Artist bio

Randall Gerard Fulchan The Artist Bio: Artist Randall Gerard Fulchan was born Trinidadian in the year 1988. I always felt a connection and oneness with the Visual Arts. My eyes and mind is always amazed by the diverse richness of this tropical landscape and the bold vibrant tones which contrast and play in harmony. As a child I would sit and draw for hours, an early indication of my career path. During my secondary school Art training I received a Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Performance in the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society's 2003 Poster Competition. After completing the C.X.C examination successfully I achieved my Culinary Management Associates Degree from The Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality Institute, First Degree Black Belt with The International Taekwon-Do Federation, Certificate in Photography, Certificate in The Art and Science of Coaching from the University of the West Indies and Certificate of Visual Arts from the University of the West Indies. Today I am an Art educator in the Visual Arts at the Secondary School level while passionately exhibiting Art works. Being a member of the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago I have been exhibiting Art consistently from the year of 2013 to date. In 2014 I received the title of first runner up for Best New Emerging Artist from the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago. 2015 I took part in the Tobago House of Assembly Shaw Park Complex Inaugural Visual Arts Exhibition where I exhibited one of my cultural pieces entitled Slavers. I took part in my first major group Art Exhibition, Synergie de Trois in the year 2016 which I showed over 30 works of Art. I also have been taking part in local Art Markets where I was Awarded the Carlisle Chang award (December 2016). Exhibited at the Connexions group exhibition 2017. Exhibited at 101 Art Gallery, Holder Studios 2018 group exhibition and had a sold out Exhibition. Exhibited at The Southbound exhibition at the GD Gallery 2018. Exhibited at the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago “Art Fuh So” exhibition 2019. Exhibited at the Hilton Trinidad in Collaboration with Horizons Art Gallery Beyond Exhibition 2019. Exhibited at the Carifesta Exhibition at the National Academy for the Performing Arts Trinidad. My Art works are collected both locally and internationally, Jamaica, Barbados, Columbia, Texas, Italy and England in private collections. To me Art is about personal or observational experiences. As an Artist I strive to connect with my viewers. I aim to move them emotionally; Conceptual/ Abstract / Impressionistic Art forms is my language of choice for doing this. Looking at society I try to look past the struggles of life by highlighting the Beauty that resides in us all. We are all loved by a greater power. Searching our heart through the hurt we come to find a deeper sense of purpose, an awakening so to speak. My Work reflects our lush and vibrant beautiful landscape of Trinidad and Tobago. I love creating scenes about longing to find our "Place" in this world and this is symbolized by the Tiny Houses, searching for Home, sometimes hidden within the painting. Many walk the Path but never find self even though guided by doves. Flowers of our integral fragility are reminders that we should let them bloom and not long for the Glorious Light to kiss our petals but bask in wonderful Rays. I hope that the viewers can feel a sense of comfort and joy. My aim is to introduce Love and peace by the great and natural beauty of nature into our space which can be cold at times and aid us to find Our Home in the Light which in turn would help to unite us all. I love working with Oil Paints, Acrylic paint, water colors and gouache paints, as well as inks, I also do wood carvings and enjoy writing Poetry. To me I have found the path that I am meant to walk, the path of an Artist. God guides us to self-actualization but to achieve this we need to pay attention to the various signs that are given from Him. I am focusing on building a solid foundation and constantly refining my skills and techniques so that I can Evolve into an Iconic Artist of Trinidad and Tobago.

Title

Path of Innocence, Where Father Calls.

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

Painting Style:
This painting is an Oil painting done on stretched canvas. It is done using the impasto technique as well as various other techniques of painting. It is also a mix between impressionism and abstract painting done in my own way.

My thoughts on the building up of the story of the Art work.

New Jerusalem Rev 21 (the building/ structure in the Heavens)
I wanted to use a sacred or the physical/ Spiritual Jerusalem because it is of great importance, a place we cannot attain or even go to until the end. The physical structure represents a place for all whose name is written in the Lambs Book of Life the dwelling place of God.

The Tree of Life
To me the Tree of Life represents a treasure that was lost to us due to the falling into sin. The symbol of the tree represents safety and nourishment the Tree to heal the nation. Rev 22, 1-3

Why is the Boy in the River?
I am standing firm in the river as a child of God.
I am trusting in the father for guidance, protection and Love just as a little child would. Matthew 18: 3. Standing in the Living waters of baptism I am cleansed. The waters wash and sooth my tired feet. I am ready to walk a new path a path that God has set for me. Thus crossing the river with my shield and the word of God keeping faith. Shield and Sword are levitating due to them being too heavy for a child to carry, in this way I am trusting in the Father's will and way for my life as He protects me from the world and the unseen realm of evil.
“1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46 1-3.
I am guided and comforted by His written word the Holy Bible. Jesus said pick up your cross and follow Him and the Sword also symbolizes this but I am helped by the Father to do so because we rely not on our strength but on the strength of the Lord.

The child wears the full Armor of God, some are depicted literally and some are spiritual, "the battle is fought in our mind."
Sword and shield is depicted as tattered, worn and old to show the countless battles that I was protected against, and even all this the light illuminating from the sword never fades, non is a match for our Heavenly Father’s might!

Psalm 28:7-8
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Luke 18: 15- 17
“Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say onto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

The Boy/ Lost sheep
The boy represents a lost sheep coming Home but strengthen by God- Luke 15:4-5
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
The boys hands unseen to us are in the form of praying hands/ hands together, this is a sign of submission and respect to God as the boy prays.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18
The boy has his back towards the desolate world because we should be in the world but not of the world. This also shows his trust in the Father and keeping focused on God’s kingdom and the narrow path to Home.

