall, now best known for his serious and complex Carnival productions. The two young artists would paint outdoors, in Sea Lots and the Wharf area in Port of Spain. For criticism they would go to Peter's father, Wilson Minshall, also an artist.

In 1960, Hinkson exhibited his work for the first time in Five Young Artists. The exhibition included the work of Pat Bishop, Isiah James Boodhoo and Peter Minshall. Shortly after, with a scholarship from the French Government Hinkson pursued a non-diploma course for a year at the Academie Julien. In Paris he was able to study the work of the artists, the work of which he had previously only been able to see in reproductions.

In 1965, a Canadian Government Scholarship took him to Edmonton, Alberta, where he gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and a Diploma in Education. In an American environment he was exposed to the contemporary expressions: the Minimalists - he was particularly interested in minimalist sculpture, the Pop Artists, the Abstract Impressionists and the Photo Realists.
Returning to Trinidad, full of new ideas, He taught at Queens Royal College. In 1986, Hinkson left teaching to become a full time painter, often travelling to the different islands of the Caribbean and Guyana. On these expeditions Architect Anthony C. Lewis, whose painting style he influences, sometimes accompanies him.

From the early seventies to the present day, water-colour has remained Hinkson's favourite medium, finding it well suited to outdoor painting in the tropics. The 'meaning' or relevance of his work is unconscious and manifests itself indirectly through such abstract elements as shape, tone, light rhythm, and through the way these elements interact with each other and with the subject matter. Recently Hinkson has experimented with oils, to which one of his 1993 exhibitions was entirely dedicated. His daily struggle is with technique and his constant analysis and criticism of his work, which he feels, is his duty. It is therefore not surprising that Jackie never sees his work in grand terms that claim enormous social, didactic of political relevance. He builds no 'mountains' and unleashes no 'rivers'. He works to an agonizingly slow process, which is ultimately imperfect. He simply attempts to paint honestly.

Contact: 6, Fisher Avenue, St Ann's, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I.

Tel: 868 624 7922 Fax: 868 625 3075 e-mail:  jackiehinkson@tstt.net.tt homepage: http://jackiehinkson.com

Careening in Carriacou- oil

Bathing at Mt Irvine, Tobago - watercolour

North Coast, Trinidad- watercolour

Todd Estate - conte crayon