“One day I started doodling and haven’t stopped…,” talented landscape and abstract artist Sheliza Rampersaud said. Though she has had an eye for art ever since she was a little girl, Sheliza entered this field professionally six years ago.
Before she took up art, she was employed as a cashier and a sale representative but was not passionate about either. While art can be challenging as regards the means of an income, nothing else gives her much satisfaction.
“I chose art because I believe that I was given the gift of being creative and blessed with my skills for a reason and I owed it to myself to see how far I could go and who I can be in this life,” Sheliza said. “Art has always been a source of freedom for me. I came from a broken household so life growing up hasn’t been the easiest for me and I’ve had a lot of anger and resentment and needed a place to let it out… Art has been that source for me. When I start to create, it gives me a sense of being, makes me forget about reality and gives me the freedom to be me and be myself.”
She was so fascinated with art that her doodles went from her books to the desks in school, a habit that got her into trouble often. Friends took advantage of her skills and had her doing designs and various drawings. Her first actual art classes were at Tutorial High after she chose to be in the art stream. This paved the way for her do more advanced classes and major in painting with a minor in ceramics.
Today, Sheliza’s pieces, including paintings and craft, total to close to 100. Over time, she has worked with many different materials, but acrylic is her favourite medium to use. It is no secret that art materials are very expensive. Since graduating from the E R Burrowes School of Art, she has not done much work in ceramics because it is a challenge to come by clay and while it has been easier for her acquire paints, canvas, brushes because they are readily available, they cost a lot.
One of the biggest challenges she has had to deal with over the years and still struggles with is battling to prove that she can do what she loves and love what she does while still making a proper income from it. With jobs lacking in the art arena, the artist posited that this sort of pressure makes some artists’ passion fade and because of infrequent sales, they are forced to seek jobs in other fields. She remains steadfast for the sake of her love for art.
Sheliza recalled that at the beginning because an income was not steady, she had at one point dropped doing art and focused on getting a 9 to 5 job, but after a few years of doing this, in 2018 she made the decision to return to art. It has not been easy, but it is worth it. The young woman let on that while some of her family members have been supportive, they are not always this way. But she intends on showing them that doing what you love pays in satisfaction and once an artist gains enough recognition for her work then it will pay financially too.
“I think one of the most challenging pieces I’ve done is when I was given an exercise to paint an image selected by the teacher for us and my painting tutor at that time was Miss Nicky B. Williams who by the way has been an absolute motivational pusher for me,” she said.
“[She] had selected Guyana’s national bird, the Canje Pheasant for me to paint and it was my first time painting a bird like that in detail. It was hard for me. There was this one point where I got frustrated that I wasn’t getting the feathers on the wing like the ones in the image… I got so mad at working on that area so long that I took all the paint I had on my palette and just slushed it on wildly on an empty canvas I had nearby, which gained me a lot of weird looks from the students in my classroom. My tutor was just sitting there smiling and she said, ‘leave her, she will figure it out on her own’. After slushing all the paint on the blank canvas, I took my palette knives and I began forming something from it. What came out was a ballet dancer and that piece turned out to be the very first painting that I sold. There was a tourist doing a part-time ceramic course at the school and she witnessed the entire thing. She loved the result of it and purchased it.
“As for the Canje Pheasant, after I calmed down, I went back to working on it and eventually I got it correct and it turned out to be a good piece also.”
Her most recent piece, called ‘Serenity’, was the result of her dealing with her own personal struggles. Wanting to escape reality for a while, Sheliza poured her heart and soul into the piece.
Many of the artist’s pieces integrate some sort of Indian flair, which according to her is not intentional. But being fascinated with the culture, especially the bright colours of the clothes, jewelry and henna as well as having a love for Indian dance, she finds that they easily flow into her mind as she paints and would become incorporated into her art.
One of her enthralling paintings is one titled ‘Umalagad’ which means Ancestral Spirits. This painting represents women from all the ethnic groups in Guyana painted in spirit-like form.
Aside from the challenges, the artist has seen numerous benefits also. One of these benefits led to one of her most favourite experiences, her visit to Rupununi. “I fell instantly in love with and at home in Rupununi. It has given me the chance to create and express myself in numerous ways and share my art with the world…”
When one is an artist, she said, one gets to meet some of the “coolest, creative and talented people”. She has moved away from the once shy person she was and has become more expressive and vocal in her opinions.
Sheliza is inspired by local artist Ron Savory. When she first began art school, she went to an exhibition at Castellani House where several artists had their paintings on display. What drew her immediate attention was a piece done by Savory, the technique used, the usage of colours and the composition of it all inspired her to do painting as her major. Internationally she is amazed by the works of American painter Bob Ross and Peruvian Mauro Reategui Perez.
Sheliza noted that local artists do not get the recognition and support they deserve. She finds it ridiculous as Guyana has some talented artists who produce mind-blowing work. “There is no support, neither are there enough opportunities created for us artists out here and I think that needs to be changed as soon as possible. Also, why should it be STEM [acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] and not STEAM with the inclusion of Art? Why has art in general been neglected for so long in our country? Almost everything created to use in one’s daily life has been created by an artist; the dishes we eat, the clothes we wear, the books we read, the music we hear, the buildings we work in, be it in whatever area in art, I believe that art is important and it should be given more love, support and attention. More should be done for the arts in Guyana and artists should be given equal opportunities to live and do what we love while having a steady income like the other job areas out there.”
Through her art, Sheliza has been doing lots to promote Guyana and intends continuing to do so. She would someday like to own her own mini gallery. She wishes that in the near future the youth of Guyana are encouraged more to pursue their dreams and are equipped to do so. In 2018 after returning to art, Sheliza joined the Moving Circle of Artists, an art group that was formed by one of Guyana’s most respected artists, George Simon. “Joining this group has given me the opportunity to go teach voluntary art workshops in the Rupununi… I have seen so many raw and natural talents and it’s a shame that they don’t have the means of using it and putting it out there. I enjoyed working in Rupununi and hopefully sometime in the future I can do more or create some sort of initiative to help give them the opportunity to express themselves. I’m also, thinking that I might give a few years into teaching art at a secondary level, a decision that is still pending. Some other artists and I have recently formed a group called ‘KAYAP’. Our aim is to bring more exposure to art in Guyana, to do murals around the country and display our talents. This is our way of speaking up for ourselves while doing what we love; I am excited to see how things go along with this initiative….”
The young artist said she is grateful for her art team, which consists of her closest friends, other artists and her painting tutor from art school. Speaking to aspiring artists who may not have the support they are hoping for, Sheliza said while they will have no easy road in proving themselves, “the important thing is that you’re doing it and it’s what you want to do. I can only say that for myself if I wasn’t doing some form of art, I wouldn’t be happy in life.”
Sheliza is also a face and body paint artist who works part time with Bravo Arts, TWFX and Funtastic Kids Party Rental. She has also recently started making ornaments and some jewelry from clay.
Her favourite colour is blue and black is her favourite neutral.
Her hobbies include reading, socializing, travelling, making craft and recently she has begun dabbling in photography.
This Virgo loves to indulge in curry and rice, pasta, chicken and chips and fried rice.
Sheliza can be followed on Facebook at Sheliza Rampersaud or at Simplicity Arts.
