Artists In Residence
The arts community on St. John is active and enthusiastic. Galleries are found in both Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. The St. John Artist's Association holds openings monthly with various themes. The variety of art mediums, mixed with the variety of personalities and perceptions, makes for great works unique to this island. Creating a piece of artwork of your own is easy and fun, whether you are new to painting or have had some practice, our experienced Artists in Residence will guide you through producing a unique memento of your time at Caneel Bay.

Gail van de Bogurt - Works in Watercolor and Clay, Functional Pottery and Ceramic Sculpture

Growing up in the Michigan countryside sparked Gail's keen observation and love of nature which is a generative force in her watercolors and sculpture. While working toward her BFA at the Cleveland Institute of Art her main area of focus was Ceramics: salt glazed stoneware and porcelain. The Cleveland Museum of Art was an exciting source of inspiration. One of her sculptural porcelain containers is in their permanent collection. A passionate interest in cultures and concepts outside of the Midwest led Gail to New York and later to St. John.

"I came to St. John for my first visit in 1987 and left with a dream to live in the Caribbean. Then an opportunity came in the winter of 1989 to sail on a 60-foot sloop being delivered from Long Island, NY to Antigua. That winter I found an island job and a tiny apartment in Cruz Bay. One night on the walk home from work I saw some people with art supplies headed to a life drawing session and from then on my artistic island tapestry began to take shape. There is a wonderful community of artists who find inspiration here. In 1993 I was one of the founding members of Bajo el Sol Gallery in Cruz Bay at Mongoose Junction. There, with Kat Sowa and Amiee Trayser, we produced and sold our works. Since 2002 I have been instructing classes for guests at Caneel Bay with Kat Sowa and am now Caneel's Resident Artist along with Livy Hitchcock. Also in 2002 I began a project at Maho Bay Camps creating a clay studio geared toward teaching and recycling of resources into art. I offer classes in clay, painting and other mediums for visitors and locals. Each year I offer a Kids Summer Art Camp for island children from various schools to explore their creativity and make new friends. Some scholarships for island children are available for that program."

Livy Hitchcock - Works in Pastels & Oils

Livy has been a frequent visitor to the Islands over the years and finally moved to St. John from Essex, Vermont in 2004. She arrived with her husband, Tom, and together they own Bajo el Sol Gallery in Mongoose Junction, St. John. Livy is known for her intimate portraits and dramatic landscapes painted in pastels and oils. She also offers guests the option of commissioned portrait work or other commissioned paintings of the landscapes of Caneel and St. John. Many of Livy's pastel paintings can be seen at the Estate House at Turtle Bay.

"Every artist views the visual world in his/her own unique way, and translates this view to their artwork. I am totally struck by the colors and textures around me in the Virgin Islands. When I am painting, I can't wait to translate these qualities to my work. Being very visual and enjoying realism, I am in love with painting in the islands. The light is so superb and the contrast between the light and shadows is just plain fun to paint. There is a wealth of ideas to explore. The emotions that I want to portray are love for the place and awe over the beauty here. The inspiration I find here makes the phrase living in Paradise true for me. My passion is painting in the pastel medium. I try different pastel surfaces to get different effects. There is so much diversity when painting in pastels. I would say that it is my mission to show the world what can be achieved by using this medium."

Scheduled Classes
Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Pastel Painting with Livy
Wednesday, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Kid's Art Class, Watercolor with Vicki
Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Watercolor with Gail
Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Watercolor with Gail or Pastel Painting with Livy (alternating by week)

Classes sometimes vary by instructor or medium and by time of year. Private classes and group sessions are available outside the regular schedule. Our Artists in Residence will offer advice on taking classes in different mediums at other locations on St. John. For prices and to reserve a place, please contact the Concierge Desk