KEVIN Thomas, a Linden-based artist, has his heart set on improving the art field in Guyana as he believes that not much attention is being given to those in the creative arena. He wants to be able to make a difference in bringing art “back to life.”

The 28-year-old, who is also a registered nurse and part-time barber, feels that while it is difficult to make money as an artist, it is certainly not impossible. “In order to do so, you have to market yourself effectively and sell your pieces at a reasonable cost,” he posited.

Speaking in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, he reflected that although he has always liked the medical field, he has been an artist for as long as he can remember. “Since kindergarten [nursery school] I started drawing. Growing up, if someone wanted a map or diagram drawn, they would come to me, and I would take a small fee from them.”

It was in 2021, though, during the raging COVID-19 pandemic, when he decided to take up art at a professional level. He was hesitant initially, but his family and colleagues all played a role in helping him to go for it as they knew the quality of artist he was.

“There was a point when I stopped doing drawings and paintings due to my busy schedule, but family members and colleagues encouraged me to pursue it. Art was struggling in Guyana, so I didn’t heed their advice to do it. But I did my first portrait of my son and posted it on social media, and that gained some amount of publicity, and from then on, things took off. Persons started contacting me.”

Kevin especially appreciates seeing the positive effects that his work has on others. “What I love the most is to see my work touch someone else’s soul. To see the reaction of someone to my art is one of the most wonderful feelings.”

Specialising in portrait drawings and paintings, Kevin can do single portraits, couples, families, memorials, babies, etc. He also mingles in other art forms like nature paintings and drawings, abstracts, poster making and murals.

Kevin finds success in displaying his work online and putting on some displays whenever possible so that people can view his pieces in person. “I am a self-taught artist. I developed my skill by practising every day and watching tutorials on the internet. I am aiming to develop art in Guyana and to bring it back to life.”

And this is the same piece of advice that he wants to offer to other artists in the country. “Continue working and developing your skill, continue practising and create pieces and advertise them through whatever means there are because there will be persons who love your work,” he urged.

Kevin looks forward to the time he will be named “one of the greatest artists to ever come from Guyana.” “I also would want to be a part of [the] development within art in Guyana because art is something that persons don’t pay too much attention to in this country, and I would like to be able to change that in the future.”

He also has in mind furthering his studies in nursing. “I do plan on developing myself in this noble profession by going ahead and acquiring my degree in nursing.”
Meanwhile, several artists in Guyana feel that more can be done for those in the country’s creative industry and that they can be included in just about every sector if only people would recognise their value and the meaningful contribution that they can make.

“They can include artists in other careers like making movies, playing a bigger role in helping the police to sketch evidence, criminals, and other things; in literature regarding diagrams and pictures; we can be included in every field of life,” local artist Alyce Cameron, had once suggested.