Meet Summer Clarke | Freelance Visual Artist & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Summer Clarke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Summer, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It really comes down to a calling. There is a saying that goes “If it’s your calling, it will keep calling you”. I have been drawing since I was two years old. There was never any other path for me. Whenever I tried to go on a different path it would feel unnatural or like I was denying myself. My efforts always lead me back to being a visual artist. It feeds my soul with an abundant sense of fulfilment. It’s what drives and motivates me through difficult times. The choice came with unwavering clarity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Originally I focused my art on abstract pieces infused with the vibrant colours of my Caribbean home. I later grew a fondness for the scenery and artworks of Japan which slowly started to seep into my work. I seek inspiration from nature, specifically landscape scenery. I also get a lot of inspiration for patterns, texture and forms from Japanese ukiyo-e prints. This ultimately transformed my work into a cultural hybridisation. Much like my hometown, my work is a fusion of cultures, art forms, and designs. I hope my art transports people as it transports me. That the focus on intricate details and specially chosen subject matter will allow the viewer to be carried away. My art journey is ongoing but I studied visual arts all through my high school career and studied art & design in Canada. I now work as a freelance visual artist and it’s been a difficult but extremely fulfilling path.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well the first thing I would recommend is some good eats. There are lots of local restaurants that can give you a taste of Jamaica’s melting pot culture – Jerk, Chinese, Indian and everything in between. Entertainment wise, there are lots of iconic experiences like Emancipation Park, Devon House Bakery, the National Gallery, Bob Marley Museum, Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo and Kingston Dub Club. There are also magnificent beaches and excursions out of town such as Frenchman’s Cove, Doctor’s Cave Beach, Konoko Falls, River tubing, horse back riding and farm and plantation tours.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to shout out my family for always encouraging me, especially my mother, who never stopped believing in me.

Website: https://www.behance.net/summerclarke1

Instagram: @summerclarke95

Other: https://www.tricera.net/artist/painters/8105386