Donald "Jackie" HinksonBorn - September 13, 1942 in Port of Spain, TrinidadParents: A. Lennox Hinkson and Jeanette Hinkson (née Bain) 3rd of six children Married 1967 to Caryl Blache-Fraser: 2 sons, 1 daughter. Education: Richmond Street Boys Primary School; Queen's Royal College, Trinidad Académie Julien, Paris, France (1963-64) University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (1965-70)
Jackie grew up in the town of Port of Spain, Trinidad, living with his family in a gabled wooden colonial house with the characteristic roof, portico, wooden jalousies and decorative fretwork, so representative of dwellings built at the turn of the century.
Because his father was a Travelling Officer with the Colonial Government, Hinkson enjoyed extensive exposure to Trinidad's rural and coastal landscape and architecture, particularly plantation architecture. These early experiences were to have a decisive influence on his later artistic expression.
During his teenage years he struck up a friendship with a fellow schoolmate which was to prove significant. With Peter Minshall (later to become internationally renowned as a costume designer) Jackie worked and discussed art extensively. Through visits to the Public Library he became familiar with the works of artists whose work he admired, in particular the Impressionists (especially Cézanne) and English watercolourists. five young artists
In 1961, with Minshall, Pat Bishop, Alice Greenhall and Arthur Webb, Hinkson was one of the Five Young Artists whose work premiered at the old Woodbrook Market on French Street in Port of Spain.
Through this exhibition another significant artistic link was formed this time with art critic Derek Walcott, later to be Nobel Laureate for Literature 1994. Walcott's criticisms, encouragement and friendship which began in Hinkson's early teenage years continues to the present. Their work will be featured in October 1998 at the State University of New York at Albany, USA. formal art education
Leaving Trinidad in 1963, Hinkson embarked on a one year scholarship at the Académie Julien in Paris. There, in Paris, the Impressionist works he had previously only seen in books were available in reality.
A year later he proceeded on an art scholarship to Canada (BA Fine Arts) and a Dip. Ed. He admired and was
influenced there by Abstract Impressionists, Pop Artists and minimalist Artists. He also developed a strong interest in sculpture. Five years later when the North American influence was beginning to have a decisive
effect, Hinkson returned to Trinidad.
native light and rhythms: 1970 - 1995
He was immediately and forcibly struck by the light and rhythms of his native region. He launched himself into plein air watercolour painting exploring the medium almost exclusively for the next two and a half decades - working, travelling and exhibiting throughout the Caribbean from Trinidad to Jamaica (since 1970 he has held 31 one-man exhibitions in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean). During those decades he also worked in conté crayons, charcoal and produced some ink drawings.
It is his work during this period which is generally regarded as 'Hinkson' and to which many observers draw parallels to the significance of the early watercolourists who recorded Trinidad's landscape.
A significant body of Hinkson's work in conté crayons was produced during 1982-1985 when he was commissioned by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to produce One Hundred pieces of work showing the "disappearing architecture" of the country. Some of these works are on display at the National Museum and Art Gallery, Port of Spain. Several murals have also been commissioned by others who greatly admire the artist's work.
From the mid- 1990s Hinkson resumed working in oils and his later exhibitions included a number of large canvases. Simultaneously he worked on figurative wood sculptures in cedar, samaan, mango and a variety tropical woods - his interest rekindled by the German sculptress Luise Kimme residing in Tobago.
Visits to Europe at that time added another dimension to the themes of his watercolours, and he produced several sketches and paintings while in Florence, London, Pans.
In recent years Hinkson has been working closely with Barbadian born artist Ian "Sundiata" Stewart. The two share a common interest in water colour, sculpture and oils. continuing interest In art studies
Hinkson's interest in other artists' work continues with particular interest in the work of watercolourists John Sell Cotman, William Turner and especially Winslow Homer. Homer's Bahamas watercolours have had a strong influence on Hinkson.
Piero della Francesca, Goya, Chardin, Bonnard, Edward Hopper and Homer are the artists whose work he particularly admires
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