Artisan Carolyn Nichols was among the first to set up shop at Hibiscus Plaza situated outside of the Guyana Post Office. Her shop, called Natural Touches, is filled with the paintings, pottery, sculptures and jewelry she takes great pride in creating.
Carolyn’s artistic skills were evident from a young age. She skipped a few grades in primary school, and started high school when she was ten years old, graduating when she was 15. Her intention was to attend the E R Burrowes School of Art and she was accepted after presenting her portfolio. But her late father, who considered art more of a hobby did not see how it could sustain anyone’s livelihood, decided against it.
However, she studied the techniques of oil painting for two years when she attended the New York Institute of Technology (1991-1993). Her father, she said, had passed away before she was able to pursue her passion and she wishes she had the opportunity to show him that she was able to live her dream and earn a living from it. Carolyn worked as a graphic artist for a local company for two years before starting her own business. She noted that leaving her job to run her own art business was taking quite the leap.
“Even though I knew that I was taking a risk in doing this, I was willing to take it. I would find a way to make my monthly mortgage payments. I had to find a way,” the artist shared.
In February 1996, with the help of then prime minister Samuel Hinds and through the Guyana Craft Association, artisans who were plying their trade along Main Street were provided with the Hibiscus Plaza. Initially, Carolyn partnered with her sister, Elizabeth Cox, and managed her shop, Branching Out as her sister was working full time elsewhere. Eventually, the shop was sold and in 1998 Carolyn purchased one of the booths nearby, naming it Natural Touches.
Carolyn explained that she found that she was working all day at the shop then when she went home, she was still doing more art. It helped to provide a space in her shop where she sold pieces done by other artisans.
She recalled making hand-painted cards which she sold for $100. The price did not cover the time and effort she put into making them, Carolyn said, but she made them anyway. “I didn’t want to sell them at prices so high that nobody bought cards,” she said.
“Art and craft isn’t appreciated as it should be. I remember a customer coming into the shop one time and saying, ‘Oh, why mud cup so expensive?’ She was referring to the pottery. She said to me that it is made of mud and I told her it’s part of a process. This wasn’t so long ago, just a few years ago. She was saying it’s too expensive but really it’s not considering its quality and effort that went into it. We still have a way to go with people appreciating art and craft or handmade items,” explained Carolyn.
There are also customers who understand the quality of what she offers. “A few months after we had opened the shop, I had about four paintings on display. A customer came in and was interested in buying all four of the paintings. I was so excited and so happy because I couldn’t believe that somebody wanted to buy my paintings and every time she came back to Guyana to visit, she would come look me up to buy something or order a painting or something from me,” Carolyn said.
“One year when she came in, my mom was wearing a dress that I had made and hand painted for her for Mother’s Day. She [the customer] was like ‘Where did you get that! I want something like that!’ My mom, being the proud mom that she is, said, ‘Oh, my daughter made it, she made it.’ She was like, ‘Oh my goodness, can you make one for me?’I was persuaded to make her a dress and hand paint it for her and she was pleased.” This is among her fondest memories when it comes to her work.
“Seeing people enjoying and appreciating and supporting what we make and knowing that somebody loves it as much as I love it brings great satisfaction,” said the artist.
At present, Carolyn is making jewelry from semi-precious stones. As an artist she works in phases. Sometimes she paints pottery, other times she does etching where a particular design is burnt into wood. What she chooses to do is usually dependent on what she is feeling or what ideas she gets.
One of the most fascinating techniques she has learnt is how to make pottery. She learnt the entire process from scratch, cleaning the clay, getting the silt out, kneading it, leaving it to dry, making the item and firing it, which converts the clay from its weaker form to a stronger, durable form.
Carolyn, who is more of a night person, likes to use the latter part of her day to create. After doing her chores and errands, she would get comfortable at her home studio, turn up her music, sometimes Rock, sometimes Pop and work away. It is easy to get caught up working and she often would not realise she had skipped a meal until she looked at the time, which is usually when she feels that the piece is finished or she is satisfied.
Years ago, Carolyn displayed her work at several local exhibitions, including one she hosted with her sister in December 1995. She also represented Guyana at an exhibition held in Suriname. She also had pieces on display outside of the Giftland Mall when it opened. In 2018, Carolyn started her own annual exhibition every November; it was cancelled last year owing to COVID. If all goes well, she hopes to have one this year.
“It can be challenging sometimes but I am satisfied with my accomplishments so far,” said Carolyn.
Although she has worked in many areas in art, the artist noted that there is still much more she wants to learn, including how to do a portrait well. To date she has only done one.
Carolyn can be followed on Facebook at Natural Touches or reached at 225-2755/623-6403.
