Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Kaliko Sailor
While visiting the beach spot of Moulin Sur Mer, the site of a 1700s sugar cane plantation that was destroyed in the Revolution, but restored in 1976, the artist spotted this skiff sailing down the coast with a load of packaged cargo of some sort, The water color rendering was started on the beach and filled in a bit more later as a reference piece.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Steel Wool Vendor
As part of the “Haitians Using their Heads,” the artist rendered this water color sketch of a woman carrying a load of steel wool pads in a large bowl on her head.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Belville Flowers
There is an abundance of flowers in Haiti. In this collage, the artist decided to use actual flowers acquired during his daily walks around the Belville neighborhood “just down the hill” from Petion-Ville. After more than a year, the colors of the pressed flowers remain relatively vibrant and detailed.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Haitian Cowboy
This “cowboy” was observed along the side of the road en route to Saint Marc. This artist refers to him as a cowboy because of his hat, despite the absence of a horse. The pencil sketch is a study for a future painting.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Man & Beast of Burden
While traveling along the roads of Dessalines, the artist began collecting images of the various beasts of burden (horses, burros, mules) that were used in lieu of vehicles. This pencil sketch portrays a typical farmer and his pack animal.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Abaka Bay Dock
The artist spent two days on Isle a Vache, a small island off the southern coast of Haiti where the English pirate Captain Henry Morgan once operated during his 1600s raids on Spanish and French merchant ships. While waiting for the departure of the “lodge boat” to go back to the mainland, this watercolor sketch of the beach, dock, and boat was rendered.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Les Cayes Sailors
Haitians have a rich history of seafaring ways, going back to the original “boucaniers” or buccaneers–people who lived on smoked meat and supplemented their resources through piracy in the 1700s and 1800s. While traveling by small boat from Les Cayes to Isle a Vache, I encountered several sail craft that lent themselves to watercolor sketches.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–St. Marc Boys
While visiting the ruins of an 18th Century fort on the cliffs overlooking St. Marc, my driver and I were visited by a group of curious boys who wondered what “le blanc” (the white guy) was doing so far away from the main road. I did a quick pencil sketch and took some photos, which I combined to make this water color sketch later on.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Carrot Lady
In the “Haitians Using their Heads” series, I rendered this lady in an orange dress carrying her load of orange carrots in a large bag up a steep hill in the Delmas areas.
Vagabond Artist Images of Haiti–Heavy Hatter
There was no shortage of interesting headgear in Haiti. The variety helped to give the wearers distinct personas and character. As I traveled around the capital and the country, I started looking for interesting “hatters.”
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