My story as an artist begins on the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. I was born in 1961 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. I remember seeing my grandmother in her garden, guided to a plant to heal one of her many clients. My father was a tailor and musician, among other things. He’s the one who always said, "Wendel! You can do anything."
My mother was a seamstress and homemaker. Her bosom could soothe the universe. I was one of seven children. We lived in a compound where I saw my father and uncles making things with their hands. My recollections place me at around 6 to 10 years old.
My uncle Herman was a band leader, player, and maker of the steel drum instruments that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. My uncle Hector was an electrician who made ovens from scrap metal. Most of their creative expressions took place in the courtyard of our compound.
Carnival season was an especially busy time in our yard, and it opened my eyes and mind to this wonderful world of creativity. Costumes had to be designed and made with complex metalwork. Songs had to be composed, taught, and played for competition. My siblings and I were fans of all this excitement, hoping one day to follow in our family's traditions.
In the 1960s, the United States became very attractive for creative individuals. My father and uncles were sponsored to tour New York City and played at Radio City Music Hall and other venues. Many people from Trinidad and Tobago were relocating to the U.S. in the late ’60s and early ’70s. My parents decided to move the family to Brooklyn, NY, in 1972 and 1973.
I began painting after I received an art instruction book from my aunt on my 13th birthday. I started with still life and some landscapes and eventually moved toward portraits. My parents were impressed and very encouraging of my newfound ambition. Many of my relatives wanted paintings.
Around this time, my father opened a tailor shop in Brooklyn and taught my older brothers tailoring, styling, and fashion design. I was expected to focus on my art, but I picked up many tailoring skills from their lessons.
Junior High School was when fashion illustration and design piqued my interest. I started visiting international fashion magazine shops, designer clothing boutiques, and thrift shops, which were prevalent in NYC during the 1980s. I was fascinated by the fashion, music, and art scene at that time.
In high school, my time was split between creating artwork and designing and making clothing, mostly for friends and family. I applied to the School of Visual Arts but was not accepted. Our family was self-made and didn’t think college was necessary for art.
I did my first live portrait in my senior year of high school. The model was a friend of one of my sisters. We started dating soon after, and she eventually became my wife. She’s my life partner and my greatest inspiration for everything creative that I do.
Together, we began looking for places where I could show my art and fashion designs. I joined art leagues, group shows, art fairs, and many self-funded events. It gave me access to people from all walks of life.
Over time, I opened a few boutiques throughout New York with the support of my family. I always showed my paintings alongside my fashion designs.
In 2004, I joined a collective of artisans in New York's East Village. It featured fashion designers, jewelry makers, artists, and more. There, I was introduced to set tailoring for celebrity clients and fashion brands. I got to work with mostly A-list celebrity clients on a personal level. I was fascinated by their humility and respect for my craft — both from them and their teams.
My journey with art starts with me laying the canvas on the floor and humbly asking it to share in the experience. Interpreting energy is what I do with my work. Sometimes it can be taxing on the mind and body. Newness can bring fear, anxiety, and a rush to adjust my sense of identity.
But my experience is not the sum total of me — and that’s fine.
At 63, I have dedicated my life to balance, to the sphere, to soft ambitions. 360 is always accessible. I will create and cause vibrations.