St Martin Art Tour
St Martin with her beautiful views, lush nature and interesting people has been an inspiration for artists for centuries. During this 4 hour St Martin Art Tour we will visit 4 artists at their gallery, home or studio.
We have 10 artists partaking in our tour, 3 of whom were born in the Caribbean. The others have come from overseas – some already decades ago – to settle in our balmy bays and paint our vibrant local scenery, taking advantage of the bright Caribbean light. The various backgrounds of our artists have created a wonderful palette of styles and techniques which can be enjoyed during our St Martin Art Tour.
The St Martin Art Tour is a unique opportunity to meet the artist, to admire his or her work (most artists can normally only be visited by appointment) and to buy originals or reproductions.
The St Martin Art Tour also leads you around the entire island, we will be visiting both Dutch St Maarten as well as French St Martin and you’ll hear about her history as we go along. The art work from the St Martin artists depict St Martin’s nature, culture and people in vibrant colors. Having one of those paintings on a wall will cheer up an entire room, taking you back to beautiful St Martin.
FYI: Seagrape Tours supports the artists and does not charge the artist for the visit nor do we take commission on any art sales.
St Martin’s Artists – take your pick
Please let us know which 4 artists from the listing below you would prefer to visit. We will do our best to visit at least two of your picks, depending on availability and what other guests for the same tour have chosen. Our St Martin Art Tour has a maximum of 6 guests per tour, so chances to see your favorite artists are pretty good.
For more practical info and bookings go to Art Tour St Martin.
Admiring the remarkable marqueterie by Jean-Pierre Straub
Sir Roland Richardson – A descendant of an old plantation owning family on St Martin, knighted by the Dutch Queen for his part in registering the views of and on the island for decades. You will both admire his paintings of St Martin’s national tree the red flowering Flamboyant as well as this artist’s flamboyant character. Bear in mind that Roland Richardson’s Art Gallery is not open on Sundays and the master himself can only be met on Thursdays.
Carla Templeton – This Raku artist is born in Mozambique and on St Maarten since the 1980s. Together with her two teenage daughters Carla creates the most wonderful Caribbean inspired ceramic pieces with Raku clay and techniques. Carla’s work is displayed at Zdenka’s art gallery, Carla will meet us there when available.
Max Phelipa – Born in the Dutch Caribbean Max displays his colourful oils, pastels and acrylic works around his house in a very neat and lush garden in the center of Philipsburg. His favourite subjects are tropical flowers, local scenery and portraits.
Dame Ruby Bute – Born on Aruba from St Maarten parents, is a wonderful story teller, poet and painter and has been knighted by the Dutch Queen for her work as a self-taught artist and art teacher, teaching prisoners and children on the island. Her colourful paintings depict life on St Martin as she remembers it from when she was small. Ruby Bute is always happy to tell the story behind whichever painting you prefer, in the art gallery next to her home.
Zdenka – Originally from Croatia this lovely lady designs and handcrafts fine jewelry on St Maarten. The pieces are in silver and gold, with gems and freshwater or South Sea pearls. Each piece is unique and easy to wear. Zdenka runs The Art Box Gallery and next to her own work she displays the fine arts and crafts of more than a dozen other St Maarten and Caribbean artists.
Alexandre Minguet – The colourful paintings and handmade lithographs of the late Alexandre Minguet are shown in his former studio, by his daughter Catherine. Growing up on the island she remembers her father painting the bays, life and flowers of St Martin. Also early works of Minguet can be admired, depicting the French country side of Normandy, with a clear difference found in the use of colours.
Jean-Pierre Straub – This charming Frenchman is the only marqueter in the Caribbean, and one of the best in the world. Marquetry is the art of inlaying thin fine wood, originally done under Louis XIV for table tops and other royal furniture. Jean-Pierre creates the most wonderful Caribbean sceneries with over 50 different types of wooden veneer, intricately sawed out and puzzled together. His works radiate warmth and skill.
Tess Verheij – Dutch artist and art teacher, with her own gallery and arts and crafts studio where she teaches art. She provides scholarships for local children, funded by selling her own wonderful art which she creates on different mediums with a fascinating variation in materials, such as metal and local sand.
You can take part in an art class with Tess at her Art Craft Café in Philipsburg, right after the tour. Minimum of 4 persons, booked in advance.
Paul Elliott Thuleau – In the center of the culinary capital of the Caribbean Grand Case we visit Art Gallery Tropismes, run by artist Paul Elliott Thuleau and showcasing his vibrant and minimalistic paintings of local Creole houses. Other artists exposed at this gallery include Antoine Chapon with his fine watercolour depictions of St Martin’s bays and seaviews.
Francis Eck – Bright and abstract oils of Caribbean seascapes as well as snowscapes, since this French artist grew up in the French Alsace. All his works, including the more detailed paintings of musicians, are made with palette knives. Francis Eck displays his works around his pool at his home in Orient Bay, a peek into his studio is part of the visit.