A solar Eclipse.
Represents the fight between Darkness and Light.
A solar eclipse only takes place for a short time and the Light always triumphs. This is symbolic to the time in which we must endure this world.
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal Glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10.
Thus endure till the coming of the Son of Man, just as Jesus went first and endured and died for our sins.

Three footprints.
Shows the path that Jesus walked for our Salvation.
The emerald color green was used for the foot prints to depict a path of renewal that we shall follow.
“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you, He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31: 8.
Three in my paintings represents Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Holy Trinity.

The foreground
A desolate land filled with vipers and vultures that want to feast on my Innocence are behind me. Arrows lay on the ground as they were blocked by God's shield and armor.
For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Is 52:12
The Vipers and vultures represents the rulers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

The Pink flowers are a reminder of Innocence. The lush and beautiful landscape represents the Garden of Eden and my longing to be there and find peace again and is inspired by the vibrant Caribbean.

The Three mountain peaks is symbolic to the Holy Trinity.

The Dove
Dove of the Holy Spirit.
A fragile creature that helps guide our journey in life. Symbolic for the bringer of peace of the deepest kind both inner and outer. Represents purity. Just as Christ does.

The rainbow:
is God's promise to never destroy the earth with a flood again. It is the sign of His Covenant, thus what is to come which is written in the Bible is God's greatest promise to man that we shall be Home with Him, a Life of peace and love but we must have faith in His will and way.

The Pathway
Deuteronomy 5:33
“Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

The Pathway is the route of light to Father. Though we may stumble along the way we ultimately get back up and try again. It’s a path of forgiveness and love.

(My painting style is a very loose style, I aim not to totally represent real life but my interpretation of it, how I would like it to be and just be me on the canvas.)

A Poem I wrote to complement my Painting:

Title: My Love for You

As a seed You found favor in me,
Cradled in the bounty of Your Love,
No eyes to see but I heard You,
Blind faith I cried in joy,
Even when the world condemns,
Through time one print at a time I follow,
Trying my best not to falter,
Steady feet don’t fail me now,
How I long to dine in your Hall,
Your light which guides me gently kiss my skin in comfort,
Sooth my weary soul,
How much more can I take?
How much more shall I walk?
Before I enter Your door,
Time after time I question,
Is it true or am I fooling myself,
Is it true that You are Mighty and Great,
Or am I delusional to think this way,
The Sun may seem to vanish at times,
But this was just for a short while,
Looking back I can see it clear,
Clearer than before that you were always there,
There by my side even late up at night,
When I wept and hungered for just a glimpse,
Just to peak at Your beautiful face,
No words can express how lost I felt,
But You held my hand and sheltered,
Sooth this soul my loving Father,
For you are all I have in this world,
You are the one that has set me free,
Flowers bloom to brighten,
As they line the path to You each and every day,
Faithful Dove a messenger,
Places a smile where it is due,
When I did not feel You its cause I did not look,
Mountains and rock may crumble,
But I stand firm in Your delight no matter if I’m shook,
Your only begotten Son died and rose again for all the earth,
Who believe it in their heart and confess by mouth,
Will be saved,
A promise from You,
Streaks of colors fill the sky,
Your heavenly kingdom soon shall arrive,
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your Sword and Shield deflect,
Thorns and thistles are left behind,
As I drink in Your Sublime,
Vultures and vipers try to claw and strike,
But to no avail they are no match for Your Might,
I walk in faith and in pray,
You wash my weary feet in Living Waters,
Your Loving kindness fills and showers,
When I wanted to be someone else You told me no you are mine,
I am loved by You, my only want,
Your words I hold dear to my heart for I know we shall never part.

Randall Gerard Fulchan
Saturday 13 June 2020

How it fits into contest

How does my painting relate to Ephesians 6:10-20

I wanted incorporate the place which we were created in, the garden of Eden. This place was a place of beauty, love and peace. A relaxing place that God had prepared for us. So in a way it is a reminder of God’s promise to restore us.

This is a symbol for us to keep looking forward and to trust in God’s will and way for us no matter what difficulty we may face in this world be it physically or spiritually. All we have to do is look for the good in our life and we know God is there by our side.
God is preparing us to face a difficult road, a spiritual battle. He wants to make sure that we are equipped for this journey thus He gives us His full Armor, Ephesians 6 :13.
The child has on the full Spiritual Armor of God but I wanted to showcase the Shield, Sword, and His written word, the Bible around the boy which acts as a protective “cocoon”, the mighty power of the Lord, Ephesians 6: 10. The boy is trusting in the Lord and this is shown by the Shield, Sword and Bible levitating , for the boy is not strong enough to carry it on his own but God helps to carry it for him while the child walks in the truth, just as David was a child and God protected him against Goliath we can face anything with the faith of a mustard seed. The Boy stands in the River of Living Waters to depict him in a symbolic baptism which in essence is the taking up of the Gospel of Peace, Ephesians 6: 15.
To the foreground of the painting I wanted to show a desolate land, one filled with Vipers and vultures and these represents the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm as well as this world. Ephesians 6: 12. They are trying to entice and also destroy the boy but the child is protected by his Heavenly Father. The boy is standing/ walking in prayer, Ephesians 6: 18-20. The child is standing strong and firm in his belief in God fearlessly for all to see.

Credits

God is my greatest mentor and inspiration through His love and nature.

Other Goods & Services Available from this Artist

Direct Commissions of Oil paintings.
Oil Paintings.

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