"Art is an expression of self that satisfies the aesthetic, spiritual, and emotional needs of a viewer. Art is what you want it to be". Such are the thoughts of nationally acclaimed artist, Naila Felice. The twenty-six year old burgeoning artist has been quite successful thus far, having made her name for herself in recent years within the art fraternity, generating much buzz about her work. Through her artistic channel ofself expression, she has helped to raise awareness about our degenerating environment on one hand, while chronicling her relationship with God on the other. Although Naila's work reflects a sense of maturity that is beyond her years, the well known artist only got her start in high school. "The first time I ever used paint was in secondary school. Prior to that I used to write story books and animate them. Funny enough now that I look back, the stories were pretty awful ...but I wrote them just so I could have a reason to draw" Felice said with a laugh. Guided by her O'level and A Level art teacher, Mrs. Barrow, Naila says she was able to steadily refine her craft through constructive criticism and constant practice.
Naturally, Felice pursued art on a tertiary level when she majored in Visual Arts at the University at the West Indies, which also helped to ignite her deep seated passion forthe environment. "During my time at UWI I developed a deep concern for environmental issues. I thought of how many garbage bags of waste my household churned out from Monday to Friday, then how many households there are in Trinidad" she says. As a result, she felt moved to conduct a workshop at her alma mater, Bishop Anstey High School, where she challenged students to use waste materials to make a piece of artwork , which she has infused in her work ever since. Felice stated, "I meddle in both still life and abstract-type paintings. My still-life paintings are usually close up snapshots of things found within the natural environment because I'm delighted by the texture and form of naturally occurring objects. My abstracts are usually silhouettes of landscape or human abstracts that reflect my relationship with God. All paintings are usually acrylic and mixed media on canvas (mixed media: newspaper, cardboard, juice and cereal cartons, crown corks, inks, metal scraps)."
Felice who admires Carlisle Harris, Shalini and Gary Reef has been able to create her unique signature on her pieces, and thus far, have done a number of showcases and commissions for her work. She has also been awarded by the Rotrary Club and Women in Art Organisation in Trinidad and Tobago. Although Felice has steadily built a name for herself, she remains aware of how transitory success can be. "I understand that years of work as well as your 'name' can quickly fade away if you aren't consistent where producing work is concerned," she said candidly. She also remains optimistic about the future of art in Trinidad and Tobago. "Only recently has the majority of society started seeing the potential and the value of the art done by local artists. Tax exemptions, public outdoor exhibitions (oval wall project and waterfront), as well as grants and increasing competitions have all increased the viability of art to the average consumer, and helped to encourage artists to keep producing," she iterates.
Naila, who currently works in the advertising industry states that she would one day like to pursue her passion full-time and has plans of opening an art school where she can not only develop a local following , but also an international one. Although she faces many challenges of balancing her hectic corporate life with her art, she is feverishly preparing for her exhibition in December, which promises to be an unforgettable experience for her loyal fans. Naila Felice has definitely come a long way from the girl who just liked to paint pictures for her 'made up' storybooks as a child, and continues to encourage other artists who may not have the confidence to paint. "If you don't know where to start, paint your response to whatever stimulates you visually. Don't be discouraged by the work that other more recognised artists create, but rather be encouraged by it. Remember that this is a journey and you too will be great in your own time.