Latest update February 1st, 2025 4:28 AM
Carl Anderson – Accomplished Photorealist
By Kiana Wilburg
“Photorealism is the transferring of photographic material into paint information. Simply put, it is the drawing or painting of a photograph. When the drawing and painting are placed alongside each other, it would be virtually impossible to tell the difference. And that aspect of realism is the key to the art form.”
A self-portrait done by Carl Anderson
This was explained to me during a brief interview with Photorealist Carl Anderson at his D’Urban Street studio, where he shared aspects of his interesting life story, including his journey around the world as an ambassador and artist from Guyana.
From what I had researched, there aren’t many people who could better elucidate what Photorealism really entails. He has been featured in many American and Caribbean-based magazines, in which have been written that Anderson’s work goes beyond the mere notion of a painting and a photograph being identical.
In one publication it was noted that “Sometimes you are left to wonder if the drawing is some sort of real creature that is only playing possum”. And one can’t agree more with this statement for upon seeing his paintings. Obviously these impressions can’t speak to you, but you need to constantly remind yourself that this is so. Such is the class associated with these creations.
Museums of Malta, Italy, Belgium, Venezuela and the USA, are only a small fraction of the countries that have given rave reviews of Anderson’s paintings and sculptures.
He customarily has on display a number of features at the Multicultural Caribbean Adventure that is hosted annually in Washington D.C, USA. The show is one which displays the work of some of the most distinguished artists in the Latin American and Caribbean Hemisphere. On his seemingly unending list of accomplishments, the artist placed second at the Italy’s Grolla D’Oro and copped first at “The Homage to the Malta Biennale” in 1998, which is one of the most sought after titles in the world of art.
He proudly related that some of his pieces are now the property of Castellani House and the National Art Gallery.
In addition to this, Anderson has done a series of paintings depicting the fight against domestic violence for the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) which is based in the USA. The organization found his pieces to be so compelling that they currently have them on tour. His artwork has been described as “a compilation of persuasive creativity which aptly describes the horrors of domestic violence and the continuous fight against the social ill”.
At the tender age of 5, Carl Anderson discovered his talent for drawing, “his first true love,” as he first started out scribbling images from his then, child-like world on his mother’s wall for which he was usually given a few lashes.
Interestingly, Anderson said that he never attended high school or even completed his common entrance exams.
“I was never fond of mixing with others. All I wanted to do was mould my passion. I had no time for other subjects and I was determined not to waste time. The only focus was my art and that’s what I studied, hence in my later teens, I attended an Adult Education College where I wrote my “O” level Art exams and graduated with honourable grades. Then in 1982, I earned a Diploma from Burrowes School of Art.”
Afro and Indo Queens.
He received expert guidance at the latter institution from three local legends – Denis Williams, Stanley Greaves and Philip Moore.
For 13 years, Anderson lived in Venezuela. During that time, he was under the influence of celebrated artists such as Rafael Soto, and was able to refine and perfect his craft.
He is currently working on his Carnival series, a collection of which will be a part of his upcoming show he plans to host in Washington D.C, USA.
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