By Rae Wiltshire
Vibert Dummett is an artist who specialises in portrait drawings, paintings, and designs (fashion), with a penchant for using household bleach to create patterns on cloth. Black is his preferred colour.
Dummett said that black imparts a gold and orange design to his artwork. He said that when working with bleach, he dilutes it with either 30 or 50 percent water to achieve the desired value, which refers to the shading transition from light to dark. Dummett explained that these values are crucial because he aims for the designs to have a three-dimensional appearance, avoiding a flat look. He approaches the process of t-shirt designs as if he is drawing, starting from the lighter part of the image and moving towards the darker parts. There are YouTube tutorials in which stencils are used and Dummett considers stencil work easier and faster, but his goal is to ensure that his designs have texture, so he uses a paintbrush, despite the lengthier process.
When Dummett began posting designs of anime characters on social media, he caught the attention of local designer Neilson Nurse, who invited him to take part in a fashion show called Fashion in Paradise. There, he showcased his anime-inspired bleached t-shirts. Based on those designs, clients now approach him for his unique bleached t-shirts.
Dummett’s proclivity for art was evident since childhood. While other five year olds drew stick figures, he aimed for more detailed drawings. His mother noticed and began purchasing art supplies for him. This support has continued.
Dummett embraces the challenge in art and acknowledges its power to create positive emotions. “Art is freedom for me; it makes me feel happy,” he said. These positive emotions extend to his customers and one of the joys of creation for him is witnessing smiles from them. Their reactions help solidify that his work has purpose and meaning beyond himself.
Maintaining a positive mood and mindset are crucial for Dummett in creating art. Before commencing his work, he listens to words of inspiration and prays, fostering a spiritual connection to his creations, which he deems important for their completion.
Dummett posited that being a spiritual person is a blessing for him. While he prays, he does not attribute this to any specific religion but rather an embrace of an unknown and mysterious entity responsible for creating the world. He finds invigoration in the mystery of this belief, stating that life without the unknown could be very boring. This constant feeling of discovery fuels his curiosity and creations; he considers each new creation as something to discover.
Continuing on the idea of positivity, Dummett advises artists to guard against negative people and situations, as they can serve as distractions to creativity and hinder them from reaching their full potential. He related that having positive influences around can help in achieving goals, recounting a time during his studies at Burrowes School of Art when he wanted to quit, but his friends encouraged him to continue. Eventually, he graduated because of such encouragement. Dummett appreciates human relationships, emphasising that success is not achieved alone but with the help of others. He likened it to building a house, stating that it cannot be built on its own; it takes people working together to achieve the vision. He encouraged individuals to be consistent and patient when creating. Dummett can be contacted via https://www.instagram.com/dummettviber/, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid025Y2CGdUg8a1DtsBq4jGQuPQMgDWjeT1qM1PG2Us1HKoHJufeZfjJvSGxw7do9XLnl&id=100037156882888&mibextid=Nif5oz or at Dummettvibert@gmail.com.
